No Doubt Panthers Will Extend QB Delhomme

by Jaxon on Mar 26, 2009 11:01 AM EDT

Up until this point it has been unclear whether the Panthers would extend or re-sign QB Jake Delhomme to a new contract or simply let him walk after he completed the one remaining year of his current contract. Considering he counts for an $11M cap hit this year it only makes sense to do something to lower that number given how strapped the Panthers are for salary cap space. Well we finally have something of a confirmation of the Panthers intentions concerning Delhomme:

On Wednesday, the sides confirmed talks aimed at a new deal. Delhomme is in the final year of his contract and scheduled to count more than $11million against the salary cap. The Panthers could significantly reduce the 2009 cap figure – perhaps by half – via an extension.

“There are discussions,” coach John Fox said at the NFL meetings. “There is no question we've got a commitment to Jake. Whether that comes to fruition with a contract (extension), I can't say.”

So it looks like we can expect to see Delhomme sign an extension at some point in the next 30 days in order to provide the needed cap relieve regardless of what happens with Julius Peppers. At least that is what such a move might suggest. Darin Gantt thinks otherwise:

Any deal for Delhomme will be done to keep him as the quarterback here for the next few years, not for short-term salary cap relief. I'm going to say that again, because the lunatic fringe has struggled to understand this offseason. They're going to do a deal with Jake because they want to keep him around.

I know there are a lot of fans out there disappointed to hear that but contrary to those opinions John Fox has not been shy to state his feelings about his QB:

“Sometimes today's headlines aren't the right things (on which to base) a big decision,” said Fox. “Jake had games like that during the season. He didn't have an especially great game at Tampa. He didn't have an especially great game out in Oakland. I think that can be said for any quarterback in the National Football League.

“So when you're a decision-maker, you can't let the emotion of that one outing blur the big picture. … I wholeheartedly appreciate what fans say, and the critics. But I think he had a bad game; he's not a bad quarterback.”

I think this is an obvious good move as the Panthers don't really have any other options that would present as much an opportunity to win in 2009 as Delhomme. Even I highly drafted rookie QB would sit the bench for at least one season in Charlotte behind Jake.

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Awesome...

I know the coaching staff is committed to Jake and yadda yadda yadda. Can they at least make it an open competition between the quarterbacks we have on our current roster? It would be nice to see what Matt and Josh could do with the starters, but apparently Jake is head and shoulders above these guys. Who am I to question the coaches’ judge of talent. I mean they are trying to put the team in the best position to win right? No doubt Jake will be extended, but there is doubt whether Jake is still “the man” for this team. It’s up to you to prove yourself once again Jake.

by Davejinxer on Mar 26, 2009 11:41 AM EDT reply actions

Lunatic fringe?

I like Dain Gantt because he is a good source of info on the Panthers, however I’m not so sure about the use of the term lunatic fringe.

According to Merriam Webster online-

Main Entry: lunatic fringe
Function: noun
Date: 1913
: the members of a usually political or social movement espousing extreme, eccentric, or fanatical views

The fan base wanting to replace Jake may equal or exceed those wanting to keep him at this point. Does this make it an eccentric or fanatical view point?

Time for another poll?

by Davejinxer on Mar 26, 2009 11:59 AM EDT reply actions

but how could you construct that poll?

There are myriad combinations, but most are unlikely –
       make some super-trade, mortgaging the future to get Brady or a Manning?
       trade Peppers for a middle-tier upgrade like Cutler at the expense of all the other needs?
       trade numerous picks to get in the top 5 to draft that once in a decade rookie?
       go after Jamarcus Russell or Vince Young and see if they can have a resurgence like Collins?

None of those are likely, so having them as alternate choices isn’t going to work, regardless of how people wish/vote.

Personnel decisions are interconnected to cap, who’s available in FA or rookie, internal depth (can change due to injury during the year), other players on you team and the scheme built to utilize them (lacking the end of the year, IMHO), and on gameday how the two teams are executing. A “strong-armed” replacement would require a change in the WR corps, and a subsequent drop-off somewhere else, in the cap-driven world, for example.

My personal choice is to fix the D-line and secondary, so that the Panthers can stay “run first” and keep the QB from having to win the game single-handedly. Then try and see if Matt Moore can successfully hand off, do a few slants/curls, and the occasional play-action bomb.

Can that an option on the poll?

by panthersnbraves on Mar 26, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Great

does this mean he’s going to be around for the next while? Because eventually the team needs to find a replacement, but as is the case with every other position, they seem to ignore needs until the guy that had is gone (S with Minter, DT with Jenkins, QB next?)…

They have to learn that just because you have a starter now, doesn’t mean you can’t go find a back-up/future starter

True Blue Jazz

by UtesFan89 on Mar 26, 2009 12:52 PM EDT reply actions

the money

Regardless of the reason why, we’re going to pay Jake less. It doesn’t matter how long his contract is for because the NFL has a way of cutting or trading players regardless of contracts. However, I firmly believe that even if Jake plays poorly, he’ll still be our starter for the next two years. I hope not. Fox said that Jake had a couple bad games, every QB did. But he failed to mention Jake’s lack of good games. Our defense also sucked for the last half of the season, with Peppers. So the bottom line is we’ll have more money to sign some guys, hopefully to bolster our defense.

by usana_gaines on Mar 26, 2009 2:56 PM EDT reply actions

The Panthers will have to give up guaranteed money

If Jake is going to give up making $11M this season you know its only because the Panthers are going to guarantee more than that over 3-4 years.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Mar 26, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Hopefully

Jake Delhomme will retire before then, which will take his number off the books once we get a new QB.

"Once again the trowsers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn

by Revshawn on Mar 27, 2009 1:58 AM EDT reply actions

the next QB

The next QB of our future is probably not on our roster yet, although I still believe it could be Matt Moore. But if it is true that our QB of the future is not on our roster yet, then there is no one for him to train up this year. If we get the guy in next year’s draft, then the 2010 season would probably be Jake’s last as our starter. As for a QB competition, I think Jake wouldn’’t do so hot. When he was in his prime, 2003, he looked bad in training camp and couldn’t beat out Rodney Peete for the starting job. Many people were disappointed that we signed this guy and he couldn’t win the job. Then the regular season started, he came off the bench to beat the Jags, and hasn’t looked back. I think Josh McCown would beat him bad in a training camp battle because McCown has a history of looking good in practice. But in real games, both Foxy and I know that he can’t run the game with the leadership and poise of Jake, even if Jake is only handing it off (Troy Aikman style).

by usana_gaines on Mar 27, 2009 3:02 AM EDT reply actions

He looked great

before he messed up his elbow. Remember when we had David Carr and everyone was begging for him to be “the guy”. Jake thrived in that competition atmosphere because that is what he is above all else . . . a competitor.

Will Parker

by WillParker81 on Mar 28, 2009 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions

So now Delhomme's agent says just the opposite

No extension is being discussed:

These people just love messing with our minds. I still think an extension will happen in spite of what Smith is saying but it makes you wonder why Chandler would report “the sides confirmed talks” and then the agent says “what talks?”. Somebody is not being truthful and it sucks!!

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Mar 27, 2009 10:38 AM EDT reply actions

(in the voice of Chris Farley)

linky no worky

by LittleKing on Mar 27, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Okay, I'll see if I can find it again and fix

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Mar 27, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Lets see if the one below works

Try this one

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Mar 27, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

After more thought

I am completely in favor of signing him to an extension. We need the cap space this year is the main reason. Of course that means he will have to receive additional guaranteed money in the future years which I would be fine with. Look at it this way, since 2010 will probably be uncapped (who knows about the following years) if by chance we cut him after this season he are not taking a cap hit the following year since there is no cap. Jerry just has to be willing to pay the extra funds for a few more years.

Of course for the same reason Delhomme may not want a contract (meaning it’s easier to cut a player because it doesn’t affect the cap).

by LittleKing on Mar 27, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions