'm starting to get a little excited about seeing QB Matt Moore get the start this weekend. I would have preferred HC John Fox to have simply faced reality and benched Delhomme thereby giving Moore a shot of confidence. As it stands he might feel like he'll be back on the bench once Delhomme is healed, unless of course Moore shines in Delhomme absence. This edition of Paw Prints  is focused on QB Matt Moore and his pending start against the Bucs. Steve Reed reports that if we liked what we saw from Moore in '07 he is a different QB now:

Now in his third year, Moore insists he's a much different quarterback than he was in '07
Moore said he’s much more prepared this time around. "I mean, a ton," Moore said of how much more comfortable he is with the team’s offense now compared to 2007. "I was here four games before I got in here before, and I'm going on my third year now. I feel good, I feel ready. If it comes to that, we'll find out soon enough. But I feel good."

Photo: Jake Delhomme's finger, pre-break but he's already in pain

One of the keys to Moore's success will be the protection, which has struggled since LT Jordan Gross went on IR:

ProFootballWeekly.com - Delhomme feels effects of Gross’ absence
Wharton gave up three sacks in the team's Week 11 loss and QB Jake Delhomme's play suffered because of it. He was sacked a season-high four times and was hit eight times. The team was optimistic that losing Gross, who made the Pro Bowl last season, wouldn't be a major issue due to Wharton's experience at left tackle, but it's clear, at least when it comes to pass protection, that the front five are not as capable as they were with Gross as an anchor.

So much for the "kick Wharton to the outside" strategy should we need a LT. I would hope the Panthers look to add a true LT as  back-up at LT next year.

Now that we know which finger Delhomme broke I think its safe to say Moore should get multiple starts.

Beason plans to fight assault charges, civil suit | The Herald - Rock Hill, SC
FINGER UPDATE — Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme saw a specialist Tuesday for more tests on his broken right middle finger, and it doesn't appear he will be able to play this week.

So if Delhomme wanted to give some fans cheering his injury he couldn't "give them the finger". Okay, lame joke...its the best I could do...Speaking of lame, that describes DE Julius Peppers play of late due to a hand injury.This may not seem obvious yet but can we start to feel confident yet the Panthers will let Peppers walk at season end?

December may hold answers for Panthers - CharlotteObserver.com
Julius Peppers. Even though Peppers had a great month in the middle of this season, it was book-ended by an ignominious start and his current limited effectiveness due to a hand injury. Surely Carolina won't short-circuit its entire salary cap a second time to sign Peppers again in 2010, short- or long-term. That's the wisest move – just let this end. Peppers is still a fine player, but his million-per-game salary is one of the things very wrong with this season.

Any mention of franchising Peppers should result in Marty Hurney's immediate firing.

Even though the Panthers season might be fading they will remain int he spotlight due to some key prime time match-ups down the stretch.

Darin Gantt's Panthers Blog | The Herald - Rock Hill, SC
For a team that's pretty bad, the Panthers are going to get good exposure the last month. They're playing the prime time Sunday night game on Dec. 20 (and most who'd know doubt highly that NBC would flex out a chance to talk Brett Favre) but they might get flexed into another one. After all, if New Orleans is 16-0 going into the final week, the league's going to want as many eyes as possible on that one. That would give a meaningless exercise some juice.

I would love to see the Saints at 15-0 and having to decide whether to play their starters and go for 16-0 or rest them for the playDecember may hold answers for Panthers - CharlotteObserver.com