Favre - Good For the Panthers

CardiacCacalacki — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:42:48 -0000

Any die-hard Carolina Panthers fan will tell you that Jake Delhomme is our man and that the so-called "quarterback controversy" cited by the national media simply does not exist. John Fox and Marty Hurney both have bet their careers on the fact that Delhomme can regain his form from the first few games of last season before his injury. And for the most part, due to the commentary regarding how Delhomme's arm strength has improved because of his elbow surgery, that seems like the smartest decision. Besides, we have a young, up and coming quarterback by the name of Matt Moore that played extraordinarily well for a rookie a few games last season.

The addition of Brett Favre, therefore, seems completely illogical as it would just cause a huge media circus. But with all of that in mind, isn't that exactly what the Carolina Panthers need?

The negatives of adding Brett Favre: that he's too expensive, he would disrupt team chemistry and trust in Delhomme, that he wouldn't do well in our system, etc, all seem too detrimental to make his acquisition work out. Yet, to discount the idea would be a complete mistake.

If the Carolina Panthers rode Jake Delhomme - or let's say Matt Moore, for whatever reason - to a Super Bowl championship this season, it would be awesome. Fans would be thrilled and John Fox would be called a genius. That's exactly how a good many of us picture this season coming to a conclusion.

But think about what a Brett Favre signing could do that just winning the Super Bowl won't. Carolina teams are notorious for not being popular on a national level (just ask the Hurricanes; well, except Duke and UNC) and that doesn't seem like it would change any time soon. If Favre were to join the Carolina Panthers and then proceed to win a Super Bowl, the media frenzy that would follow the team all season long and the fact that a man with the number 4 jersey is out on the field would have an astounding affect on fan support.

For once, Bank of America stadium could be completely filled with home fans. Yes, there to see Brett Favre, but nevertheless, the Carolina Panthers. The good it could do to the fan base is astronomical and could very well propagate the Panthers to higher level of respect nationally, especially when they succeed.

So Fox, Hurney, and even Jerry Richardson, would be absolutely stupid to at the very least not look into this opportunity and make an effort to follow up on it.

If it does happen then, Delhomme would likely be traded or cut, something that wouldn't be fun to do, especially since he's such an excellent quarterback, but with Moore waiting in the wings, it wouldn't be an entirely disappointing decision. But if it doesn't happen? Well, it won't matter. Because this team is built to win a championship, just like we expect.

EDIT: Wrote this before Yasinskas' article about Favre and the Bucs appeared on ESPN.com.

SB Nation User Blog: CardiacCacalacki

Favre - Good For the Panthers