Yes, the ‘V’ in MVP Is for Vinny

A review of the 1998 NFL regular season, a last chance to ridicule Ryan Leaf for awhile, and while maybe it can’t be truthfully said, “He’s my cousin, Vinny,” he’s my man, Vinny, the league’s most valuable player.

And as big a stiff as Vinny Testaverde has been throughout his career, hey, you have to write: There’s still hope for Leaf.

Testaverde, the first player selected in the 1987 draft--and the quarterback who didn’t throw more touchdown passes than interceptions in a season until his seventh year on the job, was 12-1 as a starter for the Jets and led them to their first division title since the 1970 merger.

That’s right, Vinny Testaverde, 48-83-1 as a starter before this magical season, and most everyone’s punch line for any joke having to do with poor play at quarterback.

Maybe he was too scared of Jet Coach Bill Parcells to do anything but win, but remember

New York started the season with Glenn Foley at quarterback because Parcells thought he was that much better than Testaverde.

Everyone thinks of Parcells as a great coach, but the Jets opened 0-2, Foley injured his ribs and Parcells had to start Testaverde, who went 2-0. Then Parcells, still not figuring it out, started Foley again, lost and finally went to Testaverde, who finished with 29 touchdown passes and seven interceptions as the AFC’s top-rated passer.

“I certainly feel like I’m playing my best football ever,” said Testaverde, who began this season with 175 touchdown passes and 183 interceptions.

Denver’s Terrell Davis might be the popular choice to win the NFL most-valuable-player honors after crashing the 2,000-yard mark, but defenses found a way to stop Davis down the stretch.

Atlanta running back Jamal Anderson will get attention, and Minnesota quarterback Randall Cunningham and rookie wide receiver Randy Moss will draw considerable interest.

But the Falcons seemed more hurt by the loss of quarterback Chris Chandler at times, and when Brad Johnson was the Viking’s starting quarterback without the benefit of Moss, he put up huge numbers.

My man, Vinny, with the fourth best touchdown-to-interception ratio in NFL history, wins here in a close vote.

Coach of the Year

Atlanta’s Dan Reeves. With the obvious exception of the Los Angeles Times, name anyone who predicted the Falcons would win the NFC West Division and have the best record in the NFL over the last season and a half (20-4).

Worst Coach of the Year--Not To Get Fired

1) Detroit’s Bobby Ross. Ross, who once told a reporter, “God will be your judge.” No such luck for Scott Mitchell. Ross became his judge and jury and carried a season-long grudge against Mitchell, turning the Lions, who were a playoff team a year ago, into a training lab for rookie Charlie Batch.

2) Cincinnati’s Bruce Coslet. After owner Mike Brown announced last week that Coslet would not be dismissed, the Bengals quit, losing to Tampa Bay, 35-0. Coslet is 17-24 with the Bengals, 43-62 including his experience as coach of the Jets. In short, what a loser.

3) St. Louis’ Dick Vermeil. To fire him would mean cutting into owner Georgia Frontiere’s allowance. The Rams would have to pay $10 million to Vermeil and his staff, which is the highest-paid in the league. “I’d by lying to say that wasn’t a factor,” said John Shaw, Ram president. Vermeil, who before the season passed out T-shirts to his team with the slogan “No excuses,” has a 9-23 record in St. Louis.

Best Game of the Year

1) Denver 35, Kansas City 31. Down by 10 with 8:25 to play, John Elway continued to treat Chief Coach Marty Schottenheimer like his own personal punching bag, leading Denver to 14 points down the stretch to extend their unbeaten streak to 13.

2) New England 26, Miami 23. Known best for faltering under pressure, Patriot quarterback Drew Bledsoe fractured the index finger on his throwing hand, but overcame third-and-11, third-and-10, fourth-and-10 and fourth-and-seven situations on the final drive, completing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Shawn Jefferson with 29 seconds to play to keep New England in the playoff hunt.

3) There were no good NFC games this year.

Worst Game of the Year

Oakland 7, San Diego 6. After 27 punts, Raider quarterback Wade Wilson--0 for six passing in the game--completed a 68-yard touchdown pass to James Jett with 1:28 to play to beat the Chargers. It was Wilson’s first touchdown pass since 1995.

“This is about as low as you can feel,” Charger Coach Kevin Gilbride said.

No, he would go lower two days later--getting fired.

Best Performances

1) Minnesota wide receiver Randy Moss. Without Deion Sanders in the lineup, the Cowboys called two vendors out of the stands and tried to cover Moss, who was held to three catches for 163 yards, three touchdowns and a two-point conversion.

2) Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman. In the same game, Aikman threw for 454 yards, seven shy of a team record, and eight of his passes were dropped. That’s understandable--name the starting wide receiver opposite Michael Irvin. Stumped, huh? That’s two of us.

3) Minnesota quarterback Randall Cunningham. Ended the Packers’ 26-game win streak at Lambeau Field, throwing for the most yards ever against Green Bay--442--and completing 20 of 32 passes, including four touchdown passes and no interceptions. It was not a good night--if there ever is one--to be a Cheesehead.

Worst Performance

Charger quarterback Ryan Leaf. He completed his first pass against Kansas City for four yards, and then missed his next 14 to finish one for 15 for four yards with two interceptions and three fumbles. Even all the Billy Joes who played for New Orleans this year were never that bad.

Running back Terrell Fletcher had half as many touchdown passes for the Chargers this season as Leaf--one. And Fletcher threw only one pass.

Best Performance--By a Guy You’ve Never Heard of

Baltimore running back Priest Holmes. He had two special teams tackles and one kickoff return for 14 yards last season and opened this season on the bench. But he ran for 400 yards and three touchdowns in two starts against Cincinnati, propelling him to 1,008 rushing yards this season. He also started in front of Ricky Williams in Texas’ upset of Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship a few years ago.

Worst Performance--By a Guy You’ve Never Heard of

Denver cornerback Tito Paul. Allowed Giant receiver Amani Toomer to catch a game-winning touchdown pass from Kent Graham to end Denver’s 13-game winning streak. Do not look for Paul to be matched against Moss in the Super Bowl.

Defensive Player of the Year

San Diego linebacker Junior Seau. Arizona’s vice president of player personnel, Bob Ferguson, said, “You can’t block the guy.” In years past he ran around lost on the field, looking brilliant because he had the speed to make up for all his mistakes. The Charger defense gave up 2.7 yards a carry--the lowest total since the merger in 1970--and finished No. 1 overall in defense, largely because of Seau’s talent, enthusiasm and leadership. He really should be playing for a better team.

Rookie of the Year

1) Moss. Every personnel director in the NFC Central is now looking for 6-foot-5 cornerbacks with Carl Lewis speed to give them a chance to compete in the coming years.

2) Raider cornerback Charles Woodson. The next Deion Sanders; it’s just too bad he can’t play quarterback, giving Oakland a chance to win more than they lose.

3) Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor. Averaged 4.7 yards a carry, scored 13 touchdowns and means as much to the Jaguars as Moss does to the Vikings.

Thanks for the Memories

1) Quarterback Gus Frerotte. Started the season for the Redskins and lost his job after the opener. That’s tough to do, especially when backed up by a guy who had dressed for 63 NFL games before getting on the field--for one play. Trent Green replaced Frerotte, the Redskins lost six in a row, Frerotte came back for one more try and lost--never to be seen again.

2) Quarterback Scott Mitchell. Lasted two games for Detroit. After Cincinnati defensive back Corey Sawyer intercepted a Mitchell pass in overtime and returned it for a touchdown, Mitchell was permanently glued to the bench.

3) Referees. Why would anyone want instant replay?

Did You Know . . .

1) How dumb the Chargers are? They had the highest payroll in the league, because that’s the way General Manager Bobby Beathard negotiated the contracts, and yet over the last 24 games they have the worst record in the NFL at 5-19. They have no head coach, no first-round pick in 1999 and 2000 and in 23 of their last 32 games, they have scored one offensive touchdown or less. As a result, the city of San Diego has lost more than $5 million in rent credits because the fans won’t go to the games.

And Alex and Dean Spanos gave Beathard a two-year contract extension just to make sure things continue going so well.

2) Running back Terrell Davis ran behind the lightest offensive line in the league, averaging 287.6 pounds a lug. The second lightest line in the league--you could call them lightweights--belonged to San Francisco and remarkably the 49ers led the NFL in rushing.

The two heaviest lines belonged to Minnesota (averaging 322.8 pounds) and Jacksonville--two more playoff teams.

3) The Jets are most everyone’s pick to beat the Broncos because Coach Bill Parcells can walk on water. But the Rams, Colts and Ravens, a combined 13-35, handed the Jets three of their four losses. They also represent three teams no longer in their original cities, suggesting the Jets better not meet the Cardinals in the Super Bowl.

Busts of the Year:

1) Tampa Bay. Quarterback Trent Dilfer’s failure to graduate to a higher level kept the Buccaneers submerged.

2) Kansas City. Coach Marty Schottenheimer lost control of the inmates, and unfortunately Elvis remained in the building far too long.

3) Oakland. Sitting 7-3 at one time, the Raiders needed to go .500 down the stretch to make the playoffs--and instead were lucky to finish 8-8.

Surprises of the Year

1) Atlanta. Chandler was carried off the field several times, as expected, but 44-year-old Steve DeBerg managed to save the day.

2) Buffalo. Opened the year 0-3 before everyone started chowing down on Flutie Flakes.

3) Arizona. If you remember the Cardinals’ last playoff win, you’re either dead or collecting Social Security.

And Finally

According to the NFL, if you throw 100 passes and they all fall incomplete, you would have a passer rating of 39.6 using the interception-weighted system the NFL uses.

Leaf finished with a passer rating of 39.