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Jets expected to part ways with Testaverde

ESPN.com news services

NEW YORK -- Quarterback Vinny Testaverde will be cut by the New York Jets, the New York Daily News reported Thursday.

The 40-year-old veteran will be released after June 1 to lessen the salary cap hit the team takes, but the announcement could come as soon as Friday, the newspaper reported, citing an unidentified NFL source.

Jets spokesman Ron Colangelo had no comment on the report. A call by the Associated Press to Testaverde's agent, Michael Azzarelli, was not immediately returned.

New York is grooming second-year quarterback Brooks Bollinger as a backup to Chad Pennington. Testaverde, who has played 17 NFL seasons and was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1987, doesn't want to be a third-stringer, but has indicated he still wants to play.

Coach Herman Edwards said at the scouting combine in Indianapolis that he was planning to meet with Testaverde this week.

With Testaverde due to make $1 million this season, he is not an expensive player. But if the Jets cut him before June 1, they would take a $7.5 million salary cap hit because of the remaining prorated portion of his signing bonus.

However, cutting him on June 1 would allow the Jets to delay $4 million toward the cap to 2005.

Either way, the Daily News said Testaverde's six-year stint with the Jets is over.

Testaverde said at the end of the season that he would like to continue his career. However, the prospect of uprooting his family from Long Island might cause him to consider retirement.

Testaverde lost his starting job to Pennington early in the 2002 season, and Pennington led the Jets into the playoffs despite a 2-5 start. When Pennington broke his wrist last summer, Testaverde took over and went 2-5 as a starter before Pennington returned.

In 1998, Testaverde was a Pro Bowler and guided the Jets to the AFC title game. But he tore his Achilles' tendon in the first game of the next season.

In 2001, the first year under Edwards, Testaverde led the Jets to a 10-6 record and a wild-card playoff berth.

Testaverde will be one of several veterans who won't return next season. Linebackers Mo Lewis and Marvin Jones likely will be released.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.