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What if Vinny Testaverde Led the '99 Jets to the Super Bowl?


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"What Vinny did last year is what high-level quarterbacks—guys like Steve Young and Mark Brunell—do every year. Vinny probably hasn't had the opportunity to do it. Now he has it, and I think he'll live up to that challenge."

                              —Wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson in July of 1999, before New York Jets' training camp.

The New York Jets entered Mile High Stadium on Jan. 17, 1999, led by Vinny Testaverde and the NFL's fourth-ranked offense.

Denver's wintry winds were blasting through Mile High Stadium as the defending Super Bowl champion Broncos aimed to repeat their success from the previous season.

The first-half of the game pushed the momentum in Mother Nature's favor as neither team could establish a significant lead. The first points were scored at the end of two quarters when the Jets hit a field goal heading into the half. 

With the weather conditions as their primary opponents, both teams had to carefully construct new strategies to keep their seasons alive.

 

And then began the New York Jets' tragedy of errors.

After taking a 10-0 lead, the Jets' efforts were made irrelevant by Testaverde's two interceptions, Curtis Martin's 14 yards on 13 carries, and the team's four lost fumbles.

Immediately following the Jets' only touchdown was a 47-yard strike from Elway to Ed McCaffrey. Terrell Davis' 167-yard performance contributed to one of the longest afternoons in Jets' history.

"It's one thing to get blown out by a team. At least you can say, 'They're better than us, they're playing in the Super Bowl, and that's the end of it,' " said Testaverde after the loss. "But to walk in the locker room after the game, feeling like we beat ourselves, it's hard to get over.

"Deep down, I feel we had a good enough team to be playing (in the Super Bowl)."

New York's most promising season in three decades came to an embarrassing 23-10 end—an end Testaverde could never come to terms with.

Worst yet, it was an end where he would never have another opportunity to find redemption. 

A Brief Recap of Agony

It was Jan. 18, 1999 when Super Bowl XXXIV became the New York Jets' only focus.

Testaverde would tell Rich Cimini of the New York Daily News that he "absolutely" expects to play in the next Super Bowl.

The offseason would bring Testaverde a new three-year, $18 million contract, only one season after being signed to backup Glenn Foley.

Deafening Super Bowl chatter followed the Jets through training camp as the staff and personnel remained in tact. With Elway's retirement, there should have been no more hindrances.

And then the apocalypse arrived in the second-quarter of the season-opener against the New England Patriots

Testaverde lunged awkwardly to recover a Curtis Martin fumble and writhed on the ground in pain. His Achilles' tendon was torn, his season was over, and the quarterback carousel spun the Jets to an 8-8 finish.

Despite lacking their Pro Bowl quarterback, the Jets finished out the season on a five-game streak with Ray Lucas under center.

The AFC East was won by the 13-3 Indianapolis Colts in 1999, followed closely by the 11-5 Buffalo Bills

Rewriting History: What 1999 Should Have Been

Keeping the eight wins the Jets earned throughout the season, it's not far-fetched to imagine victories in at least four or five of their other games if Testaverde was healthy.

The Jets were poised to improve upon their fourth-ranked offense of the previous season.

At the time of Testaverde's injury against the Patriots, New York was down 10-7 but were on the Patriots' 25-yard line looking for the go-ahead score.

Without Testaverde, the Jets lost 30-28, losing consistency at quarterback as backup Rick Mirer and punter Tom Tupa exchanged snaps. If Testaverde had remained, the Jets would have continued to establish their momentum, and pulled out a win over New England.

The teams that took advantage of New York as they struggled to find a new identity in the post-Vinny era won against a shadow of a team.

Close losses to the Colts, Washington Redskins, and Oakland Raiderswould have also turned out differently with Testaverde in the game, pushing the Jets to another 12-4 record.

Having been a mere 27 minutes away from the Super Bowl, the Jets' veteran team wouldn't have been taken advantage of again.

A first-round bye would bring the Tennessee Titans to the Meadowlands in the divisional round. In reality, the Titans were able to play their divisional game in the comfort of Indianapolis's dome, against a second-year phenom in Peyton Manning.

Playing in the elements of a New Jersey winter against the Jets' high-powered offense would have been too much for the Titans and their 17th-ranked defense.

However, the road to the Super Bowl would have to go through the 14-2 Jacksonville Jaguars—a team the Jets defeated 34-24 the previous year.

The Jets would win a close one on the legs of Curtis Martin against the Jaguars, refusing to be sent home in the AFC championship again. 

Ultimately, New York would go to the Super Bowl, but fall to the St. Louis Rams and their unstoppable offense.

The Testaverde Domino Effect

This is where the significance of Testaverde's season-opening injury becomes most heart-wrenching for Jets' fans.

It wasn't only about the dismantling of the dreams that started during the 1999 offseason. It signalled the end of a coaching era that briefly returned respectability to the New York Jets.

Had New York achieved similar success in 1999, it's likely that Bill Parcells would have never stepped down. His goal has always been to create winners, and he would've been on the cusp of greatness with one more season.

Instead, he intended to hand the team over to defensive coordinatorBill Belichick.

The same Bill Belichick who resigned "as HC of the NYJ" during his introductory press conference, citing the team's unstable future at ownership as the reason for his decision.

Parcells then appointed Al Groh as his successor. Groh gave the Jets one season before leaving to coach at the University of Virginia.

That offseason also saw a new drama unfold with Keyshawn Johnson blazing his way out of New York. The Jets' primary wide receiver forced the organization to trade him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two first-round picks in the 2000 NFL Draft.

The Jets selected Shaun Ellis and Anthony Becht with the draft picks, but Johnson went on to win a Super Bowl in 2002.

Although Testaverde would return as the starting quarterback in 2000, the Jets still selected Chad Pennington in the first-round of the draft to be his eventual successor.

And so continued the tragedy of errors.

One torn tendon and the road the New York Jets followed for the next decade drastically altered the face of the organization through different coaches, quarterbacks, and any dreams of a championship.

By Angel NavedoSenior Writer May 20, 2009
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We would have beaten the rams in the SB. Belichick would have stayed and taken over for parcells. Brady gets drafted by the lions in round 7 and never sees the field. Gosh darn vinny and his Achilles.

Had we not fumbled 4 frigging times against the Broncos we would have absolutely taken apart the Falcons

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We would have beaten the rams in the SB. Belichick would have stayed and taken over for parcells. Brady gets drafted by the lions in round 7 and never sees the field. Gosh darn vinny and his Achilles.

In another dimension that's exactly what happened. Right now the Jets are still a powerhouse and the Pats are still the joke of the NFL only known for getting blown out in the mid-80's Super Bowl vs the Bears. And..... all of these trolls who post here? They are all still Cowboys fans

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Hey have you guys seen Vinny Testeverde Jr yet? He even looks like his old man http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/vincent_testaverde_913872.html

 

you KNOW that in 4 years someone is going to be posting a Draft This Beast thread about Junior. Unfortunately MOST "Juniors" can't carry the old man's jock except say for Ken Griffey Jr...he had a "little help from his friends" he gets by WALHFMF, yea I get high WALHFMF"

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This franchise is NOT cursed, simply poorly run. Well, maybe some curse.

 

Its all management.  NOT players.

 

Look at UVA basketball this year. ONE COACH change and they are ranked number 2. After decades of bottom feedin the ACC.

WVU.... Bobby Huggins gets them ranked in the top 20 after many years of mediocre ball.

Florida...before Billy Donovan, they are not even a top 50 basketball team.

 

The better question to ask is why did Tuna leave, Bellicek run for the door etc...

 

the only answer I can fathom is Woody.

 

We draft below average and we coach below average.

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This franchise is NOT cursed, simply poorly run. Well, maybe some curse.

 

Its all management.  NOT players.

 

Look at UVA basketball this year. ONE COACH change and they are ranked number 2. After decades of bottom feedin the ACC.

WVU.... Bobby Huggins gets them ranked in the top 20 after many years of mediocre ball.

Florida...before Billy Donovan, they are not even a top 50 basketball team.

 

The better question to ask is why did Tuna leave, Bellicek run for the door etc...

 

the only answer I can fathom is Woody.

 

We draft below average and we coach below average.

 

Tuna left because that is what he does.  He hasn't finished a job in ages, and after his Tampa business I don't know why anybody would be surprised.   Belichick ran for the door because Tuna left, but kept meddling and wouldn't let Little Bill run the show.  They are a pair of lunatic ego-maniacs. 

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Don't wanna play the 'what if' game. Too hurtful. You could 'what if' a LOT of Jets history. It was what it was and will always be so. I doubt if Patriots fans do this for the two SB's they lost. So let's not go there, let's look forward and support the new regime and hope they prove better than any of the old ones.

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Don't wanna play the 'what if' game. Too hurtful. You could 'what if' a LOT of Jets history. It was what it was and will always be so. I doubt if Patriots fans do this for the two SB's they lost. So let's not go there, let's look forward and support the new regime and hope they prove better than any of the old ones.

 

 

Fans of all teams play the "what if" game, including Pats fans.

 

The two losses to the Giants are a perfect example.

 

As a fan, it's human nature to to play the what if game.

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Fans of all teams play the "what if" game, including Pats fans.

The two losses to the Giants are a perfect example.

As a fan, it's human nature to to play the what if game.

the helmet catch killing the perfect season had to be the worst. Samuel also dropped a gimme game ending INT earlier in drive

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the helmet catch killing the perfect season had to be the worst. Samuel also dropped a gimme game ending INT earlier in drive

 

 

Good call.

 

Everyone remembers the Teree catch, but if Samuel made that easy pick (the ball hit him right between the numbers) the catch never would have happened.

 

Again, all fans play the what if game.

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For some of the new folks in talking about the '98 season...Former Jet LB and now SNY analyst talked about that game in Denver with JN earlier this year....kinda painful to relive that game.

 

 

 

JetNation:  Chad, first of all I’d like to thank you on behalf of JetNation.com for taking the time to talk to us.

 

Chad Cascadden: It’s a pleasure, and it was a pretty interesting ride coming from Wisconsin to New York and I’ve been here for nineteen years, married with kids, and now a full-fledged New Yorker.

 

JN: You were an honors student who majored in Kinesiology (the study of moving objects) at Wisconsin, was this in any way related to the fact that you were a football player and essentially did the same thing on the field?

 

CC: I was going more for a medical degree but I liked their kinesiology program that dovetailed into my sports career so that worked out well for me.  The plan was ultimately to go to medical school.  Coach (Barry) Alvarez got me in to a blood study with Dr. Bruce Harnes so I got to assist him in surgery, setting up and breaking down some surgical procedures so it was an interesting thing for a football player.

 

JN:  Having played for Coach Alvarez, is there anything you can recall in terms of  him having a long-term influence on you or your career?

 

CC:  (Laughing) I’m sorry to laugh, but we can sit here and talk for hours about the things he did for me. But when he took over the program we were not very good, but when he came in he cleaned house and had multiple scholarship athletes that quit because they didn’t want to do it.  He demanded hard work, he didn’t ask.  The workload was incredible and intense.  Under coach Alvarez, you knew when you were playing us, you were in for a battle.  There were games where we just out-hit, and out-hustled people and just beat ‘em up.

 

JN: Your former teammate, Darrell Bevell has had some success as an offensive co-ordinator in Seattle.  Have you given any thought to getting in to coaching?

 

CC: I did think about it initially, but I gotta’ tell ya’, it wasn’t for me because of the hours.  These guys are putting in 15-20 hours a day and they don’t see their families.  There’s not much stability either.  But that’s the nature of the beast and if your spouse in on board with it that’s great.

 

JN:  So you came into the league as an undrafted free-agent for the Jets and those first two years were polar opposite from the next two years. What was it like to experience that culture shift from struggling under coach Kotite, and then the complete turnaround under Coach Parcells.

 

CC: A lot of people are down on Rich Kotite and the job that he did.  If  he went back and could have changed some things then I’m sure he would have done that but  he’s the one who gave me my shot.  He saw the talent in a kid out of Wisconsin who wasn’t drafted, who tried in practice, worked hard, made plays when I was supposed to and in our last pre-season game I actually ended up getting hurt.  He placed me on the practice squad just long enough for me to heal up.  As an undrafted rookie out of Wisconsin he took a chance on me.  Once I was healed up, he cut a five-year veteran to get me in there.  If you look at the NFL all-rookie team, you had Wayne Chrebet at WR, Hugh Douglas on defense, and myself on special teams.  Three guys on one team is a real testament.  To answer your question about the culture shift, Rich expected leadership to come from the veterans, and I think we had too many veterans who didn’t lead like they were supposed to.  When Kotite was with the Eagles he had Randall Cunningham, Reggie White, and Jerome Brown, he had all this leadership.  We did have leaders, but we had some other veterans who didn’t want to put in the extra work and the extra time in the film room.  Ultimately, that was probably the beginning of the end.

When Parcells came in, he was a lot like Alvarez.  First thing he said was, “guys, if you have thin skin, this probably isn’t the place for you.  We’re gonna’ coach the hell out of you, and we’re gonna’ out-work, out-hustle, and out-scheme.”  One of the first things he did was he traded Hugh Douglas.  He basically said “guys, I need players who run our system, if you’re not interested, we’ll find another place for you” and I really appreciated that about him.  Parcells didn’t care if you were drafted in the first round, or a walk on, he was going to play the guys who make plays.

 

JN: How did he interact with you?

 

CC: He told me one time, “Chad, you’re not a starter”, but by the end of the season I was starting so I guess that was his way of pushing my buttons.

 

JN: Of course, a lot of people say that he used that type of talk as a way of motivating guys, much like he did with Terry Glenn in New England when he referred to him as “she” when he was banged up in practice.

 

CC: Exactly, and if you remember, who was the first guy Parcells went out and traded for when he went to Dallas?  Terry Glenn.

 

JN: He definitely liked to have his guys around.  That’s why we saw Dave Meggett and Pepper Johnson, Parcells liked having “his” guys in the locker room.

 

CC: Speaking of Pepper Johnson, do you remember the linebacker crew we had?  Listen to this, we had Mo Lewis, Marvin Jones, Pepper Johnson, Brian Cox, Dwayne Gordon, Roman Pfifer, James Farrior, and me.

 

JN: Speaking of Mo Lewis, you got your first significant playing time when he went down with a torn Pec, what kind of relationship did you have with Mo Lewis?  What kind of teammate was he?  Did he or anyone else act as a mentor?

 

CC: Mo Lewis wasn’t a vocal leader but he led by example. He was a rare combination of size and speed who played the game as hard as he could and he was a guy you would look to when it was a “what do we do here” kind of  thing, it was just “well, watch Mo Lewis, he’ll get it done”.  As far as me and him, we’d watch film and critique each other and he led more by example.

 

JN: So what players or coaches did try to mentor you under both regimes?

 

CC: I spent a lot of time with Peter Giunta who I believe is with the Giants now.  I did that for a better part of two  years with him.  So much so that when we had pass-rushing issues in ’96, I hounded him saying “I can do this if you give me the chance”.  After a few weeks of this, I got called over to the defensive line/offensive line pass-rush drills by coach Hamilton (Sugar Bear) and he said “alright kid, you said you can pass-rush, let’s see what you can do” and they put me against Jumbo Elliott on my first drill (laughing).  That’s  a quick way to find out if you could play.

 

JN: So how did that go?

 

CC: Well, it went well enough that the following week against Jacksonville, I was the starting end on the nickel and dime packages, and the first time they called nickel, I went out there and on my first play I sacked Mark Brunell.  It was a good way to start and my role on defense grew, then I ended up taking over for Mo when he got the injury.  I was also a pass-rusher on nickel and dime.  I also continued to play all of the special teams.

 

JN: So when Parcells and Belichik come in, how do things go?

 

CC: Well, my position coach was Al Groh and we’d watch a lot of film looking at what my role would be.  On occasion I would talk to Belichick about what it is he needs me to do based on who we’re playing that week.  I was fortunate enough to give them flexibility.   I was a guy who could move around the field based on down and distance and personnel.  It was nice because I could be a confusing player.  Sometimes they’d bring me in to rush the passer, other times they’d have me cover the back out of the backfield, I was able to cause confusion for the other team’s offensive line.  There were times they’d change their protections when I would line up, and we’d use that to decide what kind of blitzes to run.  It was because sometimes Belichick would make defenses work, based on me and that was very flattering.  It was my niche and my way of staying in the league.  That’s how I was able to stay on the roster because Parcells wanted guys who could play multiple positions.  I played multiple linebacker spots and in a pinch I played goal-line safety.

 

JN: When Coach Parcells left, how surprised were you when Coach Belichick stepped down after one day as head coach?

 

CC: My initial reaction was mass confusion.  Why would Parcells step down so quickly and why would Belichick resign?  My point of view is that Belichick stepped down because he didn’t want Parcells over him, and this is my best guess.  I’m not claiming to know this for sure, but I think that when Parcells stepped down it was the first anyone had heard about it.  I don’t think Belichick had even heard of it.  No communication, no heads up, and Belichick  may have felt painted in to a corner and didn’t appreciate it.

 

JN: Then after that, your former position coach, Al Groh takes over for one season and then walks away.

 

CC: Well, I honestly think that when Belichick stepped down, there was no clear successor and Parcells wanted to keep the staff in tact, so elevating Al Groh was the most logical choice.  My best guess is that Virginia approached him with such a great package, that Parcells even told him “I’d love you to stay, but even I as a friend would tell you to take  this deal”.  The offer they made him must have been a game-changer.  Things went okay too, I think he coached there for eight or nine years.

 

JN: So, the 1998 AFC championship game against Denver.  You guys are scoreless against the Broncos, late in the second quarter, and every defensive player’s worst nightmare is staring you in the face.  You’re facing John Elway and his two-minute offense.  He hands off to Terrell Davis for a couple of yards, hits McCaffrey for a seven yard gain, and then scrambles for a first down.  Now Denver is approaching mid-field and fans get that sick feeling that Denver is about to score.  On the first play of the next set of downs, you chase down Elway for a sack and an eight yard loss.  Elway fails to complete a pass on 2nd and 3rd and long.  You guys get the ball back and kick a FG to go in to the locker room up 3-0 at the half.  How would you describe the feeling in that locker room?

 

CC: Well, I must say I’ve been fortunate enough to be in some cool atmospheres.  When we played Mich. St. in Tokyo to earn a Rose Bowl berth, that was a great, great locker room.  Incredibly electric and exciting.  Wisconsin’s first Rose Bowl win, it was great.  But in the pros, against the Broncos, we went in to the locker room feeling confident.  We thought we were gonna’ beat these guys, the Jets are going back to the Super Bowl, the fans are gonna’ be awesome.  The locker room was just super, super positive.  I mean, we thought we were gonna’ go back out there and win that game.  It was one of the most electric moments in the locker room for me.

 

JN: Who could blame you guys?  When all was said and done you’d held Elway to 38% completion percentage.  For you guys to go in to Denver and face John Elway and Terrell Davis, to lose by 13 when you turn it over six times is hard to fathom.  Then that bizarre kickoff after Denver scored when the ball just blew back and essentially became an unintentional onside kick?

 

CC: That’s the first and only time I’ve experienced a kickoff when a ball goes up in the air, stops, and comes straight down and becomes a scrum.  It made no sense.  It was like somebody just shot it with a shotgun.  It was so bizarre.

 

JN: Did that have a big effect on the team?

 

CC: Would I say a big effect? No, but some affect, absolutely.  Denver scores on a big pass to McCaffrey then they kick off and get the ball back?  You could feel the crowd coming back to life in Denver’s favor.  Coach Alvarez used to talk a lot about momentum and the importance of holding on as tight as you can and to just fight when it’s going away from you.  So suddenly we’re three and out, we’re not scoring, it’s like you said, you turn the ball over six times, you can’t win.  You just can’t.

 

JN: So what did Parcells say to the team after a loss like that?

 

CC: I don’t really remember exactly what he said, but just a somber, morgue-like tone and feel.  We’d just let something amazing slip away.  For me, it was just extreme disappointment.  This was for us, for the fans, for Mr. Hess.  We worked so hard and it felt like “we were supposed to win this” but it didn’t happen.

 

JN: It had to be hard to take such a tough loss.

 

CC: And you know what, there are no moral victories.  We lost, that’s it.  Denver was the better team that day and they did a great job of fighting back and putting points on the board.  Give them credit, they did a great job.  It still stings a little bit though.  We would have played Atlanta in the Super Bowl who we beat earlier in the year.  But it was an honor to play in that game and you have to give credit to the Broncos.

 

JN: What are your thoughts on the current regime?  Is Rex the right guy for the Jets?

 

CC: Absolutely.  I was happy that they extended him, I think he’s a great leader, players love playing for him, he’s a great schematic defensive coach and Marty Mornhinweg is a HUGE addition.  Geno Smith has shown improvement, good leadership and his decision-making has improved.  We have good RB’s, good TE’s, the line is solid, there are still some questions at receiver but we know we’ve got some people to throw it to.  On defense we have a great front-7 and cornerback is clearly, clearly a place they need to address immediately.  Hopefully with cut downs the Jets can make a move.  You can’t go in with only the current guys.  They have to add one or two, if not three more guys.  I think they’re on the right track, but this is a big boy league and you have to be able to beat the Patriots.  We’ll see, they look good on paper.

 

JN: What do you think of the Dmitri Patterson situation and how would you handle it?

 

CC: My best guess, is that when he spoke to Idzik before the game, Idzik said something that Patterson took exception to or felt disrespected and left.  He didn’t make a call, take a text, or call anyone?  In my opinion it’s incredibly unprofessional behavior.  Somebody we’re counting on to be at that game, somebody we’re paying and you leave and don’t tell anybody?  Of course, if this is a family issue it’s different, but there’s got to be a way for him to let somebody know.  The bottom line is, it’s immature and unprofessional at the very least to not reach out to your coach or GM and explain to them clearly why you’re not there and why you’re not showing up.

 

JN: Chad, thanks so much for taking the time to talk to JetNation

 

CC: My pleasure,any time.

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In another dimension that's exactly what happened. Right now the Jets are still a powerhouse and the Pats are still the joke of the NFL only known for getting blown out in the mid-80's Super Bowl vs the Bears. And..... all of these trolls who post here? They are all still Cowboys fans

Lol nah man the pats posters watched the first boston patriots game at Fenway park

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