Geaux-Jer (passes first test)

[NewsCopy]

Jerry Babb broke some of Jake Delhomme's records at Louisiana-Lafayette, and he's about to follow Delhomme's path to the NFL. Babb only can hope it works just as well for him. The 6-foot-2 Babb signed with the Green Bay Packers shortly after the draft concluded Sunday. That's the same route Delhomme took the NFL. After Delhomme finished his career with the Ragin' Cajuns, he was signed as a undrafted free agent by the New Orleans Saints. Since signing with the Carolina Panthers in 2003, he has been one of the NFC's top quarterbacks. Babb finished his college career as UL-Lafayette's all-time leader in passing accuracy (56.9 percent), breaking Delhomme's school record of 52.6 percent. "He broke all of Jake's completion records," said Steven Jeffers, one of Babb's agents. "The thing with Babb is he's a double threat. He can throw, and he can also run." Babb started all four years and had his best passing season in 2004, when he threw for 2,345 yards and 12 touchdowns. For his career, he threw for 6,241 yards, 30 touchdowns and 38 interceptions. The Ragin' Cajuns also ran some option plays, and Babb rushed for 1,604 yards on 330 carries (a 4.9-yard average) and ran for 19 touchdowns during his career. "He's a very smart guy who's going to understand protections and different things they do at that level," said Louisiana-Lafayette coach Rickey Bustle, who coached Michael Vick and Jim Druckenmiller at Virginia Tech. "He's a ferocious competitor, a good athlete and a winner. His arm strength is good, not great. "I've had some guys that have gone to that league and he's good enough to make it. He's got the mental toughness to play in that league." Jeffers said he had calls from several teams about Babb, but his client picked the Packers because he felt it was his best chance to make an NFL team. The Packers' top two quarterbacks are set with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, but the No. 3 job likely will be an open competition. Ingle Martin, a fifth-round draft pick in 2006, spent all of last season on the roster but is far from a lock to make the team this season. The rest of the story By Rob Demovsky rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com

[LsuULfan]

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Is Babb's only shot in the NFL @ QB? Any chance, given his athletic ability, they could try to convert him to another position-like receiver? Don't know what his 40 time is-but he was a good runner and ought to have good hands having played QB.

[rhineaux]

_ Is Babb's only shot in the NFL @ QB? Any chance, given his athletic ability, they could try to convert him to another position-like receiver? Don't know what his 40 time is-but he was a good runner and ought to have good hands having played QB. _

A good Runner he is, I've always thought he did a good job of seeing one move or one tackler ahead of him. but, i don't think he has WR type speed.

JB is the type of guy that, I think, will take in this experience for what it is, a once in a lifetime shot. He will ride the wave as long as it goes, and hopefully make some good money doing it. but i think that once its over, he won't waste too much time trying to keep playing in the arena leagues or the NFL Europe or something like that. he is very smart and either has, or will soon have, an engineering degree, and I am sure will take advantage of that. And i would also assume that there is always the chance he could get into some coaching, becasue of his understanding for the game and his intelligence.

Not saying he doesn't ahve a chance to make the team and stay in the NFL for a long time, but its a small one. It just doesn't happen that often.

[LsuULfan]

Thanks. I've seen Jerry play some but not as much as you guys.

Good luck to him.

Hopefully he can at least ride it for a little while. From a football fan's perspective, hard to think of a better more storied place to take your shot and breathe it all in. Lifetime memories even if you don't make it.

[CajunMom53]

Was anything about Babb's signing, etc. ever printed in The Advertiser. If it was I must have missed it. If it hasn't been Shame on Them

[BirdofParadise]

_ Was anything about Babb's signing, etc. ever printed in The Advertiser. If it was I must have missed it. If it hasn't been Shame on Them _

It was in Monday's paper.

[CajunMom53]

Ahhh so I did miss it, thanks

[Turbine]

Nice picture of Jerry in Packer country.

I hope he has read RaginPagin through the years and came across coach Faulkinberry's advice to Jake Delhomme. "OVERTHROW EVERYONE"

[ulforlife]

_ Nice picture of Jerry in Packer country.

I hope he has read RaginPagin through the years and came across coach Faulkinberry's advice to Jake Delhomme. "OVERTHROW EVERYONE" _

This is awesome. I am putting it on my facebook profile

[snote]

ex saint O-coor and now head guy mike mccarthy in the back ground..

also on staff .... lafayette high's jerry fontenot

[CajunGuru]

_ ex saint O-coor and now head guy mike mccarthy in the back ground..

also on staff .... lafayette high's jerry fontenot _

Jerry Fontenot? Man that cat is almost as old as Billy! Going to the spring game to catch the boys? I might see you there.

[snote]

guessing the one vs. breaux bridge.. ?