Jake Delhomme was in Cam Newton’s shoes and knows where it all went south with Panthers
When I contacted Jake Delhomme to ask if he had time for a phone interview, the former Carolina quarterback and current Panthers radio analyst replied quickly.
“Sure thing,” Delhomme texted back. “I’m pretty free these days.”
As for many of us, life has slowed down for the Delhomme family, waiting out the coronavirus in Breaux Bridge, La. But Delhomme has kept a close eye on the Panthers as he cares for his family’s horse operation while preparing for his second season as the team’s primary radio analyst. He shares that job with Jordan Gross, Carolina’s former offensive tackle — they are both members of the team’s Hall of Honor.
Delhomme, 45, was Carolina’s starting QB from 2003-09 and directed the team to five playoff wins (Cam Newton had three). Delhomme was released by the Panthers in March 2010 with time still remaining on his contract. In much the same way, the Panthers released Newton 10 years later, March 2020.
Delhomme and I talked about Newton’s potential next job, new Carolina quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and the word he wants to stop saying so often as a broadcaster. This exclusive Q&A has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
Scott Fowler: First of all, how are you and the rest of your family dealing with the coronavirus?
Jake Delhomme: I guess as good as can be expected. Certainly, the numbers have been alarming — especially the New Orleans virus numbers (New Orleans is about 125 miles from where Delhomme lives with his wife and two daughters in Louisiana). For the most part, everyone I know has been fine, and everyone has kind of been adhering to the rules and the social distancing.
Every day I still get out early and get the horses taken care of. The kids are home doing their online classes through school — I have a junior in high school and a seventh-grader.
We were living a fast life. We were always at a basketball game or, more recently, it was club volleyball. Traveling every weekend. Things have slowed down quite a bit and we’re actually enjoying it. I was always a homebody to begin with. There’s plenty of grass to be cut.
SF: You will return as the team’s radio analyst in 2020, correct?
JD: Yes, I made a two-year commitment. I really enjoy it and am definitely looking forward to it … Once the NFL schedule comes out (likely in May), Jordan and I are going to map it out. I’ll do the majority of the games, like last year.
SF: Will you broadcast all of the Panthers’ home games again and have Jordan do mostly road games?
JD: Pretty much. We may do one where Jordan comes in for a home game. The Panthers play in Washington, so I would assume Jordan would want to do that one with Coach (Ron) Rivera. They also go to Green Bay and I’m looking forward to going to Lambeau Field to call a game there; Jordan did that one last year. We’ll play it by ear.
I will say this: I take criticism well, and sometimes I need it. For instance, I can tell that I use the word ‘obviously’ a little too much. I could tell that when Jordan and I did our podcast. I don’t like to go back and listen to myself, but sometimes I did that with the podcast, for self-scouting. I heard ‘obviously’ so much that I thought: ‘That’s it. I’ve got to get out a thesaurus. Find a new word.’
SF: You were released 10 years ago, in March 2010. Ten years later, in March 2020, the Panthers have released Cam Newton. What are your thoughts on Cam’s legacy?
JD: Let’s be honest: It’s the end of an era of someone who we’ve never seen before. There has been no one like him. Lamar Jackson last year, when people would say we’ve never seen anyone like him? Yes we have.
Michael Vick was Lamar Jackson, but faster. The only difference is Greg Roman and John Harbaugh (Baltimore’s offensive coordinator and head coach, respectively) devised an offense strictly for Lamar Jackson. Dan Reeves just ran his normal system with Michael in Atlanta, and then Michael would just take off.
But with Cam, no one ever saw that before. Listen, he was Julius Peppers playing quarterback. I remember a game he had against the Colts — fourth and a long 1 yard. The Colts shot the gap and they had Cam a yard and a half behind the line of scrimmage. Cam bounces off the D-lineman, reaches out his arm and gets the first down. You made the right call, but Cam made you wrong.
SF: Where did it go south for Cam Newton with the Panthers?
JD: I think it all started in Pittsburgh in 2018 after we started 6-2 (Newton took a huge hit to his throwing shoulder in that game from T.J. Watt). You saw everything take a turn for the worse after that. And obviously the shoulder — there I go with the word “obviously” again.
I watched Cam in camp the next year two days against Buffalo (in August 2019), though, and I thought his arm was just fine. In the first two games, he struggled somewhat but a lot of that was due to the transferring of the weight (to his injured left foot while throwing).
But there was no doubt walking out of the stadium this past season, after the Week 2 loss against Tampa (Sept. 12, 2019, in the last game Newton ever played for Carolina) — you just knew there was something wrong with Cam. He had run the ball only five times in two games.
SF: Your ending at Carolina wasn’t what you wanted. You said at the time the Panthers released you in 2010 that you felt “blindsided.” It happened much the same way with Steve Beuerlein with the Panthers in March 2001, too, as well as with Cam. Players rarely get the ending they want. With that said, what do you foresee next for Cam’s career?
JD: I’ve tried to think of which team would work for him next. This is my opinion: I don’t think he can go where there is an established starter and he’s a backup, a ‘just-in-case’ player. That’s not him.
When Cam walks into the locker room, you know the personality he has, the presence he brings. That’s a starter. This is a different individual. This is not a toe-the-line, backup kind of guy.
This is a guy who’s got something to him, and all those guys on the team would look at him if the starter was struggling and (say): ‘Put him in. Let him do something!’
So where are the openings? Cincinnati’s got one, but that’s (Joe) Burrow. Miami? They kind of seem tied to (Ryan) Fitzpatrick. You hear New England sometimes but, if so, why did they bring back Brian Hoyer? I just think they are going with (Jarrett) Stidham. Hoyer is the same style — pocket quarterback.
Jacksonville and the Los Angeles Chargers? To me, those are the two possibilities — Jaguars or Chargers.
SF: What do you think about the Panthers signing Teddy Bridgewater?
JD: I don’t know Teddy at all. But I’ve spoken to many people over the years who do, and I’ve never heard one person say a bad word about him. They’ve always loved him.
The word “steady” comes to mind: Steady Teddy. Last year, watching him those five weeks (Bridgewater went 5-0 starting for New Orleans when Drew Brees was hurt) — he did some good things. Now that’s a very good roster that he’s leaving in New Orleans — a championship-type roster. I do feel comfort in the fact that (new Panthers offensive coordinator) Joe Brady was with him in New Orleans and Joe must have really liked him.
Listen, Teddy is still young (27). Could this all be parlayed into ‘the guy’ for the next 5-7 years? Absolutely. I’m hopeful that’s the case.
SF: What do you think of the Panthers’ free agency and offseason moves so far?
JD: To be determined — it seems like we’re trying to sign those high character, mid-level guys.
I know I was a quarterback, but you win and lose up front. We saw the mighty, undefeated Patriots get beat because of the Giants’ defensive line (in Super Bowl 42). We have (Russell) Okung at a (offensive) tackle now, he’ll be solid enough. We could use some other help inside to protect Christian McCaffrey and Teddy.
Robby Anderson was a good signing to me. He’s got burner speed. He’s longer than the other two receivers we have (DJ Moore and Curtis Samuel). Jarius Wright as your third receiver never really challenged defenses, so to speak. Now if the third guy is Curtis, he can challenge somebody.
SF: What about defensively?
JD: There are some holes. ... The run defense was difficult to watch last year. KK (Short, the veteran defensive tackle) coming back will be huge. ... If we draft Derrick Brown (the Auburn defensive tackle), that’s a good start, or the linebacker from Clemson (Isaiah Simmons).
Brian Burns, I think, will be a different player. (Tahir) Whitehead is an athletic linebacker. I think the safety we signed from Cleveland could be a hidden gem — Juston Burris. I’d love to see (defensive back) Ross Cockrell come back.
SF: Any chance the Panthers draft a QB?
JD: That’s the elephant in the room. If (Oregon quarterback Justin) Herbert drops, he is very intriguing to me.
SF: Have you had any direct contact with new Panthers coach Matt Rhule yet?
JD: No, I haven’t. I know a coach who’s been with him before, though, and just raves about him as a leader of men, and a grinder. His comment to me about Rhule was: ‘He’s one of us.’ I hope so.
