Pro. Jake Delhomme

[NewsCopy]

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Jake Delhomme had no guarantees when he arrived at Carolina's training camp last year. He wanted to be a starting quarterback, but wasn't even sure if he'd ever take a snap.

What a difference a year makes.

Delhomme is back in camp this season with a firm hold on the starting spot. He unseated Rodney Peete at halftime of last year's season opener and hasn't looked back, leading the Panthers into the Super Bowl.

Now he's the star of a television commercial that spoofs the 1970s Coca-Cola commercial with Mean Joe Greene, and his own cereal, Jake's Flakes.

And as he made his way down to the field for his first day of training camp, fans happily shouted out to him that they had named their baby after him.

"Shoot, I'm honored," Delhomme said. "If they want to name their kid after me, hopefully I can live up to that and be a good role model."

Not even a storybook season that ended with a 32-29 loss to New England in the Super Bowl has changed Delhomme's aw- shucks manner. He's still humble and a bit amazed at his sudden celebrity.

But there is one major difference in Delhomme this year. Having the starting job cemented has made him a whole lot more comfortable.

"Last year I came in here competing for a job. ... We were splitting reps down the middle, and I was still learning a system where they had a year head start on me," he said. "I never really played but in two and a half games before last year. Now I've got 19 or 20 more games from last year, and it's just given me confidence."

The rest of the story

By JENNA FRYER, AP Sports Writer

[DaddyCajun]

Go Jake!!!!!

[NewsCopy]

CHARLOTTE - Confidence

That's the one word that keeps coming up when teammates are asked what they see this summer that's different about quarterback Jake Delhomme.

That's what playing a full season at quarterback and a six-year, $38 million will do for a guy.

"I think he knows now it's his football team now," Panthers wide receiver Ricky Proehl said. "His confidence is tremendously high right now, and I think you can just tell by how he steps in the huddle and how he carries himself and how he delivers the football - he's making his reads and getting rid of it quicker. That's huge."

Entering last season, Delhomme had started just two games in the NFL and his status on the team's depth chart remained in question.

"I have a different feeling this year than last year," Delhomme admitted. "Because last year I was still the new guy, still trying to learn, trying to come in, didn't know who was going to be the starter. But now I feel comfortable now."

A year ago, Delhomme was one of four quarterbacks competing for a starting job.

He split reps with Rodney Peete, Chris Weinke and Randy Fasani and was doing his best to pick up an offensive system that his three competitors already were familiar with.

The rest of the story

STEVE REED
FREEDOM NEWS SERVICE

[Turbine]

Jake Best Damn Sports Show
give the page time to que and go through a promo

[shof]

Saw part of it last night. The Bojangles commercial is hilarious! Jake showed a great sense of humor too. 16" rims on the tractor and his response to the question "do you talk Cajun". Looking forward to seeing the entire clip when I get home :<))

[bigearl]

Ther isn't a better class act in all of sports. I love how he seems to stay grounded even when he's sitting on top of the world.

Nice move Saints....beatches!

Go get 'em Jake!!!!

[bigearl]

I think it'd be awesome if he could talk to our football team and give them some pointers about success, winning, being down, being the under dog, life, etc...

[RaisingCajun08]

I cant believe that I missed the interview but Turbine saves us slackers once again. Thanks for the link Turbine.

[Zeebart21]

Nice Job Turbine!!!!!!

This guy is awesome.

Z.

[AirBill]

Here's a good article. But then, Pasquarelli always was a Jake fan.


Humble QB looking to build on '03 success

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
_

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- As evidenced by the slightly sweat-stained blue baseball cap, its bill tilted ever so rakishly upward as he addressed the media during the break between Saturday practice sessions, Jake Delhomme hasn't allowed success to go to his head.


The lone luxury the Carolina Panthers quarterback permitted himself after signing a six-year contract extension in June that could pay him as much as $38 million, and included about $12 million in bonuses: A brand-new, souped-up Kubota tractor to help mow the grass at the Lafayette, La., horse farm in which he is a partner.




Jake Delhomme started in just two NFL games prior to his breakout '03 campaign.
Had the homespun Delhomme completed the improbable journey for both the Panthers and himself on Feb. 1 to upend the heavily favored New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, he almost certainly would have won a Cadillac as the game's most valuable player. Then again, since Cadillac doesn't manufacture pick-ups, it's a good bet Delhomme would have had a difficult time choosing a vehicle from the company's upscale product line.


He would have probably been about as uneasy tooling around his hometown of Breaux Bridge, La., in a Caddy as he is discussing his new contract, a deal that made Delhomme richer than his dreams and provided him and his family unimagined security. There is a certain discomfort level, one that harkens back to a time when it was considered impolite to ask a man about the size of his paycheck, with which one assumes Delhomme grew up and which he still exhibits.


So is it even remotely possible that success might spoil Delhomme? Uh, probably not.

Here's the rest of the story

[gorcajun]

Thanks for the memories.

[Crowley Cajun]

That was absolutely great! You can tell that there is alot of respect between Brian Cox and Jake. I loved how he called Brian's neck pad a stop sign. LOL!