Delhomme by Default

David Carr, Chris Weinke, Randy Fasani, Stefan Lefors, Rod Rutherford…and now Matt Moore.

All of these names highlight the underlying reason that Jake Delhomme remains the starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers. Despite being the lowest rated starting quarterback in the league, Delhomme has managed to stay in control of the offense. How he has remained in control is the real question, and the answer has little to do with Jake Delhomme.

Jake Delhomme remains the starting quarterback for one reason: John Fox and Marty Hurney have failed the franchise in finding his replacement. The writing has been on the wall for a long while now in the deteriorating play of Jake Delhomme. That writing received a huge exclamation point in the home playoff loss to the Arizona Cardinals last season.

Houston, we have a problem.

What was the response by Marty Hurney and John Fox? Double down on Jake Delhomme with a huge contract. The front office equivalent of a Hail Mary. Maybe, just maybe, the positive press from the contract and the show of support from the front office would be enough for Delhomme to start winning again.

It didn’t work, time for plan B.

The only problem is, there is no plan B. John Fox has very little confidence in third year player Matt Moore. Benching Delhomme and starting Moore would only highlight his failure to groom a young quarterback in his seven years at the helm. That type of attention can’t be good when your franchise owner recently fired his very own sons because of their performance. With Jake Delhomme starting, at least the attention (and blame) is drawn elsewhere.

John Fox and Marty Hurney know that if Moore starts and fails to deliver, they will not be in Carolina next season.

Nor should they be.