The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Tucked away in Bill Parcells' golf bag are two drivers. The head coach has even more options when picking a quarterback.

"If one of them isn't behaving, I want her to know that other one is right there," Parcells said, referring to his golf equipment not his passers. "If she gets paranoid, that's OK with me."

That's basically the same reason Parcells has five quarterbacks on the Dallas Cowboys roster. And he insists he's willing to play any of them.

Vinny Testaverde, the 40-year-old reunited with Parcells this week, took his first snaps with the Cowboys when they opened their minicamp Saturday. He was second-team behind incumbent starter Quincy Carter.

Still, Parcells made one thing clear.

"I'm going to go by what I see," Parcells said. "I'm rooting for them all. I just hope we have a good quarterback playing. So whoever plays the best is going to play."

Whether it be Carter, Testaverde, Drew Henson, Tony Romo or Chad Hutchinson.

Four of the quarterbacks are splitting the snaps this weekend, and Parcells said it would be equally. Hutchinson, the likely odd-man out, hasn't rejoined the team since his NFL Europe season was cut a game short by a shoulder injury.

Carter threw for 3,302 yards and 17 touchdowns (with 21 interceptions) last season when the Cowboys went 10-6 and got into the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

That didn't guarantee him the starting job this season, but gave him a head start.

"He certainly has a leg up on anybody here. He was the starting quarterback last year and he's going to get a fair chance to play," Parcells said. "Where it goes from there who knows."

Testaverde signed with the Cowboys because of the chance to compete for the starting job and his desire to play for Parcells. But the job wasn't handed to him, even though he was a Pro Bowl quarterback for Parcells when the New York Jets went to the AFC Championship Game in 1998.

Carter welcomes the competition from Testaverde and Henson, who quit professional baseball last fall to return to football.

"I definitely understand what I'm up against," Carter said. "I've got an older guy I'm going to have to fight off, and another younger guy who's looking to be a good quarterback in this league too. Competition is always good."

Cowboys QB Chad Hutchinson doesn't even have a locker anymore -- even if it really was an oversight, it's likely only a matter of time before he's released.