saintz08

Forget the fake stuff, this Jake's a real winner
Jan. 26, 2004
By Pete Prisco


In this very space, way back before anyone outside of the Carolinas or Louisiana had any idea how to pronounce his name, these were some not-so-kind words used to describe Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme.

He was called Jake the Fake, a media-made phenomenon who had no business getting the attention he was receiving as a free-agent quarterback.


Jake Delhomme steps into the bright of the Super Bowl spotlight. (AP)
How could a career backup with two NFL starts -- a resumé that would make a roadie proud and the type of game that kept him on the bench in 2002 in New Orleans even though starter Aaron Brooks was hurting with a shoulder injury -- be the quarterback to lead a team to a Super Bowl?

Some eight months later, Delhomme is proving all doubters -- led by the guy writing this story --- wrong in a big, big way. On Sunday, Delhomme will start for the Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII at Reliant Stadium against the New England Patriots, one victory away from another where-did-this-guy-come-from story.

It will cap a wild season that has seen him open on the bench behind Rodney Peete and included his leading the Panthers to a 7-0 record in games decided by a field goal or less. Delhomme threw seven touchdown passes in the fourth quarter of games during the regular season, prompting the idea this was his magical season.

We know the kind. A guy comes from nowhere, battles all kinds of odds, plays in any league for any team that will have him and then winds up as a Super Bowl quarterback. And the hero of his hometown -- in Delhomme's case that means Breaux Bridge, La.

It happened with one Kurt Warner, and then Tom Brady. Who says you need to get your passers in the first round of the NFL Draft?

"That quarterback will still cure a lot of ills," one NFC personnel director said. "But you can bet with what's happened the past couple of years, teams will study the not-so-premium quarterbacks, too.

"What Brady and Delhomme have done is going to make a lot of people take note."

The feeling here is premium passers will still make up for not having strength in other areas. Quarterbacks still drive this game. But what Delhomme is doing in getting his team to the Super Bowl is showing what a quarterback can do when he "manages" a game.

That's a buzzword these days around the NFL. Teams want to play good defense, run the ball on offense and just ask the quarterback to manage the game. It's a kind way of saying the passer can't win it with just his arm, but it also appears to be a secret to success.

"I really haven't seen a lot of him, but I would say the big thing is he is a winner," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "He is making the plays that he needs to make for Carolina to win.

"That is what a quarterback's job is. It's not about stats. It's about wins."

Delhomme, in the Panthers' system, is a winner. Carolina went 11-5 during the regular season and is 3-0 in the playoffs, including a 14-3 victory over the Eagles last week in the NFC Championship Game.

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/7037114

[Edited on 28/1/2004 by saintz08]

WhoDat

\"I really haven\'t seen a lot of him, but I would say the big thing is he is a winner,\" Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. \"He is making the plays that he needs to make for Carolina to win.

\"That is what a quarterback\'s job is. It\'s not about stats. It\'s about wins.\"

When Belichick is giving you props, you have arrived.

BillyC

What do you expect Belichick to say? Coaches always talk good about opposing players before the game. Have you ever heard a coach say the opposing teams QB sucked? If Belichick say\'s that about Brooks will you think Brooks\' has arrived?

That was a good one though WhoDat. I\'m still laughing.

saintfan

They just keep on trying don\'t they?

saintz08

I have heard coaches say \" We need to stop Duece and get some more pressure on # 2 \". As though Brooks is an after thought in defensive schemeing .

BillyC

That\'s interesting? What do coaches say about the Panthers? I\'ll make it simple for you 08 and make it a multiple choice test.

a.) We must stop the passing game of the Panthers.
b.) We must stop the running game of the Panthers.

I think ANY coach would say they need to stop a teams running game first, if they have a great running game that is.

saintfan

OR

\"We need to Stop Green and get pressure on Farve\"

OR

\"We need to stop James and get pressure on Manning\"

OR

\"We need to stop Emmit and get some pressure on Aikman\"

Shall I continue? Is it really necessary? I didn\'t think it was.

WhoDat

Yet again proving that a $36 million QB is unnecessary. A $4 million one can do just fine if you have a good running game and defense. So then does it make sense to save the $36 million and spend it somewhere other than on the QB? LOL. You guys just keep proving me right.

BillyC

Yeah, right!! How \'bout them Dohphins?

WhoDat

Well, let\'s see - regular and postseason, over the last four years the Dolphins are 42-25 (.627). The Saints are 34-30 (.531). Yeah, I\'d say it\'s working better in Miami then in some other places.

Here Billy, let\'s try another game. I\'ll name the teams with an average QB that got to the Super Bowl in the last 4 years and you name the ones with a big name QB that got there. Ready?

Carolina
New England
Tampa Bay
Oakland
New England
Baltimore
New York

OK, I\'ve got seven. That means you can have one. I\'d say I win.

\"Excuses, excuses, excuses. That’s all anyone ever makes for the New Orleans Saints’ organization.\" - Eric Narcisse


\"Being a Saints fan is almost like being addicted to crack,\" he said.[i]\"You know you should stop, but you just can\'t.\"