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Patriots sign QB Vinny Testaverde

Vinny Testaverde will play a 20th NFL season. The 43 year old quarterback has signed with his sixth team, this time the New England Patriots where he will be the third quarterback, backup to starter Tom Brady and his backup Matt Cassel. The signing of Testaverde was a planned move by the Patriots, who had only two quarterbacks on their roster. "Fortunately, both of them are healthy and we`re happy with both of them," coach Bill Belichick said.

Testaverde played last season for the New York Jets, in six games of which he started four. He was the first over-all draft pick in 1987, picked by the Tamba Bay Buccaneers. He later played for Cleveland, Baltimore, the Jets and Dallas. His 45,252 passing yards rank him sixth in NFL history.

Starting quarterback Tom Brady has been listed as "probable" for every game of the first nine games of the season so far. Brady is suffering from a sore shoulder, although he has not missed a game. The Patriots are atop the AFC East with a 6-3 record this season, although they have lost the last two games, both at home.