Pro. Jake Delhomme

[Turbine]

March 2, 2003 8:25:05 PT Gene Chamberlain reports for the Daily Southtown free agent QB Jake Delhomme (Saints) will visit the Chicago Bears in the coming week, according to Delhomme's agent, Mark Bartelstein.

[Turbine]

March 4, 2003 5:48:18 PT The Sun Times reports free agent QB Jake Delhomme (Saints) is in Dallas after meeting with the Carolina Panthers, and his agent, Mark Bartelstein, said nothing has been set with the Chicago Bears, despite earlier reports.

March 4, 2003 5:59:24 PT Pat Yasinskas reports for the Charlotte Observer free agent QB Jake Delhomme (Saints), as expected, visited with the Carolina Panthers on Monday. Delhomme spent Monday meeting with members of the Panthers coaching staff and went to dinner Monday night with GM Marty Hurney and the coaches. Contract talks could continue today with Delhomme's agent, Rick Smith.

March 4, 2003 6:03:15 PT The Advocate reports New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis said the Saints will sign a backup quarterback if free agent QB Jake Delhomme were to leave. "Jake has told us that he is not interested in going somewhere else as a backup," Loomis said. "If it is as a backup then he wants to be back here with the Saints."

[NewsCopy]

Panthers | Still Favorites To Land Delhomme

March 5, 2003 6:12:35

Pat Yasinskas reports for the Charlotte Observer the Carolina Panthers remain the favorites to sign free agent QB Jake Delhomme (Saints).

League sources said Delhomme had been asking for a contract worth an average of about $1.5 million over three or four seasons.

[NewsCopy]

Jake Delhomme agreed to a two-year contract worth $4 million with the Carolina Panthers this morning.That's the first piece of a quarterback puzzle that could come together very rapidly. Incumbent starter Rodney Peete is expected to re-sign with the Panthers as early as today.

But Delhomme, 28, a former backup with the New Orleans Saints, could end up being Carolina's quarterback of the future. Although he has made only two NFL starts, he is viewed as a player with lots of upside and he could challenge Peete for he starting role at some point.

The Panthers also could draft a quarterback in April. Chris Weinke, who has a $3.5 million salary cap figure, and Randy Fasani also are on the roster.

The source of the story

Charlotte Observer
PAT YASINSKAS-Staff Writer

[1stTake]

I just heard Jake Delhomme is a Panther. That sucks for the Saints.

[Turbine]

Dan Henning is Jakes OC

Here is his Offensive Philosophy

"You’ve got to be able to run the ball when you have to run it, not when you want to. And you have to be able to throw the ball when you have to throw it, not when you want to. If you can get those two things done, the rest of the equation comes fairly easily."

[Turbine]

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

Let the competition begin.

The Carolina Panthers doubled their pleasure Wednesday, and set the stage for what figures to be a compelling battle for the No. 1 quarterback spot, by agreeing to contract terms with a pair of potential starters.

Longtime veteran Rodney Peete, whose 14 starts for the Panthers in 2002 were two more than he had in the previous four seasons combined, agreed to a three-year deal. Unrestricted free agent Jake Delhomme, ardently sought by several teams despite a lack of playing time, will sign a two-year deal.

The deals likely end the Carolina tenure of Chris Weinke, the team's starter in 2001 and No. 1 on the depth chart in camp last year. While team officials have indicated that the incumbent Peete will arrive at camp as the starter, it is clear that Delhomme was acquired to provide him a younger challenger, and to perhaps supplant him by the start of the season.

In four seasons in New Orleans, the 28-year-old Delhomme appeared in just six games and started only two of them. But scouts for several teams seemed to be impressed with his arm strength, moxie, and playmaking skills, and he was a hot commodity in the early free-agent market.

The feeling is that Delhomme can be a starter with the right team.

The former Louisiana-Lafayette star rejected an offer from Dallas and chose the Panthers' proposal, which will pay him about $4 million for two years. Delhomme has completed 50 of 86 passes for 634 yards, and he has three touchdown passes, five interceptions and a passer rating of 68.7.

Peete, 36, will sign a three-year, $4 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $500,000. In addition to the signing bonus, Peete will collect a roster bonus of $500,000. The base salaries for each of the three years of the new deal are $1 million.

The contract, which takes Peete off the unrestricted free-agent market, also includes "makeable" incentives of up to $1.5 million in 2003 and about $2.5 million for each of the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

Carolina officials have emphasized the entire offseason they wanted to retain Peete, a 14-year veteran. General manager Marty Hurney reiterated that at the combine workouts and also said the Panthers were not likely to use their first-round draft choice on a quarterback prospect in 2003.

Peete won the starting job from Weinke just before the beginning of the '02 regular season and played especially well at the outset of the campaign. He cobbled together seven victories, quite an accomplishment considering that the Panthers won just one game in 2001.

The former Southern California star completed 223 of 381 passes for 2,630 yards, with 15 touchdown passes, 14 interceptions and a passer rating of 77.4. All of those numbers represent career highs. Perhaps more important than statistics, though, was the fact that Peete brought veteran leadership and stability to a young team.

Carolina represents the sixth NFL team with which Peete has played and his resume includes stops in Detroit (1989-93), Dallas (1994), Philadelphia (1995-98), Washington (1999) and Oakland (2000-2001).

Peete's career numbers include 1,339 completions in 2,335 attempts for 16,316 yards, with 76 touchdown passes and 92 interceptions. He has played in 101 games and started 86 of them.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

[Cajun Express]

That sucks for the Saints.

yes, but it is great for Jake, a chance to start and get out of loserville. In case you think I am wrong exactly how many playoff games have they been in, and how many have they won. Nuss said about the Saint's.

[NOCajun]

Yeah, but I wish he could've gone somewhere OUT of the Saints' division (like Dallas!).

[Zeebart21]

But, it will be hard to pull against him next year...

Even when they play the N O losers...

Way to get the hell out JD. Screw Haslett.



Z.

PS hope i am not being toooo opinionated.

:^)

[NewsCopy]

Quarterback leaves N.O. Saints for 2-year, $4 million deal with Carolina

LAFAYETTE — Jake Delhomme will finally get a chance to be a starting quarterback in the National Football League.

The former Teurlings Catholic and University of Louisiana star announced Wednesday that he has agreed to a two-year, $4 million contract with the Carolina Panthers, leaving behind five years of waiting with the New Orleans Saints.

“I never thought I would make this kind of money playing football,” said Delhomme, who labored as Aaron Brooks’ backup with the Saints. “I’ve been waiting all my life for this type of opportunity.

“Three-and-a-half years ago, I was going to workouts, looking for a job. I’m thrilled that I got the opportunity.”

Delhomme won’t be handed the Panthers’ starting job. The club re-signed 37-year-old veteran Rodney Peete, who started most of the season in 2002, and also has 30-year-old former Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke.

But Delhomme will get the chance to surpass those two, something he never really had in New Orleans behind Brooks.

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[snote]

Originally posted by NewsCopy
Jake Delhomme will finally get a chance to be a starting quarterback in the National Football League.

Bruce, not to nic-pick, although this next season will be his 7th chance (smiling)..