By Starting, Testaverde Could Cash In This Season

[The Finman]

<h2><font color=#003399>By Starting, Testaverde Could Cash In This Season</font></h2>
OXNARD, Calif.-- When the Cowboys signed Vinny Testaverde in early June, they gave the quarterback a contract any backup would be proud of signing.

A one-year deal, worth $1.1 million in base salary.

But in his mind, Testaverde didn't come to Dallas to be just a backup, which is why his contact also includes enough incentives to push his deal to $5 million this year.

And now that Quincy Carter has been released, Testaverde immediately slides into the starting job, with the distinct possibility of opening the vault to deposit millions more which might not have seemed as obtainable back in June when he was staring the backup job right in the face.

But now that he's scheduled to be the starter, Testaverde will have a better chance at adding to his contract since most of the incentives are based on playing time.

As any incentive package, it is complicated, outlined with about a dozen scenarios for him to earn some extra pay.

The one Testaverde will be eyeing the most is a $3 million bump to his contract if he plays 80 percent of the offensive snaps and the team wins at least eight regular-season games.

That would push his salary to $4.1 million, more in line with that of a starting quarterback in the NFL.

And if the 40-year-old Testaverde remains healthy, it's highly conceivable he will take at least 80 percent of the snaps, which likely would give the Cowboys a chance to win eight games.

If the veteran quarterback manages to play from 60 to 75 percent of the play, he still will receive a distinct increase in pay.

Testaverde also could make nearly another cool million if he is selected to the Pro Bowl, which is worth $950,000.

If the Cowboys advance to the Super Bowl, well then that's another $500,000 in Testaverde's pocket.

"We set it up so if I played, there is more involved," said Testaverde, who was released this June by the Jets for salary cap purposes.

"Certainly, I was coming in with the mindset that I was getting myself ready to play.

No matter what the circumstances were, I was going to be given an opportunity to win the starting job."

As for the salary cap impact, these incentives for Testaverde would be classified as unlikely to be earned since he did not reach any of those performance levels last year.

While Testaverde probably expected to be challenging for the starting job with Carter, the Cowboys' 16-game starter last year, he certainly didn't expect the competition to be completed no more than a week into training camp.

Now the starting job is his, especially since the only other two quarterbacks on the roster, Tony Romo and Drew Henson, have never even taken an NFL snap.

Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells made sure the media remembered a 41-year-old Warren Moon earned Pro Bowl honors in 1997 for the Minnesota Vikings, throwing for 3,678 yards and 25 touchdowns.


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[AnthonyR]

The Cowboys are looking more and more like the Jets of old. This Testaverde thing is strange. He seemed like he was in a fog in his last games with the Jets. If there’s anything left in Vinnys tank, he will need solid pass protection.

Vinny is not going to be a mobile QB, and if that pocket collapses time and time again, Vinny will have to get rid of the ball time and time again, because he won’t be able to scramble away.

And if he doesn’t see it coming, he is a lot more prone to injury at his age. Parcel’s better have a starter on the sideline to replace Vinny, because if he can’t deliver or if he gets hurt the whole season is lost.