Good for Jake Delhomme, who has signed a deal with the Cleveland Browns. I'll predict right now Delhomme will be Cleveland's starter on Opening Day 2010.
Browns team president Mike Holmgren told The Cleveland Plain Dealer Friday that while Delhomme wouldn't necessarily be the starter for the Browns if he signed that Delhomme certainly had the "potential" to fill that slot for the Browns.
And what about Brady Quinn, Cleveland's incumbent? My guess is he will be traded (UPDATE QUINN WAS TRADED SUNDAY, TO DENVER). If you read between the lines, it doesn't seem like Holmgren likes him much. Quinn has gone 3-9 as a starter in Cleveland. Delhomme is 58-40 as a starter in his career.
Delhomme's main competition will probably come from former Seattle backup QB Seneca Wallace, who is more familiar with the offense Holmgren wants to run, having played for Holmgren when Holmgren was coaching in Seattle instead of running the front office in Cleveland. Cleveland, like the Panthers, also may draft a quarterback in April.
As I wrote in this blog earlier this week: I don't think 2010 is going to be a repeat of 2009 for the 35-year-old Delhomme. I think he's still got a little juice left. If only the Browns could get LeBron James to play tight end for them in the offseason, their offense might get a little better. Cleveland was dead last in the NFL in total yards per game in 2009.
That's the problem with his new employer -- the Browns don't have many weapons to surround Delhomme with. But at least Delhomme has already landed on his feet. I still think it was a mistake for the Panthers to let him go. If the Panthers are going to sign a veteran to back up and/or even compete with Matt Moore, as it sounds like they are going to do, well, hey, they already had that guy in their employment. He wore No.17. He won five playoff games here.
But what's done is done. I wish Jake the best in Cleveland.
We're moving!
9 years ago
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31 comments:
I'm a Browns season ticket holder in CLT and this move makes me sick. He is a worn out Bernie Kosar.
Scott, you are very wrong. Jake = no juice = no gas= no pop. He is done. He should focus on his after football career at this point.
Amen, Scott. Well said!!!
Maybe Jake just needs a change of scenery. Although I think he is pretty much done. But he isn't going have a much better team in Cleveland, but maybe it will work better for both teams
Thats a gimme. JD has always had good size and decent arm but mainly has natural smarts reading defenses and frequently changing plays on the line to adjus. He is def in the top five QBs in the NFL & will prob take the Browns to the Super Bowl in his 1st or 2nd yr provid they get a quicker WR and RB and MLB. They have a decent OL to give him time.
Just what in the world do you think Jake can do for the Browns with no weapons, when he couldn't do anything for the Panthers, who at least had a couple of weapons? I liked Jake when he was on, but the last couple of years those times were just too few...Best of luck Jake...
I'm still a Jake fan. I wish he could have retired with Carolina, but $12 million was too big a pop to take even in a no-cap year. I'd bet, though, that he would have re-structured again to spread that and a little more over 3 or 4 years, or even 2 years as a backup/mentor and two more as coach. But as much as I like him, he doesn't have 32 or even 16 more games in him as a starter. He was good most of the time, and seems like a great guy... but he was never a great QB, save for some flashes here and there. Best of luck with the Browns, Jake. I hope you prove me wrong.
He will not even be on the opening day roster. Mark this down!
Scott, what makes you think Jake can get it done on a Cleveland team that has no running game and even fewer options at the receiver spot?
At Carolina, Jake had double-trouble to pound it out on the ground and get the box full, resulting in single coverage. Cleveland has no such attack and opposing teams will drop more coverage, forcing Jake to throw the ball ACCURATELY, which is something he can no longer do.
He may start, but not for long. I predict he'll get cut at the end of the season from Cleveland too, after being benched in favor of Wallace.
Scott, I'm really, really tired of your column. REALLY. You never say anything positive about the Bobcats (you even suggested a name change, which is ridiculous). However, when it comes to a quarterback for the Panthers who has had mediocre seasons aside from 2003, you always have something good to say about him. Seriously Scott???
getting paid 7 mill this season. i would say browns are planning on him starting
Good luck, Jake. You're always gonna be my boy.
I'm with you Scott. Would have liked to seen the Panthers keep Jake. I think he has something left in the tank as well. Plus, he's the type of character guy all teams need. He provides more than on field performance. Didn't he have that a $10 million kicker in addition to his salary? Maybe that was the deciding factor. Oh well. It is what it is. Best of luck Jake. I'll be rooting for you.
He's making 7 million from the Browns this year and still getting paid by the Panthers. Altough I'm glad he's gone, he is making the most out of this financially.
You gotta hand it to this guy. Jake scammed everybody with that Hollywood drama tearjerker while he was laughing all the way to the bank with 14 mill plus what he will make in another NFL city.
It was all an act but proves this guy has a high IQ and knew he could get a fresh start plus collect double pay.
He gave the whiners what they wanted while he got triple pay and a free pass out of Panthers mediocrity.
Delhomne actually came out much better than Peppers moneywise.
Hellava con job ... smart QB for sure and now the Panthers are stuck with Moore who won a few games at the end against scrubs saving their starters for the playoffs.
In 2010 could the Panthers top their 1-15 record in 2001-02?
I guess Scott believes the cold weather in Cleveland will improve his surgically repaired throwing elbow that was never the same.
Once again everbody, repeat after me...
Tommy John, Tommy John, Tommy John!
How do the observer reporters keep fogetting this little detail?
Why is everyone so negative, Jake was a great QB the best we have had on our team. Moore deserves a chance he could be a sleeper like Jake,Brady and alot of other great QB's were before they got their chance.I bet most of ya'll are Tarheel fans who talk alot of junk when their doing good but run for the hills and cry when their doing bad.Scott I think you guy's are doing a good job I always read yall's articles to find the inside scoop of our team.I've been to several training camps over the years and pep would never sign autographs unless there was news camera rolling but Jake would always. I'll miss him but I think the panthers are being smart everyone forgets all are starters wrer hurt last year and the noname backups did a great job. The team found out that we are deep with talent and I think if Moore was not a one year wonder we have a good chance of winning this year you guys know we are an everyother year team and this is our winning year comming up. GO PANTHERS
I think everyone here is looking at this thing with to much emotion here and not being levelheaded. Moore would be the starter. I would have made Cantrell the third or fourth QB. I would have drafted a good QB with a lot of potential this draft to be the third or fourth QB. I would have cut a deal with Jake to be a backup/mentor only to all three. I would have stated to him he would not start anymore for the Panthers and would only go in the game unless the starting QB (who was younger) was hurt. When the stating QB comes back from injury Jake would be out again. I would have restructured his contract for two years only and tell Jake he could retire a Panther in two years but the money had to change on his contract totally. Then I would have let Jake make the final decision to take it or not. Jake would have been a good mentor veteran QB for us. I do not see any better out there at the moment that would fit this type of mold. This has nothing to do about the love of Jake that some of these idiots keep talking about. This is business.
I just want to know if Scott is going to issue an apology at the end of the season, saying something along the lines of, "You know, I was absolutely dead wrong about JD. While still a nice guy, he has absolutely NOTHING left in the tank and consistently makes poor decisions. I'm sorry Panther fans and Observer readers, I let my personal affection for a player cloud my judgment as an objective reporter."
Wonder if these Jake haters will apologize at the end of the season when a highly experienced seasoned been there done that QB takes the Browns to the Bowl although it could take a couple more if they dont do it next yr.
You only need to look at 40 yr old Bret Favre to see age is irrelevant these days although it depends on whether the NFL allows brutal late hits so their favored team will win.
While Delhomne is no Farve he is in the same mold and most of your better rounded tougher larger QBs for whatever reason come from the Gulf and bayou area like Stabler, Bradshaw, Favre, Manning Manning Manning among others.
Fowler & the "Jake Lovers",
Delhomme is gone. Thank God. What quaterback have you been watching? He sucked here and he'll suck in Cleveland. Watch how those fans in Cleveland attack him after the first game he throws three ridiculous interceptions right into the opposing teams hands. Show me the dog biscuits!
are we still talking about the same jack who created the panther and destroy the panther? i think that cat is done and finish
All of you Jake haters make me sick. I hope the Panthers never win another game after the way THEY and the so called FANS treated Jake. I agree with Scott. So happy for Jake - great guy and he is going to do well and hope Cleveland beats the crap out of the Panthers when we play them. And all you Matt Moore lovers - let's just see how long that lasts. Let him throw the first interception and you will throw him under the bus. I don't know what the Panthers organization is smokin'g but it must really be wacky. Who is going to back up Moore if he gets hurt? I hope he fails big time. See- there is Matt Moore hate too.
Tommy-John Tommy-John Tommy-John!
Everything else posted is opinion. I wasn't crazy about Jakes lack of emotional control but liked him alot. Fact is he hasn't been the same since surgery and may never be an accurate passer again.
It seems to me that quite a few people who know a whole lot about football(Holmgren, Fox etc.) put a lot of faith in Jake's abilities. He's a good, seasoned QB with dedication and a great work ethic. He deserves this shot, this money, and the loyalty of his fans, the number of which are about to double. Good for Jake.
As far as Jake not being the same after the surgery, I say 12-4 is a great season. It's easy to blame him for the playoff meltdown, but how many times did we run the ball that game with D-will and JonStewart in the arsenal? Was the OC trying to be tricky by running a pass only game? and where was the O-line during all this? Did all the receivers run all the right routes the whole game and beat the secondary?
Way to go Scott! We all know Jake is your boy, so, the best idea I can come up with is for you to apply to "The Cleveland Plain-Dealer" newspaper, so you can annoy the readers up there. HOWEVER...we would LOVE to see Jake start atleast one game next season... the one where the Panthers visit Cleveland. That way Gamble will be guaranteed atleast 3 INT's. Please. Leave Charlotte.
Good for Jake? I say BAD for Jake, because I wanted him gone from the Panthers, and what does he do, sign with the Browns (I stay in Cleveland). I'm not a big Browns fan, but Jake is terrible, & the last thing I wanted to see was more of his play. Actually, it might be funny to see him screw up and hear Browns fans rip him. It won't be any of this 'he's a good guy and deserves a chance' crap. Produce or get out! That's the Panthers problem, they gave Jake too many chances. He was only average, had a great cast on offense when they reached the superbowl, and anytime afterwards when the running game was not goin, Jake could not be depended on, hence the awful playoff game at Seattle, the following years up to the Panthers next awful playoff where Jake was allowed to show his stuff, and finally this past year, where he held back a great running game with his blundering.
Hey Scott I bet Jake can cure cancer in Cleveland as well. You DumbA**
That's an insult to Bernie Kosar. Jake has no arm and even worse eye sight. Good luck Cleveland, you'll need it.
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