Jake Delhomme: "It's Been A Great Run"
Jake Delhomme walked into the interview room with red eyes and sunglasses in his hand, joking that his allergies were bad.
He started crying before he could get a word out.
Acknowledging he was "blindsided" by his release, Delhomme on Friday vowed his career wasn't over in an emotional day that marked the end of an era and left his former bosses in tears, too.
"Six of my seven years playing here have been outstanding. It's been a great run," Delhomme said in between sniffles. "I'm leaving with no animosity whatsoever."
A few hours earlier, general manager Marty Hurney choked up while calling it the toughest decision he's ever made. Coach John Fox welled up with tears while pleading with fans to remember the good moments.
It was something hardly anyone could've anticipated a year earlier, when the Panthers gave the only quarterback to lead the franchise to the Super Bowl a lucrative contract extension. But after one miserable season, the 35-year-old Delhomme was sent packing despite still being owed more than $12.5 million in guaranteed money.
The reason to go with upstart Matt Moore as the starter came down to this: a career-high 18 interceptions in 2009, and 23 in Delhomme's final 12 games.
"I was blindsided, I will say that," Delhomme said. "I think the main reason was I think everybody knows the contract and monetarily those things that went along with it.
"When I got a call yesterday that I needed to call Foxy I thought it was more so that, 'We're going with Matt and you're going to be the backup.' ... But they wanted to go in another direction. It's probably for the best."
And just like that the Louisiana native who toiled as a backup in NFL Europe before bursting onto the scene in Carolina was out of work. After a 58-40 record as a starter over seven seasons, a stunning one-year decline ended his time in Charlotte.
But Delhomme said he's "not ready to go home and play with the horses just yet," and said his agent had already started talking to teams.
"He's done some great things for this team. Two [NFC] championship games, a Super Bowl, all those comeback victories," Fox said. "I'm not sure I've had any more respect for an NFL football player than Jake Delhomme."
The Panthers also released defensive tackles Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu, and linebackers Na'il Diggs and Landon Johnson in the start of a youth movement.
None of those moves, however, resonated around these parts like releasing Delhomme.
"I wear my heart on my sleeve and this is me," Delhomme said, tears flowing. "And the reason it's emotional and you walk in here and all the faces and the relationships you have with guys through the good and the bad. That's what you're going to miss. ... We did some good things here."
Delhomme led Carolina to the 2003 Super Bowl, the 2005 NFC championship, made the Pro Bowl, recovered from reconstructive elbow surgery in 2007 and holds nearly every franchise passing record.
But Delhomme began a quick demise in the 2008 playoffs. After helping Carolina to a 12-4 record and the NFC South title, Delhomme threw five interceptions and lost a fumble in an ugly 38-13 home loss to Arizona in the NFC divisional playoffs.
Undeterred, the Panthers gave Delhomme a contract extension last spring and brought in no legitimate competition in training camp. Then Delhomme threw four more interceptions and lost a fumble in Carolina's Week 1 loss to Philadelphia.
It was then that his confidence waned.
"When I play I try to sling it around. I wasn't doing that last year," he said. "I was trying not to make the mistake. I don't play that way."
It only got worse, and Carolina was 4-7 when Delhomme broke a finger on his throwing hand. Moore relieved him and threw eight touchdown passes and two interceptions as the Panthers won four of their last five games to finish 8-8.
The Panthers on Wednesday gave the 25-year-old Moore the highest restricted free-agent tender of $3.04 million for one season. The next day, Delhomme was let go instead of having him return as a backup.
"I was taught a long time ago that you have to make the right decision at that time for your football team," Hurney said. "And we just came to the decision that it was time. I think when you come to that decision, that's when you make it."
Fox wouldn't say if they'll pursue another veteran quarterback to add depth. The Panthers will also likely have an entirely new defensive line after releasing Lewis and Kemoeatu, who was recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.
Hurney said Dan Connor and James Anderson would likely compete for Diggs' old starting job.
"Sometimes you have to force yourself to give those guys that opportunity and that experience," Hurney said. "We wouldn't do these things without those players there."
Delhomme said he couldn't make eye contact with several longtime employees while sitting on the podium Friday because he would break down. The horse owner also vowed his heart will always be with the first franchise that gave him a chance to start.
"My horse racing silks have a Panther blue and black football. I'm not changing my silks," Delhomme said. "I'm always going to be a Carolina Cajun."
Full Transcript Of Delhomme's News Conference:
Following is a transcript of Jake Delhomme’s farewell press conference with the Carolina Panthers following his release by the team. Some questions and answers are edited for clarity and brevity:
(Opening Remarks)
If I keep my head down, I apologize.
To think back to March of 2003, I came here on a visit, a nobody … I apologize. (Pause)
These are joyful emotions that I’m feeling, and that’s the honest to God’s truth. When I signed here in ’03, I wanted a chance to play quarterback in the NFL. I got that chance, and I think I made the most of it. I ran with it and we had a good run. Six out of my seven years here playing have been outstanding. It’s been a great run.
I’m leaving with no animosity whatsoever. The way the Panthers handled the release was in a first-class way.
I was blindsided. I will say that. I think the main reason was everybody knows the contract and, monetarily, those things that were along with it.
When I got a call yesterday to call Foxy, I thought it was moreso `Hey, we’re going with Matt and you’ll be the backup.’ You have a lot of time to think in the offseason. … If that was a decision he was going to make, I was going to be fine with it – not happy, but I was going to keep my mouth shut and go to playing.
But they wanted to go in another direction. It’s probably for the best. Whether or not I’d be a distraction, I don’t know. I certainly wouldn’t be one who was going to rock the boat. That’s not me. I don’t believe in that. But that’s a decision they made and I respect that decision.
I thought about writing down who I wanted to thank, and this and that. But I wear my heart on sleeve and this is me. The reason it’s emotional is because you walk in here and all the faces and the relationships you have with guys, through the good and the bad, and it was a ton of good. That’s what you’re going to miss.
Certainly I had those relationships with people when I left New Orleans. But naturally they’re a lot deeper here because we did some good things here. But – I know I’m rambling on – I apologize.
I’m free to answer any questions. I’m sorry about rambling. But you know you have tears of joy and tears of sorrow. I promise you these are not tears of sorrow. I promise you this is not sorrow. This is more of the joy that I know of all the relationships that I’ve had with the people here and will continue to have.
If I’m looking down, I apologize. There are some people in here if I look face-to-face, I’ll get even more emotional. Imagine that. So if you have any questions, I’ll be more than happy to babble out an answer for you.
(Describe how you were blindsided?):
I’ve been around a few years. You watch things. I’m not going to paint myself the victim of anything. A lot of people love to paint themselves the victim. Well, I’m not doing that. I didn’t play well last year. When Matt got an opportunity, he played outstanding. Matt knows how I feel. I told him how I felt when he was doing it. He and I have been in contact. We talked Monday afternoon out of the blue for a while. We’ve texted back and forth. I got a text in the middle of the night that I saw this morning from him.
I didn’t play well last year. I’m disappointed about that. Why, I don’t know. I just didn’t do it. Now I have a fresh start. I’m a firm believer you never believe the grass is always greener. That’s just my belief.
(But) this organization needs to go in a different direction and so do I.
(Did you have lack confidence last year?)
Yeah. I’ll tell you that. I did. When I play, I try to sling it around. Well, I wasn’t doing that last year. I was trying not to make the mistake. I don’t play that way. That’s not how I played when I first came here. That’s not how I’ve played through the 2008 season. But for some reason last year I played not to make the mistake. That doesn’t work for me, and I think things compounded and things weren’t going well. I just wanted to make it as right as possible. I just couldn’t do it.
(How special was it to play the prime of y our career in a small market?) It’s hard to put into words. It really is. When I signed here in March of ’03, it was a chance to compete. Never dreamed we could go on and have some of the success (we did). We almost made it to the top of the mountain. We were there. We just couldn’t get it done. We were knocking on the door a couple of times after that. It’s tough, it’s hard to do that, but we gave it a good try to do that. These memories will last a lifetime. That’s why it’s hard, when you see a lot of these faces. There are still some I haven’t seen. It’s special.
(What’s next for you?) I still want to play. I’m not ready to go home just yet. We’re going to let the weekend go by and just try to go from there. I have a feeling there will be some activity. We’re just going to let the weekend go by. Definitely, I’m not ready to go home and play with the horses full-time.
(What was your highest high and lowest low?) As bad as the playoff game was against Arizona, the ’09 season was just low. I wasn’t myself. That’s disheartening.
There were so many highs, so many of the last-second wins we had, just the way we did things in the locker room, and the way you saw certain guys develop and the relationships that you have with certain people. Another extreme high was going out to San Diego the first game of the ’08 season, the first game coming off the elbow (surgery), those are moments you cherish.
But there are so many. The positive moments outweigh the bad 10-fold. Hey, that’s just society. That’s just the way it is. I’m a glass half-full guy. There have been a ton of fun times.
(Did you talk to John and Marty and try to talk them into you being just a backup?):
I met with just John yesterday. That was kind of brought up. In all honesty, I don’t know if that would’ve worked. If I was here and I would’ve been the backup, I would not have rocked the boat. I would’ve just done whatever Matt needed me to do or other guys or what I felt needed to be done to help this team try to win. You just try to walk in after a football game with a smile on your face. I just think the decision that was made, a fresh start was probably best for both sides.
(Have you talked to Steve Smith?):
No. I’ve talked to some guys. I’m tired of texting. I promise you that much. I’ve talked to a bunch of people. My phone has been vibrating the whole time I’ve been sitting up here, too.
(Did you meet with Mr. Richardson?):
I talked to him yesterday afternoon. We had a good conversation. I hold my relationship close with him. I think I had a very special relationship with him. He’s a great man. He’s a friend I know I’ll always have.
(Has the time gone by quickly?) It’s flown by. We moved here and my daughter was four months old. Now she’s a little past 7. Time has flown. It’s been great. It’s been fun. We made Charlotte our home, for the most part. People have been so welcoming to us. You’re going to miss all the relationships we’ve had. This place has been great. I’ve been out and about a good bit when I’m in the city with kids. I don’t hide. Even after this season, everybody you talk to, the support that I’ve had and the positive comments, I’ve never had one negative thing said. That does make you feel good.
(Describe your time with Coach Fox yesterday)
Very positive. It wasn’t very emotional. It was real positive. … We were both at ease, I think you could say. Certainly, a quarterback and coach are connected. I’m proud of the relationship we’ve had. I’m not leaving on bad terms.
My horse racing silks have a Panther blue with black. I’m not changing my silks. I’m not doing it. This place has given me an opportunity. I’m always going to be a Carolina Cajun.
(Given how competitive you are, how tough is it to walk away from here knowing how the ’08 playing game and ’09 season went?)
It is. But not every script you write is going to have a happy ending. That’s life, man. Look, I’ve got to go find another job. But I’m so in the minority here. I don’t have to look for another job to help make ends meet by the end of this month. Let’s put it in perspective. That’s kind of how I look at it.
(When you think back to all the passes you’ve thrown, was there one that stands out that defined who you were?) Probably the first game I played here (against Jacksonville), I was able to throw a pass to Ricky Proehl in the end zone. That was a play that was really special to me. We started that season with a to
uchdown to Ricky on that play and we ended it in the Super Bowl with a touchdown to Ricky on that play. He was just playing a different position. That one play in the Jacksonville game, I think that set the tone. But there have been many. But that, to me, was great.
(Why did you feel it wouldn’t have worked for you to stay here as a backup?)
If I’m back here and we’re going with Matt as the guy, I’m going to compete. But if something is not maybe going well one day or what not, you don’t want somebody looking over their shoulder. I’m not saying he would’ve at all. I just think it was probably best for everybody to maybe go in that direction.
(Do you think the uncapped year is hurting older free agents?)
The CBA has worked great for me, from 1997 when I was a rookie until now. I’ve done ok. It’s affecting some of the guys in their fourth, fifth and sixth years. It’s very different. Something is going to happen, I don’t know what. Guys truly understand your window of opportunity is so small in this league to make something happen. This is really uncharted waters this time.
(If the opportunity doesn’t come for you to play, will you be ok with that?) I could be absolutely, but we’ll see.
(How about going back to New Orleans to play and perhaps finish your career where it started, near home?)
I don’t know. There are so many possibilities out there. We’ll see what happens. I’m certainly happy for that organization (for winning the Super Bowl). I have no ties to any coach there.
I’m just going to let the weekend kind of soak in and see. Who knows?
To leave Louisiana after I did after all those years and to come and find such a great place here, who’s to say there’s not another place we wouldn’t fall in love and establish some ties there also?
(Have you heard from teams?)
I think my agent has. We talked this morning. I wanted to get through today, and we’re going to let this weekend kind of go by. This is a different time. I don’t know if we’ll be in contact, him and I about that yet. We’re just going to try to let emotions keep on settling down. And when I say emotions, good emotions.
(Who was the first person you called after you left Coach Fox’s office yesterday afternoon?)
I knew before that. I went to meet my wife when I first found out about it, and we talked about it first. She’s a trooper. The good thing about her is she is ready to go. She said, `Wherever we need to go, we’ll go.’ That’s always a positive.
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Sources: ESPN, McClatchy Newspapers, Sports Illustrated, Google Maps
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