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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, September 30, 2009

NFL: Fox sticking with Delhomme as Panthers starting QB


By MIKE CRANSTON
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Though Jake Delhomme has just two touchdown passes and seven interceptions, he’ll remain winless Carolina’s starting quarterback.

Asked Wednesday if Delhomme was still his guy moving forward, Panthers coach John Fox left no doubt.
“I didn’t think that was a question, but if that needs to be clarified, yes with a capital Y,” Fox said.
Delhomme threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in the Panthers’ 21-7 loss to Dallas Monday to drop Carolina to 0-3. But the second pick, returned for a game-clinching touchdown, came when receiver Steve Smith broke off his route.
Still, Delhomme is on bad streak. He threw four interceptions in Carolina’s season opening loss to Philadelphia and had a key late interception to end a comeback bid in Atlanta a week later.
Delhomme received a contract extension in the offseason after committing six turnovers in an upset playoff loss to Arizona.
The 34-year-old Delhomme has a passer rating of 54.3 and the Panthers’ minus-8 turnover margin is the worst in the NFL.
“Certainly we haven’t put up the points that we would have liked to have put up,” Delhomme said. “But we’re a work in progress and we’re trying to get there.”
The Panthers have no attractive alternative to Delhomme, who has started a franchise record 82 regular season games.
The backups on the roster are A.J. Feeley and Matt Moore. Feeley was signed after the season opener when No. 2 QB Josh McCown was lost for the season with left knee and ankle injuries.
Moore hasn’t played since starting three games as an undrafted rookie at the end of the 2007 season.