One win away from the Super Bowl, Jake Delhomme is like one of his prize Louisiana racehorses. Down the stretch he comes — frisky, nostrils flaring at the sight of the competition. He's a gamer with a lot of giddyap, retaining the same unbridled spirit he had as a young'un in Beaux Bridge, La., where he hung a poster of Joe Montana in his bedroom and dared to daydream.
Like a victorious 50-1 long shot, Delhomme has slain the odds. The tools of NFL scouting, imprecise a "science" as it is, can quantify many things: size, strength, speed, agility, aptitude. But they still haven't figured out a way to wrap a tape measure around a guy's heart. They missed the sound of a big ticker in a big ol' country-raised thoroughbred passer.
Delhomme remains all the rage down in Cajun country this week ("Geaux Jake!"), where he raises horses with his dad and brother. And he's pretty popular in Charlotte, too, where Panther faithful wear "Got Jake?" T-shirts heading into the NFC Championship Game on Sunday in Seattle.
With all the hoopla, Jake remains Jake. Back in 2004, he took a portion of his signing bonus money and bought a new vehicle. Not a Hummer or a Rover or a Viper or some other highfalutin gas-guzzler.
He bought a tractor. Yep, to mow the yard.
"That is one thing we know how to do in Louisiana — we can grow grass with the best of them," he told reporters this week.
This guy mows 'em down with the best of them during the playoffs, particularly when he has to pack his bags. Last week, in Chicago, the animated quarterback won his fourth postseason start on the road in as many attempts — an NFL record — while beating the ferocious Bears with a bayou-wide smile on his face (thanks, in part, to Steve Smith, of course).
Watch Delhomme this weekend. He'll look more wired than a tech geek on six cups of Seattle's Best.
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Delhomme's path leads to elite status
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Jake Delhomme Pro Bowl Wallpaper
Originally Posted by Rebel02
