The Player vs The Person

[panthers55]

Warrick Dunn, Patrick Kerney and Sam Mills are all guys I had no trouble cheering for even when they played for division rivals. Speaking of Mills, I mourn men like him and Pat Tillman for the men they were, not the plays they made.

On ther flipside, I couldn't cheer for Jerramy Stevens, Bill Romanowski or Randy Moss with a gun to my head. Likewise, Rae Carruth, Chris Terry and Karl Hankton were all Panthers. They were also pieces of crap. I couldn't cheer for them knowing what I know now even if they were the greatest players alive.

Much as I love the game, there are some things that matter more than football, and always will.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Football is a game and is important for a few hours on Sunday afternoon. Living your life as a character guy is important 24-7-365. Truth is, the best players in my mind are gifted athletes who are character guys to boot. Whether they win or lose on Sunday, they win in life which is the biggest game of all.

[frash.exe]

[Matt Foley]

The first time I had to fire someone, I asked my dad for advice. He, true to form, gave me a true dad quote:

"If you have to fire someone but don't, you're not a man. If you don't feel like dirt after doing it, you're not a human being."

Great quote. So are you like Norm on that one episode of Cheers?

[Sam Mills Fan]

Feelings should be left out of this completely. I don't think anyone REALLY hates Delhomme the person, it's just hyperbole because of how much they hate his play on the field.

Personal story: My youngest brother is on a ventilator and receives home health care nurses. There was one nurse that had been with him for about eight years. She had brought him all kinds of treats: fast-food, toys, movie tickets, Christmas presents, money, anything he wanted. We would take her on trips and she was almost like a member of our family.

In that eighth year though, she started to have some personal issues in her home life that she started to gradually bring into our home. My parents were probably more forgiving than they should have been because of how she had almost became a member of the family. Then one night, they had no other choice but to have her taken off my brother's case and essentially "fired" from our home.

They didn't like having to get rid of her, but it had to be done. She had a job to do and could no longer perform that job like she was getting paid to do and had to be dismissed. It's nothing personal, it was essentially a business decision.

Why do I tell that story? If my parents were able to get rid of a nurse that didn't make a fraction of what Jake Delhomme makes because she could no longer perform her job that she was getting paid to do, why should people feel so strongly and emotionally about Jake Delhomme? Yes he's a great guy. Yes he's charismatic. Yes he's a fiery leader. Yes he says all the right things. Yes he's done great things for this community and for this team. But I really think that remaining Jake supporters have turned this guy they don't even know personally into their personal hero throughout the years. They've allowed their emotional attachment to Jake Delhomme cloud their judgment. And you CAN'T do that. The NFL is not pattycake. It's not a kindergarten class. It's not Angels in the Outfield. It's a business. Franchises that get that succeed. Franchises that don't, don't. I think we all wish Jake Delhomme the best in all of his future endeavors as long as they don't involve playing quarterback for the Carolina Panthers.

[King Taharqa]

Feelings should be left out of this completely. I don't think anyone REALLY hates Delhomme the person, it's just hyperbole because of how much they hate his play on the field.

Personal story: My youngest brother is on a ventilator and receives home health care nurses. There was one nurse that had been with him for about eight years. She had brought him all kinds of treats: fast-food, toys, movie tickets, Christmas presents, money, anything he wanted. We would take her on trips and she was almost like a member of our family.

In that eighth year though, she started to have some personal issues in her home life that she started to gradually bring into our home. My parents were probably more forgiving than they should have been because of how she had almost became a member of the family. Then one night, they had no other choice but to have her taken off my brother's case and essentially "fired" from our home.

They didn't like having to get rid of her, but it had to be done. She had a job to do and could no longer perform that job like she was getting paid to do and had to be dismissed. It's nothing personal, it was essentially a business decision.

Why do I tell that story? If my parents were able to get rid of a nurse that didn't make a fraction of what Jake Delhomme makes because she could no longer perform her job that she was getting paid to do, why should people feel so strongly and emotionally about Jake Delhomme? Yes he's a great guy. Yes he's charismatic. Yes he's a fiery leader. Yes he says all the right things. Yes he's done great things for this community and for this team. But I really think that remaining Jake supporters have turned this guy they don't even know personally into their personal hero throughout the years. They've allowed their emotional attachment to Jake Delhomme cloud their judgment. And you CAN'T do that. The NFL is not pattycake. It's not a kindergarten class. It's not Angels in the Outfield. It's a business. Franchises that get that succeed. Franchises that don't, don't. I think we all wish Jake Delhomme the best in all of his future endeavors as long as they don't involve playing quarterback for the Carolina Panthers.

EXACTLY. Rep for you sir.

[panthers55]

Even if Jake gets benched it doesn't mean his career is over. First of all if Moore or Feeley suck, he could be put back in. He could also be the backup for the next couple of years like Warner was for Leinert. We all know how that story has evolved the last several years. People writing his eulogy might be surprised if he plays in the future. But there are a lot of veteran serving as backups who had bad stretches and even years.

You heard it here first............

[dimbee]

Gantt said in his blog that he really hated to see Delhomme's Panther career end this way.

I'd have to echo that sentiment.

Delhomme is one of the true good guys in the NFL. And with all due respect to Steve Beuerlein, he's been the best and most successful quarterback that the Panthers have ever had. And there's good reason why all of his teammates love him and say they'd go to war for him any day of the week.

Another writer (forget who) recently stated that anyone who doesn't like Jake Delhomme the man doesn't know much about people. I'd go so far as to say if you can't respect Delhomme for the person that he is, you're probably not someone that's worth knowing, or even talking to.

There are a lot of legitimate reasons to dislike a person. Bad performances on a football field don't qualify. He's a good man, and he's given every ounce of what he had to this team. If you can't appreciate that, or thank him for the good things he's done, you're probably not worth the time it takes to tell you to kiss my right rear quadrant.

Yes, Jake Delhomme the player has earned derision. And objectively speaking, he does deserve benching.

Jake Delhomme the person deserves respect, and truthfully, a lot of it.

I can't help but be curious as to why you say Jake's a "good man." I'm not saying he isn't, mind you. I'm just curious what your personal experience(s) with him that led you to say he's a "good man." I'm also not taking an iota away from what he has accomplished as the Panthers QB. A serious amount of the success the Panthers have had has been on his shoulders, that goes without saying.

But what, in your experiences with him, leads you to call him a "good man," Mr Scot?

[Highlandfire]

I respect and love Jake, and I always will stand by the fact that he is one of the reasons this team is even relevant today.

Here's to Jake, I don't think we've seen the last of him yet, as a player, mentor, or person.

Well that means we are Fked

[Chaos]

I agree, because there are character guys with the right attitude to play NFL QB, and Jake has that - unfortunately, his talent and abilities lack severely, and attitude and the fiery competitiveness can't come close to compensating for how bad he has played.

I like the guy and wish him well, he has a family to take care of and I hope he enjoys their company and just leaves football while healthy.

Having said that, I do not feel the same connection with John Fox - if he were fired tomorrow, I wouldn't reminisce for one second on his tenure. Yes, the Panthers made great strides under his leadership, but his mannerisms and his attitude have made me dislike the "man", not just the coach.

[doghead28]

I respect Jake as a person. He is accountable and has done alot for our franchise but I think the time has come that he needs to be benched at least for a couple of weeks. Mike Martz on NFL total access mentioned that Jake had a clean pocket most of the day and that maybe sitting for a couple of weeks would help. If his replacement is playing well obviously we don't go back to Jake.

[PantherDude]

I did'n want it to end like this for Jake either.I wanted Jake to be the qb that led us to our first SB Title but I guess its just not meant too be.

Same here. I reallly like Jake as a person off the field (he is known for his funny sense of humor) & doing good deeds. But it a shame he isn't what he once was in 2003. I doubt it just his age, since Favre is still playing good for his age.

I can't help but be curious as to why you say Jake's a "good man." I'm not saying he isn't, mind you. I'm just curious what your personal experience(s) with him that led you to say he's a "good man." I'm also not taking an iota away from what he has accomplished as the Panthers QB. A serious amount of the success the Panthers have had has been on his shoulders, that goes without saying.

But what, in your experiences with him, leads you to call him a "good man," Mr Scot?

Because we rarely hear anything bad about him off the field. Beside, I'm sure he more of a "good man" than Cutler.

[frash.exe]

I can't help but be curious as to why you say Jake's a "good man." I'm not saying he isn't, mind you. I'm just curious what your personal experience(s) with him that led you to say he's a "good man." I'm also not taking an iota away from what he has accomplished as the Panthers QB. A serious amount of the success the Panthers have had has been on his shoulders, that goes without saying.

But what, in your experiences with him, leads you to call him a "good man," Mr Scot?

just because his overachieving as a QB with average physical capabilities and his good ol' boy southern charm have provided the mass of the panthers' fanbase with a character of which they easily identify with

[Squirrel]

Warrick Dunn, Patrick Kerney and Sam Mills are all guys I had no trouble cheering for even when they played for division rivals. Speaking of Mills, I mourn men like him and Pat Tillman for the men they were, not the plays they made.

On ther flipside, I couldn't cheer for Jerramy Stevens, Bill Romanowski or Randy Moss with a gun to my head. Likewise, Rae Carruth, Chris Terry and Karl Hankton were all Panthers. They were also pieces of crap. I couldn't cheer for them knowing what I know now even if they were the greatest players alive.

Much as I love the game, there are some things that matter more than football, and always will.

Which is why I said I couldn't condone stupid stuff. But first and foremost they need to produce on the field. The most generous and greatest guy might play for us but if he sucked as a Panther I would want him cut. Football is about winning not who is the nicest.

[dimbee]

Because we rarely hear anything bad about him off the field. Beside, I'm sure he more of a "good man" than Cutler.

Jeeezus. Gah, you couldn't have missed the point any more.

*shakes head*