HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Judging from most everyone in the know --
although coach Al Groh remained strategically noncommittal -- it
looks like Vinny Testaverde will start at quarterback for the New
York Jets on Sunday.
|  | | Vinny Testaverde holds his hand as he leaves Sunday's game with a pinched nerve. |
Testaverde, knocked out of last Sunday's loss to the Steelers by
a pinched nerve, has practiced without incident. He is listed as
questionable for the game at New England, but the pain and numbness
shooting down his left arm from a pinched nerve generally, although
not entirely, have subsided.
"It's going to be have to be (Groh's) decision, what he sees,
but I anticipate I'm going to play," Testaverde said Thursday. "I
don't anticipate any problems through practice with doing things I
normally do during week.
"I feel much better than I did on Sunday. I'm just taking it
one day at time. Practice went pretty well. It was no different
than any other Wednesday for me as far as the amount of reps I took
and the amount that Ray (Lucas) took."
With a coy smile, Groh continued to indicate he won't announce
whether the quarterback will be Testaverde or Lucas until shortly
before gametime. He did, however, sound encouraged by what he saw
out of Testaverde.
"He did nicely," Groh said. "He took his regular turns and
threw the ball nicely. Certainly, he practiced well and did nicely.
We'll carry on with the same routine (for the rest of the week)."
Groh admitted he is leaning toward starting Testaverde if there
are no problems in other practice sessions.
"I didn't ask him specifically about pain," Groh said. "I can
only tell by the look on his face and it seemed to be very
comfortable and smiling. He's our starter and certainly we want him
to remain so."
Testaverde, with a 64.3 passer efficiency rating, ranks 15th
among AFC quarterbacks. Only Cincinnati's Akili Smith (51.9) and
Ryan Leaf (40.0) have lower ratings. Testaverde's 49.4 completion
percentage also ranks third-to-last in the conference.
But the Jets are 4-1 and Testaverde has led them to three
fourth-quarter comebacks.
If Testaverde is unable to play effectively and finish the game,
or if Groh decides to rest him for a week, then Lucas would start.
Lucas, who won six of nine decisions as a starter started last
year, when Testaverde was sidelined by a torn Achilles' tendon,
struggled last Sunday. Testaverde went out on the Jets' first
offensive play, and Lucas completed 13 of 25 passes for only 99
yards, throwing two interceptions and fumbling once.
Lucas maintained his problem against the Steelers was containing
his high-strung nature, which he said caused him to throw passes
too high or into the ground.
"The only things I have to change are my emotions," Lucas said
Thursday. "Last year, I was a guy who was cool, calm and collected
in the eye of the storm. I'm working hard this week to be that guy
again."
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