The headline in the Charlotte Observer, as pointed out by Chris Mortensen, says it all: “Panthers, Delhomme back in playoff form.”
Jake Delhomme wanted to exorcise the demons of last year’s playoff meltdown with the start of a new season. Instead, he re-lived the nightmare with another five turnovers in a blowout loss to the Eagles.
For the first time in his Panthers career, Delhomme was benched for his performance.
Panthers coach John Fox is standing behind Delhomme — for now. Fox may be feeling heat about his own job if Carolina’s season goes south, and his support of Delhomme was slightly less enthusiastic than normal, despite the contract upgrade Delhomme received this offseason.
“Obviously, I think we start back with Jake,” said Fox. “I think we’ve
got to go back and evaluate what happened to us. Personally, after not
seeing the tape, I don’t think that’s all Jake’s fault.”
Fox may not have much of a choice anyhow; backup Josh McCown suffered knee and foot sprains because of the same shoddy protection that plagued Delhomme. Third quarterback Matt Moore finished out Sunday’s game.
Delhomme’s teammates came out in support of their guy Sunday, but many of their comments sounded more like sympathy than belief.
Fox can only tolerate Delhomme’s generosity for so long. Carolina faces Atlanta and Dallas on the road the next two weeks before a Week Four bye and won’t be favored in either game.
I wrote in our season preview for the Panthers that making everyone forget about his playoff meltdown was going to be the toughest challenge of Delhomme’s career.
After Sunday, it just got a whole lot tougher.
John Fox has 20 million reasons as to why Delhomme isn’t losing his job.
Not 20 million +1, there is exactly 20 million reasons.
20 mil guarantee clause in contract says ” unlimited mulligans on interceptions”
FORTY-TWO MILLION DOLLARS down the drain!
NEGOTIATE WITH PHILLY.
CALL MIKE VICK’S AGENT.
I hope this is why the executives resigned… that contract alone was reason to get them out of there.
Fox sticking by Delhomme for now?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Good luck with that!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
If the Panthers want to have a chance to make the playoffs, they best sign Jeff George soon.
Panthers should have pulled the plug on Delhomme and Fox a long time ago. In Carolina screwing up gets you a contract extension.
I fricking drafted Steve Smith. Fix this!!!
Carolina’s D looked sharp in the first half.
McScabb was what 2/5 for 24 yards or close at halftime.
Shoulda yanked him at halftime.
Hmm, I wonder who new Panthers coach Bill Cowher will have at quarterback next season.
Jake Delhommo sucks!
I’m calling it right now. John Fox will be fired after this season, and they will hire Bill Cowher. His family lives in North Carolina, I think this is the job he’s been waiting to open up…and the 2010 season will be that year.
It’s 10:32 PST and i Jake Delhomme just threw another INT
They’d better call Garcia before the Patsys do…
daffy87,
I was thinking it might have happened this year but when they decided to bring Fox back I figured the same thing you are saying. We all know Cowher wants the job and it will be his once Fox and Delhomme blow this season.
John Fox, Marty Hurney (sp?) and Jake Delhomme need to all lose their jobs. Fox for starting Delhoome, Hurney for giving him an extension after a 6 INT performance and Delhomme for being the most over rated and most terrible QB quite possibly in the history of the game.
Delhomme needs to be benched for Jeff Garcia, yes i said that, Delhomme is a liablity and he is really getting bad at turnovers.
I don’t get why we can’t just put Jake on defense. The man is a turn-over MACHINE!
How silly does Coach Fox look now after not taking a look at Vick. You win with talent in the NFL. Too many organizations forget that until it is too late.
Delhomme is no longer a starting calibre NFL QB AND HE YET he continues to be paid like one. Hurney and Fox should be fired. Oh WAIT they will be fire in time.
Peppers couldn’t get a long term deal but Delhomme can. Really smart decision. Really smart.
The management must feel foolish and stupid!
First, they franchise tag Peppers and refused to trade him insisting that if it became an option, they want two 1st round? Who would want to pay big money on two first rounder for two years? Why not trade him away for two 2nd round, maybe one 3rd round and average player that is ready to contribute to the team? Now Peppers’ salary is choking Panthers’ ability to sign DT.
And exactly like someone said, gave Delhomme an extension after the play-off meltdown! Why! Why! Iof he is still under the contract, why not wait halfway through the season and see how it works out??
Maybe the management is really stupid! Too bad the Boss wasn’t around to make sure that didn’t happen because he had a heart to tend with and the looney bins ran the asylum!
Vick? Jeff George? Jeff Garcia?
No offense to the mentally challenged but are you guys retarded?
The answer is in free agency: AJ Feeley.
There are a few backup QB’s available. T-jack in Minnesota is being shopped, Jeff Garcia was cut, Derek Anderson is just sitting around in Cleveland, Tyler Thigpen is on the market as well.
Who is the idiot that gave Delhomme that extension?
Delhomme has never been more then a streaky back up at best!
Of course it’s not all Jake’s fault.
Blame it on the other team!
When the opposing D, 2 man’s Steve Smith, Craphomme has no where to throw the ball except to LB’s and defensive backs!
Hey, the Texans will need a QB before the season is out…..
Knowing them, they may try to pick up Jake Delhomme!