Don't Back Down

Okay, so maybe Vinny's hair isn't gray yet. Or maybe he just uses a gallon of Grecian Formula. I don't know. But does it really matter? For perhaps the first time this season - and maybe last season as well, the Carolina Panthers seem to have a bit of momentum, thanks to none other than Vinny Testaverde.

This is a guy who wasn't even on their roster last week at this time. He wasn't on anyone's roster last week. He wasn't even playing football (football with the kids doesn't count). According to most sources, he hasn't played in five weeks. But he arrives in town in the middle of last week, passes a physical and wins a game. Most of us couldn't do that when we were half his age - and because of his age, that's a realistic possibility. Here Vinny makes it look almost effortless as he gets ready to turn 44 in less than a month.

In the process, he throws a sweet touchdown pass to Steve Smith - something that has been sorely missing for a couple of weeks. Smith may or may not be the best receiver in the league. Let's face truth, though - he has simply got to be involved if anything is going to happen in this offense. There isn't anyone else to do it. Both Drew Carter and Keary Colbert have talent - if they didn't, they wouldn't be at this level. But other than Colbert's rookie season, neither has been able to do anything for an extended period of time.

Smith has been able to do so on a regular basis, year after year. To borrow a phrase from Keyshawn Johnson, get him the damn ball! Then get it to some other guys. That's exactly what Vinny did. I saw both KC and Drew Carter catch balls. Tell me the last time they both caught a ball in the same game without digging through some stats. It doesn't happen often.

Anyway, Vinny hits Steve Smith in stride and it's a touchdown. Say what you will about the defender. He gave up, he didn't have support over the top, whatever. But that was a beautiful pass and I don't know that anyone could have stopped it. David Carr looks great - and by that, I mean he looks great. The guy is a model. But I can't say that he can play great, hurt or not. Jake Delhomme is a great leader, but he doesn't have the cannon or the accuracy that Vinny does, and Vinny has a decade on him in age. It's just unbelievable. Maybe it's Jakes arm that has been bothering him for a couple years. I'd love to see him be able to hit these kind of throws instead of making the receivers work so hard. That would be great, because once that happens, the running game can open up.

Speaking of the running game, Vinny did a good job there - but what's so hard about handing off? Nothing. The only complaint I have is that they need to switch roles. DeAngelo Williams should be the featured back and DeShaun Foster should spell him. Look, DeShaun is a good guy, and he's had some great runs in his tenure with the Panthers. But just look to the fourth quarter to see some great runs when DeAngelo finally had a chance. DeShaun? He's got the fumbling problem again. Sit him.

What was really impressive was to see that with everything else moving smoothly, the defense finally found it's groove. For the first time in a long, long while it looked good. I don't know if it was because they were comfortable with Vinny going the other direction or what, but they looked good.

Now if the team can start doing something before the fourth quarter, things would be good.