JET NOTESVinny Testaverde speaks with reverence about his idol, Joe Namath. So, when Namath spoke to him recently to wish him luck in this run toward a Super Bowl, Testaverde cherished the moment, wishing for another.
“The last time I spoke to Joe was three or fourweeks ago,” Testaverde said yesterday. “We had a nice little conversation. He told me that he hoped I get what I wanted – and that was a championship. He wished me well.
“It’s always great to talk to him,” Testaverde went on. “He’s such an inspiration, not only to me but to so many.”
Testaverde was asked if he’ll speak to Namath again soon if the Jets beat the Broncos Sunday to get to their first Super Bowl since Namath led the Jets to victory in 1969.
“Hopefully, I’ll have another opportunity to talk to him again,” Testaverde said. “Let’s just wait and see what happens.” *Bill Parcells said he “still doesn’t know” whether Aaron Glenn or Ray Mickens will start at left corner. It looks, however, as if Mickens will start his fifth consecutive game there for Glenn, who’s still not fully recovered from his sprained right ankle and was listed as questionable after yesterday’s practice. As he did last week, Glenn is expected to play in the nickel and dime.
“Right now I’m happy with just getting in to play some plays,” Glenn said yesterday. *The Jets practiced on grass Wednesday in preparation for the Mile High Stadium natural turf, but they were forced inside their practice bubble yesterday because of the snow and ice. The expected temperature in Denver for the game is 53 degrees. The listed temperature inside the practice bubble yesterday: 53 degrees.
The Jets will practice for the last time today at Hofstra before departing for Denver. *Parcells said he expects more great things from Keyshawn Johnson Sunday. He doesn’t expect last Sunday’s 9-catch, 121-yard, 2-TD performance against Jacksonville to be a one-hit wonder.
“He’s a guy that likes the stage,” Parcells said. “He doesn’t get trapped into this one game stuff, I can tell you. It’s like Testaverde said: ‘Around here if you play lousy it’s not a good thing, and if you play really good it’s not a good thing, because you get needles on both counts. If you just play mediocre nobody bothers you.'” *Former Jets’ T Winston Hill, a member of their Super Bowl team, will be an honorary captain for Sunday’s game. Hill actually lives in the Denver area, where he owns a restaurant in the airport’s main terminal.
“Just being a part of the Jets’ organization again, it’s a tremendous honor,” Hill said yesterday. “I can’t think of anything that would be better other than a victory on Sunday. The Jets are part of my family. I grew up with the Jets.” *The Jets are bringing all players on the trip, including inactives and players on injured reserve. Parcells believes not only do they deserve to be there as a part of the team, but it helps morale.