Jake Delhomme Signs Contract Extension

Coming off what was probably the worst game of his National Football League career, Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme signed a five-year contract extension today that will most likely keep him in Carolina for the rest of his playing days. The deal is worth $42.5 million, with $20 million guaranteed.

Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers / Photo: Newscom

Jake was happy to get this deal done before his contract was up at the end of the 2009 season:

“My wife and I were very happy, but truly, honestly, we’re more excited to know that we can be in Charlotte, North Carolina. That meant the most to us. It’s such a relief to know that we’re here with the Panther organization. To be able to play here, to play for Big Cat (owner/founder Jerry Richardson) and the Panther family, I feel it’s pretty special.”

Concerning last season’s finale — and in Jake’s defense — his embarrassing implosion (six total turnovers) in January’s divisional playoff game against the eventual NFC champion Arizona Cardinals was an aberration. But it did keep the favored Panthers from advancing as expected and put the brakes on an otherwise impressive 12-4 season. At 34-years-old and taking into consideration the way last season ended, I was surprised to see the Panthers make such an expensive commitment to Jake at this time. But there was a method to their madness. The deal did clear out some much-needed salary-cap space because franchised defensive end Julius Peppers will make a whopping $16.7 million this season. Jake was going to cost the team $10 million against the cap this season in the last year of his deal. So this gives Carolina a little financial freedom with the NFL Draft just two days away.

Source: Panthers.com