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

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Jake Delhomme Signs Contract Extension

Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed was a dominant force on the Ravens defense throughout the entire 2008 season. He put together a remarkable season by any standard. What’s even more incredible is that he did it while suffering from a nerve impingement in his neck. Overcoming this adversity earned Ed the admiration of his teammates, and their vote for the Ed Block Courage Award.

Ed is just one of many incredible stories of courage in this year’s class. Minnesota Vikings defensive end Kenechi Udeze was diagnosed with leukemia after the 2007 season. Kenechi received a bone marrow transplant from his brother, Thomas Barnes, and his leukemia is now in remission. He has vowed to return to the NFL and could play as early as 2009. Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman played through 2008 while his daughter Tiana Rene battled cardiomyopathy. And Tampa Bay Bucs kicker Matt Bryant fought through the tragedy of losing his 3-month old son Tryson.

This year’s class also features headline players who overcame adversity to lead their teams on the field. Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme returned from Tommy John Surgery to lead the Panthers back to the playoffs. Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown returned from a torn ACL to help lead the Dolphins to the playoffs. And safety Ryan Clark returned to the Steelers line-up after suffering a near fatal spleen injury. Ryan is an integral part of the best defense in the NFL.

Click here to download the entire list of winners for the 2008 season.

Source: EdBlock.org

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2008 Ed Block Courage Award Recipients

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is likely out for the rest of the 2008 season while he decides whether to have surgery to repair a “frayed” ligament in his right throwing elbow. Tommy John surgery would repair the problem but doctors have agreed that Carson’s conservative approach to that kind of an operation is ok because the damage is more limited than what Carolina Panthers QB Jake Delhomme suffered a year ago when he had the surgery (successfully I might add). But if Carson continues to throw with that bad elbow this season — it doesn’t make any sense for a franchise quarterback to do it under the conditions.

The conditions. Let’s face it. This season is over for the Bengals. At 0-7, they’re already thinking about next year’s #1 Draft pick. You can talk about pride and all that — and the players that are in Cincinnati right now will certainly work hard in the second half of the season. At least most of them will. I know that. But I don’t think it makes much sense for Carson to rush himself back into such a grim situation. He’ll evaluate the possibilities and hopefully get himself ready to perform at 100% next year. Playing again this season isn’t a sensible option.

Source: Bengals.com, Photo: Newscom

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Carson Palmer Likely Out for Season

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme was back under center during his team’s voluntary minicamp today. It seems like a miraculous recovery considering Jake went through “Tommy John surgery” (doctors replaced the failed ligament in his right elbow with a tendon from his left thigh) just eight months ago. I thought his career was over. But it looks like he’s stronger than ever and Jake is optimistic about his full recovery:

“It felt great. I think mentally I was a little rusty, but that was to be expected. It was good to be out there in the huddle and actually competing again.”

Jake threw about 40 passes in his latest rehab milestone today and could be ready for a full workload when training camp starts July 26. Hopefully he won’t already be spent from the grueling comeback. His motivation will include a new-look offense that includes a bigger line, a new backfield and more depth at receiver.

Source: Panthers.com, Photo: Newscom

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Jake Delhomme Continues Comeback

It’s preseason with a tinge of the playoffs. That will be one of the highlights of a 13-game national television preseason schedule that was announced today by the NFL, along with the complete list of 2008 preseason matchups. All 12 of the 2007 NFL playoff teams will be featured in the national TV games.

It all starts in Canton, OH — site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On Sunday night, August 3 on NBC (8:00 PM ET), the Indianapolis Colts will take on the Washington Redskins in the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. It will be an eventful weekend for the Redskins as two of the greatest players in their history — cornerback Darrell Green and wide receiver Art Monk — will join the class of 2008 at the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies on Saturday. The game also will mark the NFL head-coaching debut of Washington’s Jim Zorn. That game is just the start of the preseason national TV excitement:

WEEK 1: Two of the top-10 receivers of last season in both catches and yards square off as New Orleans (Marques Colston) visits Arizona (Larry Fitzgerald) on Thursday, August 7, ESPN, 8:00 PM ET ….. NFL fans will see the debut as a starter of Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, who this year takes over for the retired Brett Favre, when Cincinnati travels to Green Bay (Monday, August 11, ESPN, 8:00 PM ET).

WEEK 2: Panthers QB Jake Delhomme will continue his comeback from elbow surgery as he is tested by new Eagles (and former Patriots) CB Asante Samuel when Philadelphia hosts Carolina (Thursday, August 14, FOX, 8:00 PM ET) ….. Two recent first-round quarterbacks meet for the first time as Oakland (JaMarcus Russell) visits Tennessee (Vince Young) on Saturday, August 16, FOX, 8:00 PM ET ….. Two division winners go at it as New England (preparing to duplicate its undefeated ’07 season) travels to Tampa Bay (Sunday, August 17, NFL Network, 8:00 PM ET) ….. And the Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants debut at home against Cleveland (Monday, August 18, ESPN, 8:00 PM ET).

WEEK 3: Two quarterbacks seeking to re-establish themselves as starters go at it as San Francisco (Alex Smith) travels to Chicago (Rex Grossman) on Thursday, August 21, FOX, 8:00 PM ET ….. The Battle for Texas takes place when Houston visits Dallas (the preseason series is tied 2-2) on Friday, August 22, CBS, 8:00 PM ET ….. Pittsburgh’s No. 3 NFL rush defense of ’07 can judge where it stands for ’08 when it faces Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson, the NFL ’07 Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl MVP (Saturday, August 23, CBS, 8:00 PM ET) ….. Buffalo helps Indianapolis open its new 63,000-seat Lucas Oil Stadium (Sunday, August 24, NFL Network, 8:00 PM ET) ….. And two more division winners meet when Seattle travels to San Diego. The Seahawks will be priming new RB Julius Jones (Monday, August 25, ESPN, 8:00 PM ET).

WEEK 4: The national TV schedule concludes with another matchup of playoff teams as Washington prepares to kick off the season and new Jacksonville WR Jerry Porter gets his final tune-up (Thursday, August 28, NBC, 7:00 PM ET).

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NFL’s Preseason National Television Schedule Features Every ‘07 Playoff Team

Vinny Testeverde is still alive! And the Carolina Panthers want him on their football team. The Panthers signed the soon-to-be 44-year-old QB to a one-year deal today as a backup to David Carr (who was a backup to the injured Jake Delhomme). The thing is, David’s also banged up. He missed practice today, so Vinny might start Sunday against Arizona after a five-day crash course in the Carolina playbook. Is that nuts? Vinny thought so:

“I’m just surprised that people are still interested in a 44-year old quarterback that hasn’t played in five or six weeks. It’s like starting as a rookie, that excited, nervous, ready-to-go feeling.”

In his defense, though, Vinny does have some familiarity with Carolina’s offense. The Panthers’ 40-year-old offensive coordinator, Jeff Davidson, is a former New England assistant and Testaverde spent last season with the Patriots.

I think Vinny will do just fine mentally, but physically — let’s just say he’ll automatically be the league’s most immobile quarterback. He was never one to do much scrambling, but at age 44, I don’t see him ever leaving the pocket. If all goes as hoped for Carolina, though, Vinny won’t even leave the sideline. David Carr was feeling somewhat better (although still not ready to play) and if he continues to improve, he’ll step back into the starting role.

Here are a few interesting bits of information about Vinny’s age:

• He won the Heisman Trophy the same year his new Carolina teammate Dwayne Jarrett was born.
• He was the #1 overall pick eight years before the Panthers entered the NFL.
• He’s thrown more passes than have been thrown in Carolina’s history.
• He’s nearly four years older than his aforementioned offensive coordinator.

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Carolina Panthers Sign Vinny Testeverde

Carolina Panthers QB Jake Delhomme tested his strained right elbow today at practice and the news isn’t good. There was so much pain in the process that Jake will have to undergo season-ending ligament-replacement surgery. He initially suffered the injury two weeks ago against Atlanta.

Back in July, I predicted that David Carr would take over the starting QB role before the end of the season, but I didn’t think it would happen like this. I feel very bad for Jake and concerned for his future because this is the same injury that ended the career of Terry Bradshaw and others. As David Carr steps into the starting role, he is not in the best of health himself. He had a back injury against the Saints this past Sunday and his status is uncertain for the Panthers’ Week 6 game at Arizona. If David can’t make it the Panthers are in big trouble. The only other QB on the roster is undrafted rookie Matt Moore. Quinton Porter was signed two weeks ago to the practice squad.

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Jake Delhomme to Miss Remainder of ‘07 Season, Elbow Surgery Forthcoming

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

The National Football League will support October’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with national public service announcements, special pregame ceremonies and team community outreach. The NFL has designated this coming weekend of October 7-8 as NFL Breast Cancer Awareness Weekend.

The league will promote breast cancer awareness messages with a number of pregame and in-stadium initiatives:

• Team Captains Presentation: Each home team will name honorary team captains from the community, who have been touched by breast cancer or are involved in fighting the disease. Honorary captains will be invited onto the field for the pregame coin toss, where captains from each club will deliver a bouquet of pink roses to them.
• “Pins That Touch Hearts”: Team coaches, management and game staff personnel will wear pink ribbon/NFL shield pins during the October 7-8 games.
• Pink Gatorade Towels: Players will use special-edition pink Gatorade towels on the sidelines during the games. Players will autograph these towels and other pink merchandise, which will be put up for bid on NFL Auction (nflauction.nfl.com), with proceeds going to breast cancer charities.
• Stadium Give-Aways: Together with Lifetime Television, teams will give away pink ribbon “temporary tattoos” to fans attending games on October 7-8. These pink ribbon tattoos will also be distributed with all purchases made via NFLShop.com during the month of October.
• Local Team Events: Many teams will extend the national platform with local grassroots efforts. Teams will designate home games in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and plan special in-stadium or pregame events with local organizations.

As part of the NFL’s partnership with Lifetime Television in its “Stop Breast Cancer for Life” campaign, Tampa Bay Bucs CB Ronde Barber and Carolina Panthers QB Jake Delhomme filmed public service announcements to air on the network throughout October, reaching more than 93 million families across the country. Ronde and Jake, the only athletes featured in this year’s campaign, are two among many NFL players and coaches who have been actively involved in supporting this cause. Ronde filmed the PSA to honor his mom Geraldine, a breast cancer survivor, while Jake’s PSA focuses on his family members who had breast cancer.

I got the PSA’s directly from Lifetime Network’s Corporate Communications Department and uploaded them to the new BIGPLAY Football YouTube site. You can watch Ronde’s and Jake’s PSA’s there. In addition, you can check out a special PSA starring actress, breast cancer survivor and NFL fan Fran Drescher (posted above), which will be played on in-stadium jumbotrons throughout October. Her PSA focuses on early breast cancer detection and on ways to be supportive of those who are battling the disease.

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NFL Supports Breast Cancer Awareness