In case you missed the introductory post to this tournament, here is the overrated bracket:
Most Overrated Panthers
1. Jake Delhomme | ??? | ??? | ??? | ??? |
16. Jason Baker | ||||
8. Ricky Manning, Jr. | ??? | |||
9. Eugene Robinson | ||||
5. David Gettis | ??? | ??? | ||
12. Na'il Diggs | ||||
4. DeShaun Foster | ??? | |||
13. Rocket Ismail | ||||
6. Richard Marshall | ??? | ??? | ??? | |
11. Jordan Gross | ||||
3. Mike Wahle | ??? | |||
14. Doug Evans | ||||
7. Deon Grant | ??? | ??? | ||
10. Ken Lucas | ||||
2. Tim Biakabutuka | ??? | |||
15. John Kasay |
Today we're voting on the 1 vs. 16 matchup -- Jake Delhomme vs. Jason Baker.
The one benefit of this matchup is I don't have to give a history lesson on either player since they're both fresh in the minds of Panthers fans. However, I do feel the need to use a few words to explain why they are in the tournament.
While a lot of fans think Jake Delhomme is the greatest quarterback in team history, that doesn't mean a whole lot when you consider that the Panthers have had a pretty crappy run of quarterbacks in their short existence. Also, we have to keep in mind that Jake was mostly overrated by the coaching staff and front office, who refused to draft a viable replacement for Jake when they had several opportunities to do so (Aaron Rodgers in 2005, Joe Flacco in 2008).
While Jake will always be a fan favorite, he was a game manager for most of his career, and the team's decision to roll with Jake through the last few years of his career in Carolina cost the Panthers several years of competitiveness when they could have avoided that turmoil had they valued him properly.
The same goes for punters and Jason Baker. He was good, but he wasn't as good as many of us thought he was when he punted for the Panthers (shoestring tackle of Leon Washington notwithstanding). The organization should have given him the boot (pun intended) long before they eventually cut ties with him at the end of the 2011 season, but then again, had they done that we wouldn't have the best punter in the history of the NFL on our roster now. I guess it's one of those good things that come out of a bad situation.
But anyway, I digress. Who do you think is more overrated, Jake Delhomme or Jason Baker? Vote in the poll below, and feel free to discuss your vote in the comments.
Please remember that voting will close in 48 hours.
More from Cat Scratch Reader:
• Ranking the NFC South Linebackers
• Munnerlyn: Defense can be "scary good"