Published: Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009 / Updated: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009 11:37 PM

Delhomme keeps job

Fox to stick with beleaguered QB against Arizona

CHARLOTTE -- In the end, the indecision of the past few days was solved by something Carolina Panthers coach John Fox said on Monday, while he was still pondering who to start at quarterback.

Fox announced Wednesday that he was starting Jake Delhomme again Sunday at Arizona, giving his incumbent a chance to fix things against the team that started his slump.

“Because I think he gives us the best chance to win,” Fox said when asked how he arrived at his decision, repeating his words from two days prior. “Sometimes with the 48-hour rule, you go back and you look. There's no question we've struggled in that area. Going through and looking at some of our mishaps, I don't think it's one guy, and I still think he gives us the best chance to win.”

That's not the answer most were expecting to hear, given Delhomme's four-touchdown, 13-interception season and a 56.5 passer rating that's 32nd in a 32-team league. Fox hedged on Monday, saying he wasn't sure the status quo was the way to proceed, but after thinking about it, he endorsed the guy who took him to a Super Bowl and a pair of NFC Championship games.

Now, Delhomme gets a chance to write a fairy-tale ending to what's been a Stephen King-scripted horror of the last 10 months. Since his five-interception game against the Cardinals in January's playoff loss, he's been a reeling mess. The three picks against Buffalo last week opened the door to his potential ouster.

“I don't know if there was a doubt,” Delhomme said. “It was a more or less, if he would have went that way, how could I blame him? I mean, let's be real here, how could I blame him? But I was hoping it would be me.

“There's only one way, and I'm going down swinging. I don't know any other way to put it.”

Fox told his quarterbacks of his decision in their morning meeting, just before the start of practice. Even Matt Moore, the backup who'd have likely inherited the job if Delhomme would have been replaced, supported the decision while admitting it was the one he expected.

“Jake wants this more than anybody, he wants to succeed,” Moore said. “We need a feel around here of belief, and guys are doing that. We just need to go out and play a complete game and come out on top.

“But guys feel good about who they've got back there.”

As has become custom, they were lined up around the corner to back Delhomme, with a number of players expressing relief that the 34-year-old gets to keep his job. There's a reason he's engendered such loyalty, notably his 56-37 record as a starter. But a number of players mentioned the group dynamic as well, saying the entire passing game needs to improve.

“The team collectively has to be better around him,” tight end Jeff King said. “Not all of the interceptions are his fault. We all collectively have to pick up our game as does he.

“I think we're struggling as a team. He's going to get the blame because that's how it goes in the NFL. He understands that, and we understand that. But as a group, as an offense, as a team we have to play better.”

Delhomme said he's been appreciative of the support but knows he needs to improve his own play or the support will be short-lived.

“I think the thing that probably bothers me more than anything is that I haven't played well enough for them,” Delhomme said. “That's something that you take to heart and you work so hard for. I've always felt that I've kind of been one that they can lean on in the tough situations and to fight through, and I haven't done that enough this year and that's something that's bothersome.

“Many of them have talked to me and whatnot, but they know they don't need to talk long.”

For all the numbers you can throw at either side of the argument, most lean back on the intangibles as to the reason why Delhomme deserved another shot.

Injured quarterback Josh McCown — who might be starting now if he was well — said the raw numbers are one thing, but a closer inspection of the tape reveals that Delhomme's not necessarily playing as poorly as advertised.