11/23/24
April 24, 2009
Jake Delhomme, a Panther forever: The Carolina Panthers just bestowed a large contract on Delhomme, perhaps defying logic (or at least common sense) in the process.
posted by beaverboard to football at 01:28 PM - 3 comments
Everyone will remember the game Delhomme had against the Cardinals as a good reason to bring in another QB, but he's been capable of having games like that for a long time. World beater one day, Rex Grossman the next. And there is no telling which one is going to show up on any given gameday.
The Panthers run the ball well and play good defense. They need a consistent, competent passing game that consists of more than Jake on a good day throwing to Steve Smith. (Kudos to Smith for being so productive with every opponent knowing full well that's he's sometimes the exclusive go to guy).
If you took Jake back in time to have him compete for a starting job with Neil O'Donnell and Bubby Brister, I'm not sure Jake would win the job. Hard to believe that the Panthers have not only suffered through many seasons of QB inadequacy with Weinke, etc., but are now content to continue forward with Delhomme. (He'd make a fabulous backup QB though).
Carolina is good team desperately in need of a more dynamic approach to the QB position. They are currently wired to compete at the divisional playoff level. It's hard to comprehend why they wouldn't want to get to the point where they were rostered to compete at the conference championship level.
posted by beaverboard at 02:04 PM on April 24, 2009
This seems to me to be largely maneuvering for cap purposes. I am not sure of how the accounting works, but the linked article suggests this gives the Panthers more cap flexibility in the short term, although the guaranteed money to Delhomme is greater overall. I would not be surprised if Delhomme gets cut before this contract runs its course.
posted by holden at 07:01 PM on April 24, 2009
Yeah, I heard about this yesterday. I am not happy about it. Sure, he makes a great spokesman for Bojangles, but is not the quarterback that the Panthers should be relying on.