Happy Thursday Gabbers!

As most of you know, I am a Carolina Panthers fan. And, as most of you know, the Panthers suck right now -- primarily because they have a terrible quarterback who has apparently forgotten how to complete a pass to a receiver, opting instead to throw his passes to the defensive backs who find a way to be wide open down the field.

After 7 straight weeks of this, one would think that the coaching staff would do something about it. Well, they have. Just like every Panthers fan suspected, head coach John Fox has decided to keep Jake Delhomme in the starting lineup this week against the Arizona Cardinals.

As idiotic of a decision as this is (at least to everyone with any capability of intelligent thought), Fox still believes it is the right one, and for whatever reason will not waver from his decision to keep Delhomme in the lineup even though there is plenty of statistical evidence to back up the argument that his decision is the wrong one.

I wrote two articles on this subject at my blog The Panther Playbook, and since I really don't feel like writing about anything else, I decided to re-use them because a) they're mine to use as I please, and b) I was planning on talking about the NFL anyway -- so I might as well talk about the crappy Panthers. (Nothing like good, quality filler to increase the word count, right?)

With that being said, if you have already read these articles, you are free to move on to the next blog here at the gab. (I suggest reading the previous daily articles if you haven't done so yet, and there is also some quality material from the Beezer, Lanz, blackbandit20, fan82, and Dominic00 to keep you entertained.) But, if you haven't read my articles on the state of the Panthers and are interested in my thoughts on what the Panthers should do and why they are making a mistake for not doing what they should do, then please -- continue reading.

The Carolina Panthers are at a point in the season where decisions have to be made. Through the first 6 games of the season the team is sitting at 2-4 and in third place in the NFC South (thanks to the Buccaneers being in rebuilding mode -- otherwise they could be in the cellar), and there are no signs at this point that this team will climb out of the deep ditch they have dug for themselves.

One of the main problems the Panthers have at this time is the poor performance from the quarterback position. Jake Delhomme has been nothing short of terrible through the first 6 games, and for his efforts he is leading the NFL in interceptions thrown (13) and has the 5th-worst passer rating in the league (56.8).

Of course, not all of the blame can be laid on Delhomme's shoulders. The coaching staff has not been top-notch this season and has failed to make proper halftime adjustments in most of the team's losses, and the offensive play-calling has been atrocious for the majority of the season. The special teams unit has been everything but special and has been directly responsible for the offense having poor field position and the defense being trapped on a short field, leading to too many deficits on the scoreboard.

Even though the coaching has been sub-par and the special teams have been terrible, the team's ability to win still lies on the shoulders of the quarterback. Teams with good quarterbacks win in the NFL, plain and simple, and the Panthers do not have a good quarterback (hell, they don't even have decent one anymore). Jake Delhomme is a shell of his former self, and even though no one knows what the cause is for his total meltdown, the fact still remains that he is nowhere near the quarterback that led the Panthers to a 12-4 record and NFC South title last season.

Since the playoff game against the Cardinals last January, Delhomme has thrown 18 interceptions and lost 3 fumbles. His biggest problems have been his constant attempts to force passes into a double (and sometimes triple) covered Steve Smith's hands, and his consistent over-throwing of routes, leading to easy interceptions for opposing defensive backs. When Delhomme tries to prevent himself from over-throwing a receiver downfield, he ends up under-throwing the pass and has it picked off by a linebacker, further compounding the problem.

What is the most mind-boggling, however, is the fact that even though Delhomme's struggles and statistics are well-known by everyone who follows football, Jeff Davidsion (the offensive coordinator) continues to call pass plays in situations when a running play would be the best option. The Panthers have one of the best running back tandems in the NFL, yet they are not being used properly by the coaching staff who instead decides to put the ball in Delhomme's hands (thus causing the interceptions or lost fumbles).

Calling a 2:1 pass-run play ratio with two of the best running backs in the league is questionable, regardless of who is behind center. Add in the fact that the quarterback in question is a fading semi-star who has lost his ability to lead a team to victory, and the 2:1 pass-run ratio becomes downright absurd. But, as long as the Panthers continue to play the style of football that they have played over the first 6 games of the season, the losses will continue to pile up in the standings, and all playoff hopes will be gone.

It is time for the coaching staff to make a move and put Matt Moore at starting quarterback, if for no other reason than to evaluate his talent-level so the front office knows what to do on draft day in April. The Panthers have 10 games remaining on the schedule, many of them against upper echelon teams in the league, which is a perfect opportunity to make something good out of a non-playoff season.

Until the coaches realize that the team cannot win consistently with Jake Delhomme at quarterback, the Panthers are going to continue to struggle and will not compete for a playoff spot this season -- and unfortunately for Panthers fans it doesn't appear that any changes will be made before it is too late.

And of course, as stupid of a decision as it is, John Fox has decided that Jake Delhomme is still the starting quarterback for the Panthers. Apparently, Fox hasn't been paying attention on the sidelines for the last 7 games, because there is no reason short of mental retardation that can explain why Fox feels that Delhomme deserves to remain the team's starting quarterback.

Either Fox is mentally retarded, or Delhomme is holding a secret stash of pictures with Fox humping Jake's horses on the farm in Louisiana -- either way, there has to be a non-football reason for this decision. (Because I sure as hell can't figure out a football reason for it.)

Those are the only explanations I can come up with for why Delhomme is still the starter. After 7 of the worst possible performances by an NFL quarterback (dating back to last season's playoffs) and no signs of improvement, Fox has said that he is sticking with starter Jake Delhomme because he "gives us the best chance to win".

Ummm -- is this some kind of joke? He can't be serious can he? Delhomme gives the Panthers the best chance to win?!? Hello, McFly -- HE'S THE REASON YOU'RE LOSING!!!

Someone please tell me that Fox isn't this stupid. He actually thinks that Delhomme gives this team the best chance to win? What part of the 18 interceptions and 3 fumbles over the last 7 games has Fox missed? What part of the overthrown and underthrown passes leading to the interceptions that give opposing teams excellent field position can Fox possibly think aren't Delhomme's fault?

I really hope that Fox is just trying one last time to restore some confidence in his quarterback, giving him that one final try to get it together (because he will be facing the team he played when this horrid turn of events began). I hope this is just a "you better get your shit together quick, son -- otherwise you're out" decision, because if not the Panthers are no longer hopeful of a playoff spot, but rather guaranteed to sit at home in January while 6 other teams from the NFC compete for the Lombardi Trophy.

But we all know that this isn't the one last time for the old gunslinger trying to make one last comeback game -- this is a prime example that Fox is loyal to a fault, and he is bankrupting his team's chances at making the playoffs because of his loyalty to one player.

I hope when Fox is sitting at home next season after the Panthers have hired a new head coach that he still feels his strong loyalty towards Delhomme, because that might be the only way he is able to forgive his old quarterback for costing him his job.

But at the same time, things could be a lot worse -- I could be a Redskins fan, then I wouldn't even be allowed to express my disgust with the team. (WTF is up with that, anyway?)

That's it for me this week folks. Enjoy the rest of the week. I'm heading over to the Tavern -- I think it's Sully and Beeze's turn to buy this week.

Until next Thursday...