Sean Salisbury on Brooks and Delhomme

BillyCarpenter1 · 10-24-2003, 11:15 AM

http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...8723101280.xml

LEADING MEN

A year ago, Jake Delhomme was the understudy to Aaron Brooks. On Sunday, the two meet on the stage they once shared, with the understudy trying to eclipse the star.

Friday October 24, 2003

By Brian Allee-Walsh
Staff writer

The pride of Breaux Bridge leads the first-place Carolina Panthers into town Sunday to play against his former team in a pivotal NFC South showdown.

Quarterback Jake Delhomme could not have written a better script when he left the Saints as a free agent in March to compete for a starting job in Carolina.

From Our Advertiser

And while the game stacks up as a clash between two evenly matched teams, one compelling subplot involves Delhomme and Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks, who developed a kinship during their three seasons together in New

Orleans.

For three hours Sunday, however, there will be no love lost between the two.

"The first thing I think of is the unique friendship between Jake and A.B., and the rapport that Mike McCarthy had with his quarterbacks," Saints quarterbacks coach Mike Sheppard said. "Jake and A.B. achieved a lot together. Besides being friends, they have a unique bond."

"I like Jake despite the fact that he's from Breaux Bridge," quipped Saints center Jerry Fontenot, a native of nearby Lafayette. "He's a good kid. It's nice to see homegrown people be successful in this business. So in that regard I do cheer for him, except for two games out of the year."

Delhomme and Brooks seem to be a perfect fit for their respective teams.

In Carolina, Delhomme is surrounded by a stout defense, stellar special teams and workhorse running back Stephen Davis. In other words, Delhomme, a first-year starter, isn't being asked to win games, just to not lose them.

In New Orleans, Brooks is surrounded with an arsenal of weapons, most notably all-purpose running back Deuce McAllister and three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Joe Horn. But Brooks has the ability and experience to carry an offense on his shoulders.

"Aaron's sitting in a good situation," former Saints quarterback Archie Manning said. "There's not a quarterback in the league who wouldn't want to have the Saints' offensive personnel. So he's set up to succeed, and I think he will."

"I continue to think Aaron has a chance to be great," said Sean Salisbury, an ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback. "Very few quarterbacks have what Aaron Brooks has. When he's right, when he's confident, when he's healthy, I love his throwing motion. When he sets up and puts his foot in the ground and throws it over the top, that ball comes out of his hand as good as anybody in football.

"I'm a huge fan of his. I think Aaron's got every quality you want in a quarterback. They made the right decision to keep him there instead of Jake Delhomme."
Saints officials wanted to keep Delhomme, but in a backup role. But he had reached a point in his career when playing understudy didn't agree with him.

He wanted the ball.

"When you start comparing him to other quarterbacks, Jake is handcuffed a little bit," Manning said. "The Panthers' Nos. 1, 2 and 3 priorities are to run the football. So that hinders your statistics a little bit.

"But Aaron came in the league with a lot of talent, and it's been refined and cleaned up a little bit. Jake came in the league with just average talent, and he's gotten better. He wasn't born with the talent that Aaron was. But they're both capable of quarterbacking their teams."

That was evident last Sunday.

In a 45-17 victory against the Atlanta Falcons, Brooks completed 23 of 30 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns and finished with a career-high passing rating of 148.2. He was chosen NFL Player of the Week and NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

In a 37-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans, Delhomme completed 31 of 49 passes for 362 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles.
The Panthers fell behind 14-0 in the first seven minutes and trailed 27-3 at halftime, prompting an aerial onslaught in the second half.

"They're not going to win much if Jake has to throw 35 to 45 times," Salisbury said. "Jake isn't the kind of guy you build your football team around. In Carolina they've built that team around Stephen Davis. But even with Deuce and Joe Horn, it's still Aaron's gig in New Orleans. That's the big difference in the two quarterbacks."
Delhomme is 1-0 against his former team, helping the Panthers win 19-13 in the first meeting at Ericsson Stadium.

In that game, the Panthers followed their blueprint for success. Davis rushed 30 times for 153 yards and one touchdown. Rod Smart returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Delhomme played mistake-free, completing 15 of 23 passes for 124 yards.

And the Panthers' defense limited the Saints to one touchdown and two field goals.

"What you have in Carolina is what the Baltimore Ravens had when they won the Super Bowl," Salisbury said. "A nasty defense, a big, physical back, good special teams and a quarterback who usually will not get you beat.

"Jake Delhomme is a guy who will continue to progress, and maybe there will come a time when he can carry a team. But right now the big-play guy resides in New Orleans, and the don't-get-me-beat guy resides in Carolina."

. . . . . . .

Brian Allee-Walsh can be reached at ballee-walsh@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3805.

[Edited on 24/10/2003 by BillyCarpenter1]

saintfan · 10-24-2003, 11:37 AM

\"\"They\'re not going to win much if Jake has to throw 35 to 45 times,\" Salisbury said. \"Jake isn\'t the kind of guy you build your football team around. In Carolina they\'ve built that team around Stephen Davis.\"

Qestion: Why is that so easy for everyone on this planet to understand except for a handful of people on this board led by Saintz08?

Answer: A-G-E-N-D-A

BillyCarpenter1 · 10-24-2003, 11:44 AM

saintfan -- Beats the hell out of me. I just thought you would get a kick out of the article--

This is what I can\'t understand that people can\'t see :

\"I continue to think Aaron has a chance to be great,\" said Sean Salisbury, an ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback. \"Very few quarterbacks have what Aaron Brooks has. When he\'s right, when he\'s confident, when he\'s healthy, I love his throwing motion. When he sets up and puts his foot in the ground and throws it over the top, that ball comes out of his hand as good as anybody in football.

\"I\'m a huge fan of his. I think Aaron\'s got every quality you want in a quarterback. They made the right decision to keep him there instead of Jake Delhomme.\"

Cut Brooks? Do you really want to do that? Keep Delhomme over Brooks? Really? Why?

saintfan · 10-24-2003, 11:55 AM

08 just took another sip of Kool-Aid!

:P

10-24-2003, 11:15 AM	#1
BillyCarpenter1 Banned Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,209	Sean Salisbury on Brooks and Delhomme http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...8723101280.xml LEADING MEN A year ago, Jake Delhomme was the understudy to Aaron Brooks. On Sunday, the two meet on the stage they once shared, with the understudy trying to eclipse the star. Friday October 24, 2003 By Brian Allee-Walsh Staff writer The pride of Breaux Bridge leads the first-place Carolina Panthers into town Sunday to play against his former team in a pivotal NFC South showdown. Quarterback Jake Delhomme could not have written a better script when he left the Saints as a free agent in March to compete for a starting job in Carolina. From Our Advertiser And while the game stacks up as a clash between two evenly matched teams, one compelling subplot involves Delhomme and Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks, who developed a kinship during their three seasons together in New Orleans. For three hours Sunday, however, there will be no love lost between the two. "The first thing I think of is the unique friendship between Jake and A.B., and the rapport that Mike McCarthy had with his quarterbacks," Saints quarterbacks coach Mike Sheppard said. "Jake and A.B. achieved a lot together. Besides being friends, they have a unique bond." "I like Jake despite the fact that he's from Breaux Bridge," quipped Saints center Jerry Fontenot, a native of nearby Lafayette. "He's a good kid. It's nice to see homegrown people be successful in this business. So in that regard I do cheer for him, except for two games out of the year." Delhomme and Brooks seem to be a perfect fit for their respective teams. In Carolina, Delhomme is surrounded by a stout defense, stellar special teams and workhorse running back Stephen Davis. In other words, Delhomme, a first-year starter, isn't being asked to win games, just to not lose them. In New Orleans, Brooks is surrounded with an arsenal of weapons, most notably all-purpose running back Deuce McAllister and three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Joe Horn. But Brooks has the ability and experience to carry an offense on his shoulders. "Aaron's sitting in a good situation," former Saints quarterback Archie Manning said. "There's not a quarterback in the league who wouldn't want to have the Saints' offensive personnel. So he's set up to succeed, and I think he will." "I continue to think Aaron has a chance to be great," said Sean Salisbury, an ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback. "Very few quarterbacks have what Aaron Brooks has. When he's right, when he's confident, when he's healthy, I love his throwing motion. When he sets up and puts his foot in the ground and throws it over the top, that ball comes out of his hand as good as anybody in football. "I'm a huge fan of his. I think Aaron's got every quality you want in a quarterback. They made the right decision to keep him there instead of Jake Delhomme." Saints officials wanted to keep Delhomme, but in a backup role. But he had reached a point in his career when playing understudy didn't agree with him. He wanted the ball. "When you start comparing him to other quarterbacks, Jake is handcuffed a little bit," Manning said. "The Panthers' Nos. 1, 2 and 3 priorities are to run the football. So that hinders your statistics a little bit. "But Aaron came in the league with a lot of talent, and it's been refined and cleaned up a little bit. Jake came in the league with just average talent, and he's gotten better. He wasn't born with the talent that Aaron was. But they're both capable of quarterbacking their teams." That was evident last Sunday. In a 45-17 victory against the Atlanta Falcons, Brooks completed 23 of 30 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns and finished with a career-high passing rating of 148.2. He was chosen NFL Player of the Week and NFC Offensive Player of the Week. In a 37-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans, Delhomme completed 31 of 49 passes for 362 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles. The Panthers fell behind 14-0 in the first seven minutes and trailed 27-3 at halftime, prompting an aerial onslaught in the second half. "They're not going to win much if Jake has to throw 35 to 45 times," Salisbury said. "Jake isn't the kind of guy you build your football team around. In Carolina they've built that team around Stephen Davis. But even with Deuce and Joe Horn, it's still Aaron's gig in New Orleans. That's the big difference in the two quarterbacks." Delhomme is 1-0 against his former team, helping the Panthers win 19-13 in the first meeting at Ericsson Stadium. In that game, the Panthers followed their blueprint for success. Davis rushed 30 times for 153 yards and one touchdown. Rod Smart returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Delhomme played mistake-free, completing 15 of 23 passes for 124 yards. And the Panthers' defense limited the Saints to one touchdown and two field goals. "What you have in Carolina is what the Baltimore Ravens had when they won the Super Bowl," Salisbury said. "A nasty defense, a big, physical back, good special teams and a quarterback who usually will not get you beat. "Jake Delhomme is a guy who will continue to progress, and maybe there will come a time when he can carry a team. But right now the big-play guy resides in New Orleans, and the don't-get-me-beat guy resides in Carolina." . . . . . . . Brian Allee-Walsh can be reached at ballee-walsh@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3805. [Edited on 24/10/2003 by BillyCarpenter1]
BillyCarpenter1 Banned Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,209

10-24-2003, 11:37 AM	#2
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	Sean Salisbury on Brooks and Delhomme \"\"They\'re not going to win much if Jake has to throw 35 to 45 times,\" Salisbury said. \"Jake isn\'t the kind of guy you build your football team around. In Carolina they\'ve built that team around Stephen Davis.\" Qestion: Why is that so easy for everyone on this planet to understand except for a handful of people on this board led by Saintz08? Answer: A-G-E-N-D-A

10-24-2003, 11:44 AM	#3
BillyCarpenter1 Banned Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,209	Sean Salisbury on Brooks and Delhomme saintfan -- Beats the hell out of me. I just thought you would get a kick out of the article-- This is what I can\'t understand that people can\'t see : \"I continue to think Aaron has a chance to be great,\" said Sean Salisbury, an ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback. \"Very few quarterbacks have what Aaron Brooks has. When he\'s right, when he\'s confident, when he\'s healthy, I love his throwing motion. When he sets up and puts his foot in the ground and throws it over the top, that ball comes out of his hand as good as anybody in football. \"I\'m a huge fan of his. I think Aaron\'s got every quality you want in a quarterback. They made the right decision to keep him there instead of Jake Delhomme.\" Cut Brooks? Do you really want to do that? Keep Delhomme over Brooks? Really? Why?
BillyCarpenter1 Banned Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,209

10-24-2003, 11:55 AM	#4
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	Sean Salisbury on Brooks and Delhomme 08 just took another sip of Kool-Aid! :P

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