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.'

WhoDat

Well I\'m in Chicago and let me tell you... if the rumors up here are true you can kiss Delhomme goodbye... or start chanting \"lets go bears!\"

dmanlapadu

Lord I hope they keep him home !!!!!!!

billyh1026

Jake is gone guys...much as you hate it guess you better get use to it. Check out the link...

http://www.sportingnews.com/voices/d.../20030112.html

saintz08

PFW Reports :

New Orleans

Saints QB Aaron Brooks is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair the torn Infraspinatus tendon in his right shoulder, and the revelation that Brooks’ injury will require surgery has even more people clamoring that Brooks should have been replaced at the end of the season with backup Jake Delhomme. Brooks struggled over the final three games of the season after suffering the injury, but head coach Jim Haslett believed that since Brooks still had a full range of motion in the shoulder, he could play. We’re told Haslett did not disclose the extent of the injury because he didn’t want to give opponents an area to shoot for to try to knock Brooks from the game. Insiders also say that Haslett felt that an 80-percent-healthy Brooks was still a better option than a 100-percent-healthy Delhomme, which should give you an idea of just what the Saints think of their backup. The team still would like Delhomme, who has been a hot name in the free-agent rumor mill in the past week, to return as insurance for Brooks because Delhomme knows the offense well. But such revelations from Haslett could make it much more difficult for New Orleans to keep their backup in town.


After the slap Haslett gave Jake at the end of the season , I do not see why he would want to return . I can say this if Jake goes to Dallas and gets in the play offs and the Saints blow it next year and do not get in , there will be no place for Haslett to hide .

\"Americans play to win at all times. I wouldn\'t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed.\" - George S. Patton
On another note, I\'ll take a bite of that crow 08. - Saintfan
Brooks is a moron!! - Halo