Will you miss Peppers or Delhomme more?

[Cyberjag]

I would much rather have Peppers on the team than Jake. But if you ask me who is responsible for more fond Panther memories, it isn't even close. I can remember one or two freak plays that Peppers made (actually, my all time favorite defensive plays were made by Sam Mills and Kris Jenkins), but I remember a whole lot of fourth quarter comebacks led by Jake.

For all his faults, Jake brought a different attitude to the field and helped change the mentality of the entire team. For years all of us fans have just wanted to get to the fourth quarter within a score, because we knew we had a great chance to win. Before Jake, it seemed that if we weren't two TDs up by the fourth it was almost time to start heading for the exits.

If I'm voting on who's career meant more to the franchise overall, I would select Jake, but I would much rather have Peppers back. And I hope both prove easy to replace.

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

Person/character: Delhomme

Player: Peppers

[neverlosethefeeling]

lol @ the Pep hatred running rampant throughout the Huddle...

If you would prefer Jake over Pep, you know nothing about the Panthers, nor football...

Get off your high horse.

Peppers was that guy who showed flashes. He had all the ability in the world, and if he ever decided to use it, well, look out, league! Yes he made some incredible plays and his highlight reel probably rivals that of LT. But Jake took this franchise places that Peppers could never dream of. It's a whole lot easier to go to war with someone who's willing to fight right there beside you even when it's tough. And that guy would be Jake.

Cool, Pep has split some double teams, intercepted a few balls and returned a fumble or two. But there's also been games that he hasn't showed up at all. And for someone with his talent and ability... that's bullypoo.

The only thing Pep had going for him was the fact that he could not show up for a couple games and he'd have 10 other guys that could cover his ass. If Jake had a bad game, everyone knows about it and that was what made the papers. It's a lot easier to blame a QB (rightfully so) for a loss than it is a DE.

It's not about Pep hatred... it's just realizing that there is more to a football player than flashes of brilliance and a world's worth of ability that sometimes goes under-utilitzed. I have much more respect for the guy who wasn't expected to be anything and rose above those expectations than the one who had the world handed to him and chose not to do anything with it.

Over the last 7 years, Jake has been more important to the franchise (and the franchise to Jake) than in Pepper's wildest dreams.

I'd rather there be a Jake Delhomme statue out there beside Sam Mills than a Julius Peppers one.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

You sir are BJDJS

[neverlosethefeeling]

You wish it was that easy.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Easy is subjective... It is rather obvious to anyone outside the Panthers' fan base who is a more valuable and talented football player...

Jake Delhomme was a fiery guy who wore his heart on his sleeve...

Julius Peppers is a guy who demands gameplanning from other teams, and does enough with his sheer natural talent to compensate for the weaknesses of those around him...

Neither deserve a statue beside Sam Mills, but Peppers was a game-changer for the good of the team... Jake Delhomme was a game-changer to the detriment... especially later in his career...

Jake was throwing to Steve Smith, while Pep was a man on an island...

[panthers55]

The question wasn't who had more talent or even who was more important to the franchise but who will you miss more. For most folks it isn't even close. The choice is whether you will miss an extremely talented player in Peppers who shrank from leadership roles, disappeared for games at a time, underacheived his potential and utimately didn't even want to be here, versus a guy who came out of nowhere, had mediocre physical skills, always took the blame for everything, was a natural leader, until he got injured was money in the playoffs and when the game was on the line, and was in tears when he was told he was being released.

No question Peppers was more talented. No question that Jake was done at least here while Peppers is still in his prime. That isn't the debate. For me the question is who will you miss. If you don't say Delhomme you really don't know anything about the Panthers, football , or about what makes human beings or football players great.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

I will miss the Panthers having a solid pass rushing DE...

I won't miss the Panthers having a pick throwing QB with tunnel vision...

[rayzor]

neither. i'm more than ready to move on from both of them.

[Cyberjag]

I remember a line written about Jake by someone in the local media. To paraphrase, "If you don't like Jake, it isn't him. It's you."

I would still rather have Peppers on the team this year.

[panthers55]

Easy is subjective... It is rather obvious to anyone outside the Panthers' fan base who is a more valuable and talented football player...

Jake Delhomme was a fiery guy who wore his heart on his sleeve...

Julius Peppers is a guy who demands gameplanning from other teams, and does enough with his sheer natural talent to compensate for the weaknesses of those around him...

Neither deserve a statue beside Sam Mills, but Peppers was a game-changer for the good of the team... Jake Delhomme was a game-changer to the detriment... especially later in his career...

Jake was throwing to Steve Smith, while Pep was a man on an island...

I agree up to the point that you said Peppers was a game changer to the good of the team and Jake was not. Jake won more games for us in 2003 alone than Peppers did in his career. When was the last time that we had to have a play from Peppers and you could count on him delivering? How many times like against San Diego in 2008 was the game on the line and Jake delivered at the end of the game. We used to have guys on defense who you could count on to make the play or deliver under pressure, Chad Coda against Pittsburgh, Sam Mills against the Jets, Kevin Greene multiple times in 1996 when he would get the sack when you had to have it. Outisde of the interception off of Vick in atlanta which he ran back for a TD (we lost the game eventually anyway) I can't think of 3 plays where he actually won a game for us with his play. Sure teams gameplanned for him but they game-planned longer to take away Smith and Delhomme.

Jake had Smith and Peppers was on an island? Obviously you are too focused on 2009 and forget the other 7 years he played here. In 2002 and 2003 he played on one of the best lines in the league. He played with Jenkins and Rucker for much of his career. He wasn't on an island for most of his career but the analogy to Lost is pretty accurate to describe his performance in 2007 and other times in his career. Jake's best numbers ever were when Smitty was hurt in 2004. Problem is that Jake is remembered too much for 2009 and not enough for the rest of his career here. It wasn't his fault he got hurt which derailed his career. I remember him waiting almost 5 weeks in 2007 to get surgery hoping he could play. He embodied everything good about the Panthers. I doubt either gets a statue but if the choice were between Jake or Peppers it wouldn't be close. Jake lived and breathed to play for us, Peppers in the end didn't really care and left here for less money. I wouldn't give a statue to a player who didn't even want to be here.

[PantherDude]

If you would prefer Jake over Pep, you know nothing about the Panthers, nor football...

In your opinion though. That isn't the truth though & that is fact. Please don't label people as not knowing a damn about the Panthers or football just because you don't agree with their opinion. You're not Jerry Richardson.

But then you're no difference than BDJS with being a BPJS based on that Pep was in for the money & didn't want to be here. I will never support a player who doesn't want to be here. Now who is the one that know about Panthers? :lurk5:

[Swarly]

lol @ the Pep hatred running rampant throughout the Huddle...

If you would prefer Jake over Pep, you know nothing about the Panthers, nor football...

Unless I'm misunderstanding the thread, this isn't about the player, it's about the person.

I already said in my first post I'd rather take Peppers over Delhomme because he's one of the best at what he does. This was about who you'll miss, not who is the better player.

[WhiteBoysCanRun22]

I stuck by Jake long after my friends gave up on him...but after watching many games during this (oh so long) off season I cant help but to look at almost every one of Jakes passes just him throwing it up...Smith made Jake.

Peppers - Im gonna miss him the most. Being a Peppers fan hasnt been easy last couple of years. Hard to like a guy who 'doesnt want to be a Panther'.

I really hope Peppers will be back in a few years to close out his career.

Dude, I'm definitely going to miss Jake the most b/c he LOVED playing for us...unlike Peppers. Jake actually cried during his interview after being released, Peppers just suddenly became a jackass, talked about how much he loves Chicago & jacked off in his apartment. I can't wait to play Peppers this season...ugh, loser