Metry, you are correct, the Saints overcame one of the biggest bonehead moves in there history (which might I add, they have many of) by landing Drew Brees, the problem is had Jake gotten the start late in the season in 2004, then the Saints would have probably kept Jake the following season as the starter and they would not have gone backwards before they had to go forward.
This has worked out the best for Jake, the Saints and myself. I moved to Charlotte the same season that Jake started for Carolina and have been a fan ever since. Jake may have struggled in mediocraty with the Saints because of there terrible ownership and management that has plauged them for decades, Jake was able to go to work for Marty Hurney and John Fox who despite terrible injuries are a franchise that has wanted to....and plan to win every year since there inception, while the Saints have had 40 years of debacles to look back on.
I am glad Jake made the move and I hope he wins a Super Bowl, reality is he will have a better chance in Charlotte then I believe Brees will ever have in New Orleans and believe me, i think Brees is a better QB, no slight to Jake, but Drew is one of the top 5 in the NFL, Jake is in the top half of QB's. But a couple of things will help Jake over Drew.
1 Ownership and Management--Panthers win by a landslide.
2 Talent at QB--Drew by a little bit
3 Desire and Heart--Both have it, but I believe Jake has more, he has fought for it longer, proving in HS, College, World League and NFL is the example of that. Remember Jake arrived at UL as the #5 QB on the roster after recieving very little offers and started for 4 years. Jake continuilly got cut by the Saints cause they are retarded.
4 Talent around the QB--PANTHERS, PANTHERS, PANTHERS
5 Intangibles---JAKE, JAKE, JAKE
Bottom Line, Jake is better off, as are the Saints and Panthers then they were in 2004. But us fans of both teams are even better off for having the ability to watch Jake and Drew play for our favorite teams.