saintz08

Delhomme not listening to rumors
Kevin Foote
Posted on January 11, 2003

File Photo



Former UL Lafayette Jake Delhomme, shown during training camp, enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent with the New Orleans Saints.




BREAUX BRIDGE - Yes, he's heard many of the rumors.

As hard as he tried to avoid them, it just wasn't to be.

New Orleans Saints' quarterback Jake Delhomme got numerous calls from friends and teammates over the past week or so asking him about his future.

The most prominent one was a midweek report in the Chicago Sun Times that the Bears aren't going to select Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer of USC as many predicted, but instead try to sign Delhomme to take over as their starter.

"Yes, I've heard about a lot of them,' said Delhomme, who enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent. "(Saints kicker) John Carney left a message on my answering machine the other day about the story in the Chicago paper, and other people have called me also. The truth is that it's way too early. You can't really do anything until I believe March 1.'

The truth is that Delhomme isn't as concerned about the rumors as some may think. He and his wife, Keri, are enjoying their first child, 3 1/2-week-old Lauren Elizabeth, and the family is moving into its new home in the Breaux Bridge area.

"To be honest, I haven't looked at a newspaper, watched TV or listened to any kind of sports on the radio in six or seven days,' he said.

It's easy to understand why Delhomme would want to block out the end of the Saints' season with the team collapsing and not qualifying for the playoffs.

"It was tough, because we didn't take care of business,' Delhomme said. "We didn't get the job done. It was really an awkward situation in the last game when the fans were chanting my name. It was flattering, but it made it tough.

"I understand how it works. Aaron (Brooks) is the starter. Really, too much was made of his injury. I basically had the same injury in college and it doesn't affect your throwing.'

Being an unrestricted free agent, Delhomme will be free to sign with any team beginning on Feb. 28. Delhomme is hopeful that options will be there when that time comes.

"I have talked to my agent (Priority Sports in Chicago), and there has been some talk about me,' he said. "I don't really want to mention teams right now, but obviously the Bears are one of them. I think it's very possible, but we're not just going to jump at the first offer.

"I don't want to go to a situation where a team is just blowing smoke, and I really don't have a legitimate chance to be the starter. If I'm going to be a backup, I'm going to stay in New Orleans. (Saints G.M.) Mickey (Loomis) knows that and (head coach) Jim (Haslett) knows that.'