Jake Delhomme

"I've been in games where somebody said, `Your numbers were good,' but we lost. It doesn't matter. Numbers mean absolutely nothing." Jake Delhomme Carolina Panthers quarterback "To get it to stop, what they have to do is they have to say, `If you retaliate on purpose and we can tell that it was done blatantly to somebody, or spin somebody out on purpose, you will sit out the next week. No questions asked. There will be no discussions.'" Greg Biffle NASCAR driver, on how to eliminate dangerous driving during Nextel Cup races

If the Bears ultimately bench QB Rex Grossman this month, it will be the second straight year they demote a winning quarterback in the stretch. Last season, they benched rookie Kyle Orton after he threw 13 interceptions in his first 13 starts. Orton had a 9-4 record when he was replaced by Grossman, who has thrown 17 interceptions going into tonight's game. Texans' two-step It's bad enough the Texans didn't take Vince Young or Reggie Bush with the first pick in last April's draft, but the guy they took -- DE Mario Williams -- isn't even the best rookie on their team.

Moves Baseball ATHLETICS: Agreed to terms with 1B Eric Karros on one-year contract. Designated P Mario Ramos for assignment. MARLINS: Agreed to terms with 1B/OF Wil Cordero on one-year contract. TIGERS: Agreed to terms with C Ivan Rodriguez on four-year contract. TWINS: Agreed to terms with P J.C. Romero on a one-year contract. DIAMONDBACKS: Extended player development agreement with Single-A South Bend for two years. Basketball NBA: Suspended Lakers C Shaquille O'Neal one game for using obscene language and publicly criticizing officials during television interview.

Ravens' secondary vs. Bengals' receivers George Kokinis, the Ravens' pro personnel director, sizes up tonight's critical matchup against the Bengals: The players With three former Pro Bowl players in the secondary, the Ravens have the ninth-best pass defense in the NFL. Only one quarterback (the Carolina Panthers' Jake Delhomme) has thrown for 300 yards against the Ravens this season. The starting defensive backfield (cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle and safeties Ed Reed and Dawan Landry)

HOUSTON - From the time he took over for starting quarterback Rodney Peete in the season opener, to a division title and to back-to-back playoff road victories, Jake Delhomme has provided the steady hand for the Carolina Panthers. Though he rarely dazzled, Delhomme also never seemed to rattle. But both scenarios occurred in the Panthers' 32-29 loss to the New England Patriots last night at Reliant Stadium. Delhomme was horrible for much of the early part of the Super Bowl, then rebounded in what would have been one of the greatest turnarounds in championship game history.

Ravens' secondary vs. Bengals' receivers George Kokinis, the Ravens' pro personnel director, sizes up tonight's critical matchup against the Bengals: The players With three former Pro Bowl players in the secondary, the Ravens have the ninth-best pass defense in the NFL. Only one quarterback (the Carolina Panthers' Jake Delhomme) has thrown for 300 yards against the Ravens this season. The starting defensive backfield (cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle and safeties Ed Reed and Dawan Landry)

TOP FIVE PASSERS Player, Team ................. C-A ............ Yds ............. TD McNair, Titans............. 23-45 ........... 391 ............... 0 Johnson, Falcons ....... 28-40 ........... 352 ................ 2 Leftwich, Jaguars........ 19-28 .......... 336 ................ 2 Brees, Chargers .......... 24-41 .......... 296 ................ 3 Carter, Cowboys .......... 20-31 .......... 277 ............... 2 Player, Team .................. Att ............ Yds ............

If the Bears ultimately bench QB Rex Grossman this month, it will be the second straight year they demote a winning quarterback in the stretch. Last season, they benched rookie Kyle Orton after he threw 13 interceptions in his first 13 starts. Orton had a 9-4 record when he was replaced by Grossman, who has thrown 17 interceptions going into tonight's game. Texans' two-step It's bad enough the Texans didn't take Vince Young or Reggie Bush with the first pick in last April's draft, but the guy they took -- DE Mario Williams -- isn't even the best rookie on their team.

IT SEEMS LIKE anybody can be the starting quarterback of the Ravens except the guy who opened the 2002 season as the starter. Jeff Blake has the inside track, even though his contract demand of $3 million in incentives is an absolute joke. Kordell Stewart has entered his name, but he is the No. 2 choice behind Blake. There even has been speculation that the Ravens will make New Orleans Saints backup Jake Delhomme the starter if they can't sign Blake or Stewart. Jake Delhomme? Anybody, it seems, but Chris Redman.

ST. LOUIS - One of the most thrilling finishes in NFL history was won as much on memory as might. Jake Delhomme's 69-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith propelled the Carolina Panthers to a pulsating, 29-23, double-overtime victory over the St. Louis Rams yesterday, setting off a celebration at a silent Edward Jones Dome that has been staged several times throughout their relentless season. The Panthers' ninth win this season by six points or fewer catapulted them into the NFC championship game for the second time in the franchise's nine-year history.

SEATTLE -- For most of this month, sunshine has been a stranger in this water-logged Pacific Northwest city, but it's nothing but blue skies now for the Seattle Seahawks and their boisterous fans. Exhibiting a surgically precise offense and smothering defense, the Seahawks brushed aside the Carolina Panthers, 34-14, in the NFC championship game at thunderous Qwest Field yesterday to cruise to a Super Bowl meeting with Pittsburgh in two weeks. For Seattle (15-3), it will be the franchise's first trip to the league championship in its 30-year history.

"I've been in games where somebody said, `Your numbers were good,' but we lost. It doesn't matter. Numbers mean absolutely nothing." Jake Delhomme Carolina Panthers quarterback "To get it to stop, what they have to do is they have to say, `If you retaliate on purpose and we can tell that it was done blatantly to somebody, or spin somebody out on purpose, you will sit out the next week. No questions asked. There will be no discussions.'" Greg Biffle NASCAR driver, on how to eliminate dangerous driving during Nextel Cup races

Moves Baseball ATHLETICS: Agreed to terms with 1B Eric Karros on one-year contract. Designated P Mario Ramos for assignment. MARLINS: Agreed to terms with 1B/OF Wil Cordero on one-year contract. TIGERS: Agreed to terms with C Ivan Rodriguez on four-year contract. TWINS: Agreed to terms with P J.C. Romero on a one-year contract. DIAMONDBACKS: Extended player development agreement with Single-A South Bend for two years. Basketball NBA: Suspended Lakers C Shaquille O'Neal one game for using obscene language and publicly criticizing officials during television interview.

HOUSTON - From the time he took over for starting quarterback Rodney Peete in the season opener, to a division title and to back-to-back playoff road victories, Jake Delhomme has provided the steady hand for the Carolina Panthers. Though he rarely dazzled, Delhomme also never seemed to rattle. But both scenarios occurred in the Panthers' 32-29 loss to the New England Patriots last night at Reliant Stadium. Delhomme was horrible for much of the early part of the Super Bowl, then rebounded in what would have been one of the greatest turnarounds in championship game history.

ST. LOUIS - One of the most thrilling finishes in NFL history was won as much on memory as might. Jake Delhomme's 69-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith propelled the Carolina Panthers to a pulsating, 29-23, double-overtime victory over the St. Louis Rams yesterday, setting off a celebration at a silent Edward Jones Dome that has been staged several times throughout their relentless season. The Panthers' ninth win this season by six points or fewer catapulted them into the NFC championship game for the second time in the franchise's nine-year history.

TOP FIVE PASSERS Player, Team ................. C-A ............ Yds ............. TD McNair, Titans............. 23-45 ........... 391 ............... 0 Johnson, Falcons ....... 28-40 ........... 352 ................ 2 Leftwich, Jaguars........ 19-28 .......... 336 ................ 2 Brees, Chargers .......... 24-41 .......... 296 ................ 3 Carter, Cowboys .......... 20-31 .......... 277 ............... 2 Player, Team .................. Att ............ Yds ............

SEATTLE -- For most of this month, sunshine has been a stranger in this water-logged Pacific Northwest city, but it's nothing but blue skies now for the Seattle Seahawks and their boisterous fans. Exhibiting a surgically precise offense and smothering defense, the Seahawks brushed aside the Carolina Panthers, 34-14, in the NFC championship game at thunderous Qwest Field yesterday to cruise to a Super Bowl meeting with Pittsburgh in two weeks. For Seattle (15-3), it will be the franchise's first trip to the league championship in its 30-year history.

As the pieces in the AFC playoff puzzle fell into place yesterday, the Ravens fell apart. In a game decided by their fumbles and dropped passes, the Ravens let a prime opportunity to make a move in the AFC postseason race slip through their fingers, stumbling early and often in a 37-25 loss to the New Orleans Saints before a sellout crowd at Ravens Stadium. After learning just before kickoff that the Pittsburgh Steelers had shockingly lost to the expansion Houston Texans, the Ravens came out flat rather than focused.

IT SEEMS LIKE anybody can be the starting quarterback of the Ravens except the guy who opened the 2002 season as the starter. Jeff Blake has the inside track, even though his contract demand of $3 million in incentives is an absolute joke. Kordell Stewart has entered his name, but he is the No. 2 choice behind Blake. There even has been speculation that the Ravens will make New Orleans Saints backup Jake Delhomme the starter if they can't sign Blake or Stewart. Jake Delhomme? Anybody, it seems, but Chris Redman.

As the pieces in the AFC playoff puzzle fell into place yesterday, the Ravens fell apart. In a game decided by their fumbles and dropped passes, the Ravens let a prime opportunity to make a move in the AFC postseason race slip through their fingers, stumbling early and often in a 37-25 loss to the New Orleans Saints before a sellout crowd at Ravens Stadium. After learning just before kickoff that the Pittsburgh Steelers had shockingly lost to the expansion Houston Texans, the Ravens came out flat rather than focused.