Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Smitty discusses Delhomme, season

Kevin Greene

By Kevin Greene,
in Carolina Panthers

Recommended Posts

Kevin Greene Newbie

Kevin Greene

Posted
Posted

Jake Delhomme didn't walk out of Bank of America Stadium alone Sunday.

Steve Smith walked with him.

Smith, Carolina's Pro Bowl wide receiver, defended both his quarterback and the team's season amid widespread criticism of the Panthers' stunning 33-13 loss to Arizona in Saturday night's home playoff game.

“I feel about Jake the same way I felt about Jake after the 2003 season,” Smith said, recalling the year Delhomme led the Panthers to the Super Bowl. “My opinion and my respect in my friend have not changed.”

As for the Panthers, Smith said the loss doesn't deter from what they accomplished during the regular season – a 12-4 record, NFC South championship and a first-round playoff bye.

“I personally think people are going to write this off and are going to say, `Ah, it was a waste,'” Smith said. “It's not the case.

“The loss didn't take away from who we were and what we did. People can write and say it did. Fans can have their opinion. But I would not trade in or forfeit any of the experiences we had in that locker room, and the joy we had on the field together, for one more week.

“There's only going to be one team in the end who's going to be happy, and we weren't that team.”

Other players and coach John Fox voiced strong support for Delhomme the morning after he threw a career-high five interceptions and fumbled once during arguably the worst performance of his NFL career.

“It doesn't shake my confidence in him,” said fullback Brad Hoover.

Said Fox of Delhomme: “He had a bad game. He didn't have a bad season. He's not a bad quarterback. It happens.”

Delhomme said he was startled by his performance.

“With the work I put in, I never anticipated in a million years that I'd go out and play like I did last night,” he said. “You ask yourself, `Was it worth all the film last week, all the studying?'

“You have those days, but you hope they're very few and far between.”

Delhomme said he received an encouraging text message from a Hall of Fame quarterback, whom he didn't identify.

“He's been through it,” said Delhomme. “He said it's all part of it. The sun comes up and you have to move on.”

But one-and-done wasn't what the Panthers had expected from their playoff experience.

“It's a harsh reality,” said linebacker Jon Beason. “It's amazing how one second you're on top of the world, the next second you're packing your stuff.

“It's a learning experience. There are some things we can do differently next time. We're a young team and we'll be back.”

Smitty offers some perspective. A lot of young players on this team, hopefully this painful loss will be a good lesson.

Didn't see it posted, hopefully I didn't miss it.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/panthers/story/467053.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites
xPUREBYBLOODx Newbie

xPUREBYBLOODx

Posted
Posted

"Tell me if I am wrong...If anybody that is a Panther fan is not tired of this consistant underachieving team "the only thing with this coaching staff/gm that is consistant" I don't no what to tell you but STOP DRINKING THE KOOL-AID AND WAKE-UP". Carolina is not going anywhere with this regime. You could tell by the way Julius Peppers talked after the game the only way he wants to be here is a coaching/gm change and the rest of the players with-out saying it sure pretty much acted the same way. Personally I have NEVER liked Fox or Hurney.I am tired of being the NFL poster child for most mediocre and underachieving team...Turn up the heat!!!"

says it ALL!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ThPantherFan Grand Master

ThPantherFan

Posted
Posted

I'm addressing the Panthers and not one individual specifically. Am I disappointed because of the loss? Yes I am. However, I'm not disappointed in the Panthers. We could debate the issues all day long on why the loss happened. Ever how many huddlers there are, there is that many opinions on why. I have faith in the team and what it can do. Jake had a bad night as well as others. It does happen. It just happened at the wrong time. I still believe that this team is super bowl caliber. Could there have been some different coaching? I don't know, maybe, but I'm not a coach so I couldn't say what should have been done. I don't know all the facts. I have to trust the front office to do what they think is right. I stood with the Panthers during the 1-15 and will still be here cheering them next year. Super bowl, here we come!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
StepandFetch Newbie

StepandFetch

Posted
Posted

I am ashamed to be attributed to the same fanbase that can post comments like that about such a great quote by Smitty.

you aren't alone.

Everyone is zeroing in on Jake because he was the most obvious problem with the game. It is unfortunate, because, IMO, it is unfair and uninformed... The problem at QB is far from the most significant issue with the Panthers. The whole mess starts at the top-- coaching. Jake had the worst game of his career, and that game unfortunately happened in the most visible game- the playoffs.

Fire Jake, and you are asking for 7-9 all over again.

It sucks that Jake had a terrible game, but if the players still stand behind him him, and if the coaches still stand behind him him, then I, too, stand behind him.

Trgovac.. on the other hand...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
89=#1 Newbie

89=#1

Posted
Posted

To the moron who say smith is not as good without jake..... what the *** are you talking about. Is he better with jake than say D. carr, v. teste, m. moore? yes, but this is all we have seen. Imagine that world class reciever with a quarterback that can hit him in stride and not make him wait on the deep ball.... its sick to know how good this guy can be, he is being held back. I mean do you people watch jake play and then watch say umm 20 of the other 32 QBs in the league their is no comparison his fundamentals are terrible and his constant pump fakes and immobility is so bad. *** all you "jake until he retires people". If we can find a better QB then bring them in its time to move on. Yes, Steve Smith is going to defend him they are friends and Steve smith is a great teammate, much better than the other "diva" recievers out their. So, with that said Jake is second on the list that needs go behing trgo. Saturday was no fluke bad performance for trgo. He has been consistently terrible for some time now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Paa Langfart
      Monroe Freeling’s lovely GF

      By Paa Langfart · Posted

      With the contract money an OT first rounder makes you can ALWAYS get a new girlfriend.  And probably an upgrade at that.  You only got 2 parents.
    • frankw
      2026 Charlotte Hornets

      By frankw · Posted

      Brother. You are wholly confusing comparing situations and applying actual standards like most other franchises do like simply getting into a playoff series and winning at least 1 or 2 series games with praising. Nobody is praising the Hawks. Nobody is praising the Magic. Nobody here likes those teams. But reality is reality. The Hawks like other franchises have traded players fired coaches etc but they can still win a couple playoff games. How is that not the bare floor for you or anyone else? What are we doing here if it isn't? We've seen eye to eye on many things over the years. But you are in the camp on the Hornets where you are emotionally attached to LaMelo where you feel the need to carry his water like he's got that juice. That's cool that you feel that way. It's your prerogative. But I differ from that viewpoint entirely. If he had that juice we would not have gotten wiped off the court in 2 play in games with 2 different coaching staffs and rosters. if people don't like hearing that well I'm sorry but how the hell is this team ever going to get better and ultimately go anywhere in the postseason if we just blindly pat them on the back for getting their asses whooped before they actually even get into the real playoffs? There seem to be some Bryce Young level standards being applied here. That's wild to me. But to each his own.
    • Swaggasaurus
      Jeremy Fowler: Panthers draft day intel

      By Swaggasaurus · Posted

      Proctor/Freeling were always the belles of the ball where we were picking. What those two *could* become at OT was far greater than what others could be at their respective positions and I’m glad our FO could see that. 
×
×
  • Create New...