Topic: Vinny Testaverde

Vincent Frank Testaverde (born November 13, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York) is a former American football quarterback who last played for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. Testaverde has previously played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, and the New England Patriots. He has twice appeared in an AFC Championship game. (1998 with the Jets, and 2006 with the Patriots) Testaverde holds the NFL record for having thrown a touchdown pass in 21 consecutive seasons. Testaverde also holds the record for most losses by a starting quarterback with 123. In addition, he holds the NFL record for throwing touchdown passes to 70 different players. Also, he holds the second highest completion percentage in a single game during the regular season (at least 20 attempts) at 91.3% (21/23), in 1993 vs. the LA Rams (Kurt Warner is the first, with 24/26 for 92.3%). As a University of Miami quarterback, he won the Heisman Trophy in 1986.

While living in Elmont, New York, on Long Island, Testaverde went to school in Floral Park, and then Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Virginia for a post graduate year and then accepted a football scholarship to University of Miami, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1986 on his way to becoming the Hurricanes' all-time leader in career touchdown passes with 48. He played in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl against Penn State for the 1986 national championship, a game in which the Miami Hurricanes were heavily favored, but went on to lose 14-10 after Testaverde threw five interceptions. Testaverde played an important part in the University of Miami's ascendance as one of the top collegiate football programs of the 1980s and 1990s. Along with Jim Kelly and Bernie Kosar, Testaverde is considered part of the University of Miami's quarterback dynasty.

Testaverde was the first overall draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1987 NFL draft. He has played in two Pro Bowls (in 1996 with the Baltimore Ravens and 1998 with the New York Jets) in twenty one seasons in the NFL.