Some Takes with Jake: What I'd Like to Ask Jake Delhomme

Jake Delhomme is about to enter his 11th year in the NFL, the last six spent as the starter for the Carolina Panthers. Following a horrific performance in the Panthers' loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Divisional playoff round, the team rewarded Delhomme with a nice five-year, $42.5 million contract extension that locks him up through the 2014 season.

Delhomme has a bit of that gunslinger mentality, but a new quarterbacks coach in Rip Scherer may bring some changes to how Delhomme leads the offense in 2009-10.

1) How long did you stew over your performance (five picks, one fumble lost) in the loss to Arizona in the playoffs before you decided it was time to move forward?

2) What was your sense of responsibility to your teammates in the aftermath of that game? Did you blame yourself for the loss?

3) Do you think your teammates still have confidence in you to minimize mistakes?

4) What have you done differently, if anything, in the offseason to prepare for the upcoming season?

5) The running game for your team really blossomed last season. How effective does that make the passing game for the Panthers?

6) Steve Smith is such a premier talent, but you guys have struggled with a No. 2 wideout until Moose came back last season. Do you think Dwayne Jarrett can step up this year and give you guys another consistent weapon in the passing game?

7) How has the transition been for you at minicamp so far with your new QB coach? What does he do differently? Will the offense be tweaked because of this in any way?

8) Talk about the role of Brad Hoover on this team. He seems to be the unsung hero every season.

9) How essential is it to the team to have Julius Peppers in uniform this season?

10) How long does it generally take you to get ready for training camp? What kinds of workouts do you do while you are at home to prepare for that?

11) What current or former NFL player would you pay to see play a game? What other athletes would you do the same for?

12) What are your expectations for the Panthers this season? What will it take for them to get there?

13) What is your favorite part of training camp? Least favorite?

14) Tell me what kinds of emotions you get when you lace up the cleats and put on the pads for the first home game? Is it still a rush for you?

15) What is the worst game you have ever experienced with the Panthers?

16) What team's fans heckle you the most? What's the funniest thing you've ever heard from one of them?

17) What player for the Panthers is most essential to the team's success?

18) What is the most important thing you have learned while playing under John Fox?

19) How important was it for you that the team gave you a new contract that will essentially let you finish your career as a Panther?

20) What does life after football have in store for you?