DATE: Friday, October 24, 1997              TAG: 9710240677

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   97 lines

AFTER YEARS OF FRUSTRATION, TESTAVERDE NOW ON TARGET

Talk about symbolism.

Vinny Testaverde stands tall in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, towering over the boats and the water and the high-rises. His back is to old Memorial Stadium, home to all those glorious Colt teams that featured John Unitas and Lenny Moore.

Ball in hand, arm cocked, Testaverde peers intently ``downfield'' and towards a model of what Ravens' officials call ``The New Stadium at Camden Yards,'' their 68,000-seat pleasure palace due to open in August.

It's all found on the cover of the '97 Ravens fan guide and the message is clear: Vinny Testaverde is Baltimore football, the transition-maker from past to future.

It's a wise, noble choice. After years of bitter, ugly disappointment in Tampa Bay and Cleveland, Testaverde has found a home - and his career - in Baltimore.

In 1996, his 10th season in the NFL, he reached the Pro Bowl after passing for 4,177 yards, 33 touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 88.7. This season, he hasn't slacked off a bit. Textaverde's 1,987 yards passing are tops in the NFL. His completion percentage of 60.4 is second in the AFC. He needs 101 passing yards Sunday against the Washington Redskins to vault past Y.A. Tittle and into 23rd place in all-time passing yardage.

Already this season, he's passed Joe Namath, Craig Morton, Ken Stabler, Terry Bradshaw and Ron Jaworski. Since the beginning of last season, Testaverde has 47 touchdown passes, second only to Green Bay's Brett Favre.

``Early on, things didn't go well,'' Testaverde admitted earlier this week. ``But I think I'm back on track to where I want to be. It happened a little late for me; nevertheless, I'm where I want to be.''

You remember all the ``Vinny'' story lines out of Tampa, where he was the top choice in the 1987 draft after winning the Heisman Trophy at Miami. Vinny throws all those interceptions because he is color-blind and can't tell his guys from their guys. Vinny can't read defenses. Vinny has a problem with anger. Vinny always makes the crucial mistake. Vinny just can't play.

Now, in Baltimore and elsewhere around the NFL, the Vinny storyline is this: Vinny may be 33, but he's just getting started.

``He's in a situation where they found what he does best,'' Redskins coach Norv Turner said. ``He's eliminated a lot of the negative plays. He's always had great athletic ability. When they get rolling, they score a lot of points.''

``He keeps himself in great shape,'' Ravens coach Ted Marchibroda said. ``He is the hardest-working player I've ever been around. He is the first one here, the last one to leave, and there's no doubt in my mind that he will continue to build on the success he's found.''

Testaverde points to several reasons why he finally reached the enormous potential he showed in college. Although he maintains his offseason residence in Tampa, he loves Baltimore, a city richly ethnic, especially Italian.

``You grow up in a certain environment, you get comfortable with that,'' said Testaverde, born in Brooklyn, raised in Floral Park, N.Y.

Then there's Marchibroda's system. The Ravens run a lot of three-receiver sets, Testaverde has freedom to change any play at the line of scrimmage any time he wants. He has a growing relationship with a talented group of young wideouts in Michael Jackson, Derrick Alexander and Jermaine Lewis and Eric Green.

``We were just starting to put this offense together at this time last year,'' Alexander said. ``Now, we don't just hope he'll get the ball to us. We know he will. He's got the confidence is us and he's got the confidence in himself.''

Even under the most trying circumstances, Testaverde has found happiness off the field, too. His second marriage, to a former Tampa Bay cheerleader six years ago, has produced a daughter and, two years ago, son Vincent, Jr.

Vincent's twin brother died in the womb about 10 weeks into the pregnancy. Doctors prescribed four months of bed rest for Testaverde's wife Mitzi. A test for Down Syndrome came back positive, though doctors admitted they couldn't tell whether the reading was for Vincent or the twin. Vinny was left to do most of the work with their daughter Alicia, at the time a pre-schooler.

Testaverde arrived at the Ravens' first training camp a few days early so he wouldn't fall behind when he left to attend Vincent Jr.'s birth. During practice, the trainer wore Testaverde's beeper so he could receive any message from Mitzi and relay it immediately to Vinny. The family kept a seat booked on every direct flight from Baltimore to Tampa, every day.

``As the delivery date approached, we were both pretty nervous. I didn't know (Marchibroda) well at that point and this was one of those things where family comes first,'' Testaverde said. ``He's only going to be born once and I'm going to play many games and attend many practices.''

Turns out, Marchibroda couldn't have been more supportive. On July 19, 1996, Vincent Jr. was born, healthy in every way.

``It was emotional, both joyful and sad, because you're sitting there looking at a beautiful, healthy baby boy and you're saying, `We could have had two,' '' he said. ``But he's as happy as any baby I've ever seen.''

Last offseason, Testaverde turned down endorsement offers to stay home with his wife and family. What he didn't refuse was Baltimore's offer of a four-year contract worth $19 million, a fair-market price for the player and person around whom the Ravens plan to usher in a new era. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ravens quarterback Vinny Testaverde, seen here getting a pass away

before being sacked in a game against the Bengals, has found a home

- and his career - in Baltimore. KEYWORDS: PROFILE

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