(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
This week the Carolina Panthers announced they plan to stick with their struggling veteran quarterback Jake Delhomme . This news came as a surprise to some but not to me. I say that not because I believe it's the right move, but because head coach John Fox is too loyal to his veterans.
This is not the first time we have seen coach Fox be overly loyal to veterans as just a few years ago he continued to start DeShaun Foster over DeAngelo Williams . Foster wasn't cutting it and Williams was the more explosive player.
In the end, it really wasn't until the next season in 2008 that Williams was given a chance to start. This was also funny given the fact that the Panthers used a relatively high first-round pick on running back Jonathan Stewart .
The reason Fox makes these moves is because he believes in playing his veteran over a younger player.
Sometimes that works for Fox and other times, like this situation between quarterbacks (and Foster over Williams), it really hurts the team.
How Long Will it Last?
Although Fox is overly loyal to his veteran players, I don't believe Delhomme will play much longer if he doesn't improve. This weekend the Panthers travel to Arizona to take on the Cardinals .
Remember, last year in the playoffs, Delhomme was intercepted five times by this same secondary. One could easily build a case that Delhomme has never been the same since that very game.
If Delhomme should struggle early on, then I believe you will see coach Fox turn to Matt Moore in the middle of the game.
What Happens After That?
Once Moore takes over as quarterback we will probably see him play for a few weeks. In that time, if the Panthers offense should continue to struggle, I would expect to see quarterback A.J. Feeley get the nod.
Feeley had success with the Philadelphia Eagles in the past and is a more proven player than Moore. If Feeley is in, he should be able to at least move the offense with better efficiency than Delhomme.
If either Feeley or Moore get on a hot streak they could help bring back the fantasy values of the key players in the offense.
Right now, Delhomme is killing the fantasy values of Williams, Stewart and highly talented receiver Steve Smith .
Hopefully, change will come and it will be very soon. Fantasy football owners are being killed by Delhomme.
NFL Fantasy Football Player Rankings writer Sean E. Douglas: fantasy-info.com
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