Vinny Testaverde still has it

The 43-year old quarterback showed Carolina’s younger players he can contribute.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Vinny Testaverde was excited and nervous.

When he signed last Wednesday with the Carolina Panthers, the 43-year-old thought he could still play. But he wasn’t sure he’d gain the respect of his teammates.

“Not having the support of the players was a worry of mine,” Testaverde said Monday. “Dealing with me being 43 years old and the players looking at me and saying, ‘Hey, how is this guy going to help us? He’s 43. He’s not going to be able to do it.’ ”

“I wanted to show them through practice and certainly through the game that I was capable of holding up my end of the bargain.”

He has nothing to worry about anymore. Except perhaps being involved in a quarterback controversy.

The man nicknamed “Dad” by his teammates led the Panthers to a 25-10 win at Arizona on Sunday despite not knowing all his teammates’ names. An emergency fill-in with Jake Delhomme out for the season with an elbow injury and David Carr nursing a sore back, Testaverde learned enough of the offense in four days to become the third-oldest quarterback to start an NFL game and the oldest to win one.

A guy who spent the previous Sunday at home watching games on TV completed 20 of 33 passes for 206 yards, including the go-ahead 65-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith in the fourth quarter. Testaverde, who hadn’t thrown a ball in more than five weeks until Wednesday’s practice, didn’t throw an interception as the Panthers moved to 4-2 heading into their bye week.

“It’s a pretty good feeling to be called upon on short notice, not really knowing your personnel, what players are capable of doing, and going out and winning the football game,” Testaverde said.

The old body held up pretty well, too. Testaverde said he felt “not too bad” as he lifted weights and did some light running Monday.

Meanwhile, Vinnymania had gripped the Carolinas. Fans were calling into radio shows Monday urging that Testaverde, who turns 44 next month, start ahead of Carr on Oct. 28 against Indianapolis.

Coach John Fox wasn’t available to reporters Monday, and Testaverde isn’t sure of his role.

“I have no clue. There has been no conversation with me,” Testaverde said. “Whatever the decision is, I’m here to help in any way I can.”

Entering his 21st season, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1987 draft was cut by New England before the season. He returned home to Long Island and thought he’d get a call from the Patriots to rejoin them later in the season as insurance.

But then there was a rash of quarterback injuries around the league, and general manager Marty Hurney acknowledged Monday signing Testaverde involved some luck.

Hurney was scrambling to find a QB after it was learned Delhomme would undergo season-ending elbow surgery and Carr was questionable with a back injury.

Hurney looked at the thin list of available QBs and thought Testaverde was the best option.

“If anybody could come in on Wednesday and be effective on Sunday, certainly it would be him,” Hurney said.