Vinny Testaverde will retire after the Panthers - Buccaneers game

The NFL Week 17 matchup between the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be the last game for quarterback Vinny Testaverde.

Vinny Testaverde will retire after the Panthers - Buccaneers game Carolina Panthers (6-9) quarterback Vinny Testaverde announced today that he will retire following the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6) on Sunday (the Panthers are -3 against the spread at Bodog Sports). "I just feel like it's time. Obviously at 44 it does get a little bit tougher as the weeks go by. I'm glad I'm able to do it on my own terms and walk away from the game not only healthy, but to experience some of the things I've been through," Vinny Testaverde was quoted saying before the team left for Florida. Testaverde was signed as a free agent by the Panthers on October 10th 2007, after quarterbacks Jake Delhomme and David Carr suffered injuries and Carolina desperately needed help with the position. Three practices after Vinny Testaverde was signed by the Panthers, he led the team to victory against the Cardinals to become the oldest starting quarterback to win a game at the age of 44. Testaverde started five more games for Carolina and completed 94 of 172 passes for 952 yards, five touchdowns and six interceptions, but back pain sidelined Testaverde in the past month.

Vinny Testaverde was drafted from Miami as No.1 pick in the first round in 1987 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played with the Bucs from 1987 until 1992 and then signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Cleveland Browns, then spent 1996-1997 with the Baltimore Ravens, making his first Pro Bowl appearance. Testaverde signed with the New York Jets in 1998 and spent five seasons with the team and then spent the 2004 season with the Dallas Cowboys under coach Bill Parcells. In 2005 the Jets re-signed Vinny Testaverde for one year and in 2006 Testaverde was signed by the Patriots as a backup to starter Tom Brady. The Pats extended the contract for another year, but Testaverde was released on September 1st 2007 only to be signed by the Panthers the next month.

Published on 12/29/2007