BATON ROUGE, La. - Jake Delhomme, a Cajun to the core, was about as popular as a backup quarterback could be during his time with the New Orleans Saints.
Since he left for Carolina in 2003 - leading the Panthers to the Super Bowl and keeping them in playoff contention ever since - New Orleans has been left to wonder what could have been if Delhomme had been given a chance to compete with Aaron Brooks for the starting job.
Delhomme's latest return to Louisiana, where he's never lost since leaving New Orleans, comes on the very week the Saints gave up on Brooks, benching him in favor of Todd Bouman.
"We're 3-10, so let's see what the other kid can do," Saints coach Jim Haslett said. "Let's see if there is another Jake Delhomme here, or can Todd Bouman be a No. 1 quarterback in the league."
Brooks does not expect to play for the Saints again, given that he's due $6.5 million in salary and bonuses next year and $7.5 million in 2007. With the Saints ready to explore other options - they might even finish low enough in the standings to draft USC's Matt Leinart - it might make sense to unload Brooks' salary.
Bouman, 33, is in his ninth season and has started only three games. He had his best game with Minnesota in 2001, throwing for 348 yards and four touchdowns filling in for Daunte Culpepper against Tennessee.
Today, he may need to summon a similar performance against the Panthers (9-4), who have been strong defensively and will be hungry for a victory after losing last week to Tampa Bay. That defeat cost Carolina its hold on first place in the NFC South.
"It's that time of year. It's a must game," Delhomme said. "You could say we're mad. Any time you lose, you're down and you're upset."
Delhomme's success has come despite average passing numbers. Playing in a run-oriented scheme, he has thrown for fewer yards (2,822) than Brooks (2,882) this season. But Delhomme has a knack for making clutch plays and managing the game well enough to win, while Brooks has often undermined otherwise impressive performances with untimely turnovers.
The Cajun QB's rise has made him a celebrity in his hometown of Breaux Bridge, near Lafayette. Some stores there display Panthers jerseys in the windows. And it takes less than an hour to drive from Breaux Bridge to the open-air Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.
The effect could be one of the friendliest road environments the Panthers have encountered, far different than the loud, hostile Louisiana Superdome.
Delhomme has acquired tickets for numerous relatives and has been home enough in recent years to appreciate his popularity.
"I think it will be a decent little crowd," said Delhomme, who played his college ball for Louisiana-Lafayette. "I'm not saying it's going to be packed, but there will be some people there. LSU hasn't played in a couple of weeks, and people might just show up (today). They love football."
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