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April 02, 2008
Breakfast with Fox: Delhomme, Peppers
PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Panthers coach John Fox says he's so comfortable with the team's quarterback situation, including Jake Delhomme's recovery from elbow surgery, that he isn't looking to add a veteran backup.
"I feel as good about our quarterback situation as I ever have in my tenure," said Fox, who's entering his seventh season as Carolina's coach.
Fox, speaking at media breakfast with NFC coaches at the league owner's meetings, said doctors and trainers are very positive about Delhomme's recovery from Tommy John surgery on his right (throwing) elbow.
"Every indication is that Jake is making great strides and there's a possibility (his arm) may be even stronger than he was before the surgery."
Fox said he was very encouraged by Matt Moore's play as an undrafted rookie last year and that he's also high on Brett Basanez, who was on injured reserve last season.
Fox noted that Moore "has gotten the confidence of our players."
Fox didn't rule out picking a quarterback in the draft, however. The Panthers will routinely have four players at the position at the start of training camp.
Fox: Peppers will be back
Fox was peppered by reporters around the country with questions about defensive end Julius Peppers.
Fox tried to put a once-and-for-all end to rumors that the Panthers are trying to trade Peppers.
"I love Julius Peppers," he said. "We want him to be with our team for years to come."
Fox said he's heard various rumors and speculations about why Peppers had only 2 1/2 sacks last year, including that his defensive end had some kind of worm that made him sick. Fox refuted all the speculation and said that Peppers merely had a bad year -- by the standards he'd set in his first four seasons.
Fox thinks it was a temporary setback.
"I expect Pep to come back in a big way," he said.
Asked if he had seen other players make similar comebacks, Fox cited Randy Moss and Brett Favre.
Fox said the Panthers continue to have conversation with Peppers' agent about a contract extension. Peppers is entering the final year of his deal and is scheduled to count more than $15 million against the salary cap.
-- Charles Chandler
Posted by Observer Sports on April 2, 2008 at 09:37 AM | Permalink
Comments
Hey Charles You got me pretty good last night with that blog post about the trade...
Kudo's that was the only time I was had all day yesterday.
Posted by: Stan Robbins | Apr 2, 2008 10:23:36 AM
What happened to the Julius Peppers breaking trade story? I followed the Google link here and there is no story. Are you guys following up on it?
Posted by: Bob James | Apr 2, 2008 11:44:08 AM
I believe Fox when it comes to Delhomme's arm. Many pitchers have said the same thing coming back from the same surgery, and the baseball throwing motion is many times more violent and damaging to a player's arm. Furthermore, a baseball pitcher will have to throw around 100 pitches up to 35 times during a season. If we play the way we want to, Jake should only have to throw 25-30 times over 19 games.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Apr 2, 2008 12:00:39 PM
This is encouraging news. I believe both players will be back playing at a high level, but I am hoping that we win the Superbowl more than anything. People constantly down the Panthers, but if you look at the tape, we are guaranteed a NFC Championship game anytime we make it to the playoffs. We may not look like it all the time, but the Panthers have been one of the better teams in the NFL. We have to get back to winning. If we can stay healthy, winning should not be a problem.
Posted by: Panthers2003 | Apr 2, 2008 12:36:58 PM
Yea i think the way the panthers are doing right now that they will atleast make the playoffs. Becuase they have to or Richardson is goin to make those changes weve heard about. They dont want that but i will say the draft better be good for us. And we have prolly one of the best chances of making the superbowl but lets not ake that a big deal becuz every year they predict the panthers goin on to win the superbowl we dont make the PLAYOFFS so SHHH!
Posted by: paul | Apr 2, 2008 2:24:36 PM
That's the spirit guys! I am glad to see that finally everyone is starting to look a little more positively at the panthers' offseason moves. Offloading all that dead weight (Morgan, Colbert, Foster, Hartwig) was probably the largest addition by subtraction I have seen in a very long time. Then they go out and take back a fan fave in Moose, (who will hopefully mentor Jarrett) and a promising young possession receiver in Hackett, start loading up on guards to create competition in the middle of the line, Grab another hometown boy in Holt (who was a beast at State) and a bruiser in Toefield to spell DeAngelo. They grabbed an insurance policy at DE in Brayton, resigned Damione Lewis (who was the best looking lineman we had in the preseason and when he played last year) and set us up to go into the draft with options (And with as many picks as we have, we should be able to fill some holes and really set ourselves up for a great competition in Training camp and preseason. Go Cats!!
Posted by: Steve | Apr 2, 2008 3:54:00 PM
Yea thats right lets keep a good attitude towards the Panthers!!! And i think the Holt signing was good but dont say a beast @ state but not a beast in the NFL...but i think he will be able to prove himself here with REAL talent! Julius will have a good season. Jake will be ok to im thinking positive cuz i know it will happen IM HAVING FAITH here so everyone jump on the band wagon! Pac Man? should he be here or not cuz theres talk he could wind up here and they say that if he does and we sign a good DT that we could have atleast the 3rd best DEFENCE! I believe in D lewis @ DT though!
Posted by: paul | Apr 2, 2008 4:21:26 PM
Oh and i also believe that our offence will be really really good 2.
Posted by: paul | Apr 2, 2008 4:23:03 PM
J. Fox said it so I don't believe any of it! AS for QB situation...I understand him and I agree. I like Moore and Basenez...
As for Pep that's straight BS!! Randy Moss Got Better because of changing! teams!! and players around him..WR and DE the two positions have nothing to do with one another..so that was comparing apples to oranges! stupid!
Farve...same thing...the WR's got better..and they found pro bowl caliber RB. and QB and DE have nothing in common and i dont see how he could make that comparison.
The thing with pep is...HE WASN'T DOUBLE TEAMED!!! all season! When freeney had down yr he was double teamed and ran away from...with pep it's no excuse...I will say this...though I have no seen pep..but Fox and the team need to address what's going on with his WEIGHT!! he wasn't a pound! over 260 last yr. if that. more like 250 range...and that's part of the problem. I did hear he stopped eating Red meat....
If we have a good draft.......We will be very good..if we don't..well you know the rest.
Posted by: cheven | Apr 2, 2008 5:04:39 PM
we will have a good draft and quit being negative
Posted by: paul | Apr 2, 2008 5:45:06 PM
paul you shut up, we haven't had a good draft since seifert!
Posted by: hugs | Apr 2, 2008 6:01:54 PM
no you shut up im being a true fan and support my team...i dont care wht u have to say ur name is hugs!
Posted by: paul | Apr 2, 2008 6:47:13 PM
Peppers had the tools to be a Hall of Famer. But not the heart. Trade Peppers to NE for #1 pick and get OT stud and DL stud in first round. The whole issue for offense is LT. Stop screwing around and get the guy so you are not always changing the OL. If they don't get that fixed we will never make it to the big game.
One man's opinion.
Posted by: kelso | Apr 2, 2008 8:24:49 PM
WE HAVE TO KEEP PEPPERS! I guarantee you if you we traded Peppers, he will bring a 12 sack season with him his first year and everyone will be saying "How STUPID are the Panthers for trading this guy"
Remember, he is still the best DE in my opinion and a top 3 in everyones.
Posted by: James327 | Apr 2, 2008 8:36:21 PM
yea im with james
Posted by: paul | Apr 2, 2008 9:06:35 PM
shut up james ur not a real panthers fan, and neither is anybody up here the reason peppers had a bad year is because thats life what do u expect hes only human no one has gotten 10 sacks in every season of there career. give pep a break damn
Posted by: blackkoreanking | Apr 2, 2008 11:03:09 PM
blackkoreanqueen - What? How are you gonna tell me to shut up and agree with my comment you dummy.
Posted by: James327 | Apr 3, 2008 12:09:20 AM
ok...sorry but this whole thing is a joke and I have had enough peppers talk...first of all your all acting like 12 year old kids....second...before this year no one would say a bad word about peppers and now he has one bad season and people want him traded...R U GUYS KIDDING ME...based on one bad year...Carson Palmer, Drew Brees, Champ Bailey should all be on different teams because they didn't live up to exceptions (too lazy to think of more people lol)....Give the man another season....do you guys think he doesn't read and hear all the bullshit said about him..he will be out with something to prove...and honestly if you guys think we should trade Peppers, I don't consider you guys real fans....at times hes the most feared player and in 2004 I think all Carolina fans think he should of won defensive player of the year...if he has another season like this one then you asking for his head is warranted but until then shut up and let the freak play...because we all know when he is in top form, our defense is one of the most feared in the league....do you guys thinks thats a coincidence? And I called last year he wouldn't be as productive my grandpa is playing opposite him..get him a pass rusher opposite him (and most football fans know opposite end is crucial for a pass rusher examples, giants, colts), get him a quality pass rusher and the freak will be back...so everyone SHUT UP and GET OFF HIS BACK.....
Posted by: craig | Apr 3, 2008 4:32:41 AM
The one knock on Peppers coming out of college: he takes plays off, seems lazy at times.
Well I think he spent the first few years of his career trying to prove that wasn't true. Last year we saw it was, the real Julius Peppers.
Posted by: dwight | Apr 3, 2008 7:18:08 AM
Well, you boys still arguing about the Panthers? Good. The beauty of being a fan is that each new season brings a chance to hope again. Whether I agree with Panther moves or not, they are clearly doing something to shake it up. At the end of the day, the talent and the coaching will provide the net result. How are we looking on special teams, a real achilles heel last year?
Posted by: willy | Apr 3, 2008 8:40:45 AM
Willy, our ST units really improved towards the end of last year. Early injuries to key guys (Wesley, Melton, Deloatch) forced us to use guys even lower on the depth chart as gunners and blockers on special teams. A lot of the young kids (Shaw, CJ Wilson, Ryne Robinson) really started to figure it out towards the end of the year, and their familiarity with the schemes combined with a year of offseason conditioning/lifting should mean good competitions in camp and improvement in all phases of the ST game.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Apr 3, 2008 1:37:30 PM
Fox should feel pretty good about QB - the fact the JD got hurt last year allow Moore an opportunity to show some of his capabilities. The team now has some respect for him, and that's important for your backup! DelHomme...well...if his arm is stronger that'll be good, but unless that surgery also made him more accurate...ummm...well, I'll just say that I'm cautiously optimistic. He looked really good before the injury, and it'll be interesting to see what kind of form he's in following it.
I don't get everyone bashing Peppers. Are you all fans of other teams attempting to incite some sort of upheaval in the Charlotte community in hopes that he'll get traded? Honestly, the guy's a freak. He's easily one of, if not the, most gifted athletes at DE. All this talk about him being lazy is a bit overblown. How many plays was he in coverage last year? For the record, when you're in coverage it's not your responsibility to put pressure on the QB or go crashing into the OL and get swallowed up by blockers. The schemes that were run on D were not always using him as a pressure end. There were some questions on the D going into the season and they were exploited by opponents regularly. The D appeared to get down on themselves and rarely played with any emotion or desire. That was consistent for most everyone on the D, not just Peppers. Those thoughts and emotions have a tendancy to spread through a team in a hurry! There weren't many plays for them to rally around, so it continued for most of the season.
The team needs to have a leader on D who will jump in the face of those who aren't carrying their weight and hold them accountable. That's never going to be Peppers, but that shouldn't mean that he should leave town!
Posted by: sc_cards | Apr 3, 2008 2:07:03 PM
peppers is a classic underachiever. he should be getting 15 sacks per year ,in his sleep ,with his talent.
he doesnt get double teamed much anymore cause teams dont need to.
if the panthers were smart they would make a blockbuster trade on draft day and get some stud players and lose peppers 15 million cap hit.
remember, peppers is no spring chicken anymore either.
im not going to come out and say why peppers was so lousy last year but im going to mention a few names, clemons and canseco. nuff said.
Posted by: ray | Apr 3, 2008 3:31:53 PM
yea i agree the thing is if he wasnt getting in the back feild then the other DT's and DE's should have been. At the end of the season Charles Johnson was getting
back there tho he didnt have a sack he was disrupting the offensive opponents game plans. But the switching of Tyler Brayton should be good with Johnson!
PEPPERS lets all drop it he's a good man and he isnt going anywhere lets just see wht he brings to the table this year. We need to worry about the future not the past SO DROP IT.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN... I think starting Kalil is good he's young and he looked very good for the games he started wht he start 5-6 games? he only allowed one sack as a rookie imagine wht he'll be like this year! Milford is good for us as well Bridges? Gross? Kalil? Wharton? I think we will have more than a solid OFFENSIVE LINE.
WR'S...Whose ready to show havick to the opponents DB's... Smitty catching bombs from Jake or Matt! Hackett and Muhammad catching 3rd down conversions! And Jarret well we'll see. TE Jeff King and Rosario are good for us on the line! They too will be key on thrid downs!
RB's...I dont know wht are yalls thoughts? and How well do you think D williams will be i think he'll be good when our recieving game is good whitch means will leave him holes to run through!
Posted by: paul | Apr 3, 2008 3:46:41 PM
How many plays was he in coverage, sc_c? About four a game. If he was covering receivers more than that, he shouldn't have been more than 30% below his career highs in INTs an PDs. The rest of them, he was running into the RT an getting stood up.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Apr 3, 2008 9:55:43 PM
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