NFL Free Agency: Browns sign QB Jake Delhomme (UPDATED)
Written By: Denny | Category: Cleveland Browns | Comments: 104ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that the Browns have signed free agent quarterback Jake Delhomme to a two-year deal. More details will be forthcoming, but with the trading for Seneca Wallace this week and the release of Derek Anderson, the Browns have not shied away from changing their options at quarterback.
Delhomme, 35, has played the past 7 years with the Carolina Panthers. He started 11 games in 2009, with a 59.4 passer rating.
Queue up the requisite discussion of how this impact’s Brady Quinn’s status on the team. Mike Holmgren’s discussion of Quinn trade rumors yesterday claimed a Quinn trade would be dependent on other moves made by the team. This surely falls in the “other moves made by the team” category.
UPDATE 10:40PM: Schefter is now reporting the Browns will pay Delhomme $7 million in 2010. Or, as he put it, “Starter money”. Even coffee blogger transportation enthusiast SI.com senior writer Peter King finds this to be beyond “insane“. No word on when the Browns will hold a press conference to detail this signing.
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Photo Credit: Margaret Bowles/Icon SMI
Author: Denny
Denny is a Northern Ohio native and Ohio State alumnus who currently lives in (and therefore blogs from) Washington, DC. Because he lives in the District, he clearly does not understand anything about Cleveland sports. You can follow Denny on Twitter.Denny has written 279 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
Wow, so bad.
…….
Thanks for ruining my day Browns
ugghh!
The real question is, are we getting Jake Garcia, or Jake Dilfer?
It’s hard to make any sense of this signing. One thing for sure is that Quinn is gone.
This just doesn’t make sense for so many reasons. Holmgren said early on that he isn’t into QB competitions. So who is the starter? Delhomme? Wallace? Wow, I don’t understand this move at all. If these 2 are on the roster post-draft and we don’t have one of Philly’s QBs, Im going to be extremely disappointed.
Brady: Now I’m done.
Jake Delhomme? Isn’t that the guy who ruined the Panther’s season?
moves like this are why we literally wait for next year. another year of subpar quarterbacks.
dellhomme was on a team with 2 stud running backs and one of the best wideouts in the league and couldn’t produce. what’s he going to do here?
In the words of GOB Bluth, COME ON
Delhomme + Wallace = WINNERS!
I want to hold off judgement until the season is rolling. I want to think this move may pay off. I want to put my trust in this move.
These are all things I want to do but, I can’t. In the words of Charlie Brown, ‘good grief’.
I’m no Delhomme fan (or Delhommer, to coin a phrase), but if the guy who coached and maybe even coached up Montana, Young, Favre, Hasselbeck, and others whom I am forgetting prefers a Delhomme/Wallace combo to Quinn, I am inclined to go along with it.
Go Browns!
Browns internal trade talks: “Let’s just get rid of two mediocre QB’s and replace them with more seasoned mediocre QB’s….. Wait guys I wasn’t being serious…. NO put down that phone… PUT IT DOWN….”
@14….those guys you mentioned weren’t washed up and over the hill. This immediately made me forget about how good I was feeling about Ben Watson.
@16 – Again, I am willing to trust Holmgren to determine who is washed up, who is under-skilled, and who can best help the team at the quarterback position.
@15 TheWood:
Well we move from a QB corps with a career rating in the high 60′s to one in the low 80′s. That’s certainly the right direction, but it’s aiming pretty low.
Delhomme…. WOW.
Dear Troy Smith,
Cleveland needs you.
Signed,
LBJ
Kill me now. As awful as DA was last year, Delhomme was worse and will only continue to be/get worse.
* worse takes into account having better offensive talent / better offensive game calling / more expectations
Ugh… this is going to suck. My question is, “Does this make signing a QB in the first round more likely?” only because I could see Delhomme mentoring a newly drafted QB more than Quinn.
Best case scenario now: Big fat Ben gets released and we sign that giant d-bag after he gets out of rehab. Make it happen Holmgren.
I gotta go with Holmgren’s hunch on this. Everything he’s done has been first rate so far. Not much of an upgrade, but its an upgrade.
I dont get. Jake is done. Holmgren better be right on this.
so what’s the punchline of this joke…? I’m waiting.
Quinn and 2nd rounder to jump back into the late first round.
Did anyone here actually think we were headed into the season with Quinn and Wallace? Delhomme starts, Wallace backs up and our newly drafted QB holds the board.
I am all good with this move.
Delhomme, Quinn, Wallace, Anderson. Which of these is a stud QB?
Exactly. None of them. Quinn has trade value. None of these guys is the future. That is what Holmgren and Heckert are saying with these moves.
With all those picks and The Big Show’s ties to the Pacific North West, I wouldn’t be surprised if this hes laying the ground work and maneuvering for drafting Locker next year.
Poor Brady,He’s probably packing his bags as we speak.I hope Mike knows what he’s doing. He was smart enough to keep Mangini. No where to go but up!
@27 Rick
If the next two years counts as the future, then it looks like Delhomme and Wallace are ours.
@ Rick – isn’t Quinn’s trade value undermined significantly by this move? It’s now clear they’re looking to move him. If they’d have traded Quinn first, they likely could have gotten a better deal for him. I know it’s been assumed by some that he’d be moved after the Wallace move and the Delhomme rumors, but now it’s apparent that they don’t think he’s the present or the future.
Also, I can’t wait to read Frowns’ logic on how this makes Quinn the clear-cut starter forever.
Jike Delhommegren!
Wow, you guys seem SO sure about how this signing will plan out, I wish Lerner hired you as his GM.
Screw “In Holmgren We Trust”. I’m starting my own “In Posters Hiding in Anonymity We Trust”!
Well this should end any debate about whether Wallace will start… Delhomme wouldn’t come here to ride the bench if he could have done the same thing behind Brees in New Orleans…
I am not going to freak out about this move…yet. We haven’t even hit the draft yet. Let’s wait and see what else is coming. So far I have agreed with everything Holmgren has done. I will give him the benefit of the doubt on this one until we know more.
I think we have to accept a few things.
1. We will once again be drafting a “QB of the future” since neither of the 2 acquired are it, and it seems that Brady is not going to get a chance this year either.
2. There is a dearth of QB talent in the NFL, and it takes both luck and skill to find a good QB.
3. We haven’t had luck or skill in the draft in a really long time. Hopefully Holmgren’s team has the skill.
With the first Pick in the 2011 Draft, With VP and New Head Coach Mike Holmgren the Cleveland Browns select Ryan Mallett
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
beside being a mental case since having the worst game in playoff history, his offense coordinator for the last 3 years has been Jeff Davidson..
This move is going to make blindly supporting Holmgren much tougher.
love it or hate I am glad the new front office is at least stirring things up and making moves. I really like picking up Ben Watson
Couldn’t be more disappointed. This guy is so obviously washed up. I’d rather see Quinn or Wallace start. Later Brady sorry the home team story didn’t work out.
Delhomme is a stop-gap and a mentor, and Wallace is insurance. Quinn is probably trade fodder to be used for positioning on draft day. Which means the future of the franchise will be announced in April with one of our first three picks. Start scrutinizing the prospects.
Sweet Jesus…..you would seriously think Holmgren and Heckert just signed Tim Couch.
Anyone that is disappointed in this move has no idea where this team is really at. By a show of hands how many of you really truly thought Quinn was the Cleveland Browns answer after the past 3 years? WRONG.
Quinn maybe the answer for someone but not us, not after the way we have mishandled him. Quinn deserves a real shot somewhere and we deserve a real groomed QB. Delhomme, Wallace and a drafter QB gives both parties what they need.
bad.
I want to agree with this move. I really do. But Delhomme was hard to watch last year… Maybe the guy just needed a change of scenery and Holmgren and Co. saw that?
I guess I’m ok with getting rid of Quinn, but I hope they get something decent back for him. Also, I have a #10 Cleveland Browns jersey if anyone is looking for one (which, ironically, was the first Browns jersey I ever let myself buy. ugh).
Think he’ll where #17? I hear that number works really well in Orange and Brown…
It’s tough to like this move. The last time Delhomme was in the playoffs he chucked up a DA like 6 interceptions… He is also a great guy and supposidly a good teacher. I still see the Browns draftig a project QB in the draft to learn under Wallace and Delhomme… Lets not forget, Delhomme has been a great QB over his career. It’s just over the past 15 or so starts he’s been struggling… Welcome to Cleveland. Lots of fans will hate you, but we all want to see you win.
Day light come and I want to Delhomme
Troy Smith!
Maybe Delhomme will go down week 1 and Wallace will lead us to a 10-6 record.
Just sayin’. You NEVER know what the season has in store. Unless your the Lions or the Texans.
@45 so you think signing the only guy that was worse than Quinn is the answer? NOPE
@51- the texans? Really? We cant look down on the texans.
If this guy couldn’t get the job done with Muhsin Mohammed and Steve Smith and a STELLAR running game….he’s not going to do jack with Mo Mass and whoever the mishmash is at number 2…sorry but anyone who thinks this is going to work out needs to put down the bottle.
(Gulps Holmgren koolaid) Signing a washed up guy who thinks he’s still a starter is part of the upgrade. If we draft a qb Jake will be happy to mentor the new guy. So will Seneca. (Another swig)
Not a big Quinn booster, but wonder what crime he committed to even rule out a look-see in favor of a 35 year old who doesn’t know he’s retired yet.
Here we go Steelers here we go…just kidding.
@ Stin
What did you seriously expect this team to do next year with BQ at the helm? The second Holmgren and Heckert took the reigns you HAD to know DA and BQ were on their way out. Why would they keep the two QB’s who have not shown they were able to leadthis franchise any longer?
This signing allows them to bring in a stop gap, a back up and draft a future to mentor. Brady Quinn is NOT going to lead this team to the playoffs, Ben Watson or not.
I feel like I am taking crazy pills here.
AHHH. OWWW. My BALLS!!!!!!
@ Christopher – I INVENTED THE PIANO KEY NECKTIE!! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!? NOTHING!!! YOU’VE DONE NOTHING!!!!
Where are our ambitions for one of the two qb’s in Philly? I dono about this move. In Holmgren we trust.
I believe that he was signed to bring some experience to the postion. However, I don’t understand such a high salary. 7 million for experience is not smart.
To the majority of you….. wahhhh, do you want me to call the wahmbulance?!?!?!? Let it play out.
Seriously……..
$7 million?
bad(der).
Ok, I work in a logical manner as I would hope most would do when having to make big decisions. Lets just step back and look at old Jakes record…
2009 Carolina Panthers 8 TDs 18 INTs
2008 Carolina Panthers 15 TDs 12 INTs
2007 Carolina Panthers 8 TDs 1 INTs
2006 Carolina Panthers 17 TDs 11 INTs
2005 Carolina Panthers 24 TDs 16 INTs
2004 Carolina Panthers 29 TDs 15 INTs
2003 Carolina Panthers 19 TDs 16 INTs
Is this even possible that they can see this guy as an upgrade to DA?
What about the above performance screams!?!… This guy will finally bring stability to a team that so desperately needs it.
Where is the logic in the money that we are going to pay this guy?
Why? How is this a good thing? What makes the management so sure that after laying out all the facts and coming to a logical decision that it ends up with Jake D?
I need the logic !!!
Is there any QB availably that you aren’t going to complain about? Delhomme was a good QB and maybe if he can get out of his own head, he can be a good QB again. No one that good was available. Troy Smith is wanted just because he was a OSU guy, and if he went to Michigan or anyother school for that, his name would have never mentioned on here. Trust is The Walrus!!!
Christopher, I agree with you, I like this move…which makes two people out of the entire WFNY population.
We aren’t winning this year regardless of the quarterback, so we have Delhomme as our stopgap. We build up our team this year by drafting somebody to bolster our secondary, and someone to play on the right side of the line, deal with the season, and get Mallet or Locker next year abd let Delhomme teach them.
Or Delhomme actually plays well. But apparently that has already been somehow decided by everyone as an impossibility..
@66, Troy Smith isn’t wanted here. There’s just one guy who keeps repeating it and even uses it in his avatar name. Seneca Wallace was fine with most of us. Bringing in a vet on the cheap is ok, especially when he could’ve a) served as a good backup b) served as a mentor for young QBs like Quinn learning a new system c) at worst served as a stopgap for a year or two and competed with Quinn to push him. Instead we get someone who’s never been great and has recently been truly awful, for quite a bit more money than he’s worth, who will probably not be content serving as a backup on this team. I’d rather have picked up only Wallace than any of the other easily available QBs on the market.
Look at his stats, conveniently located right above your post. Maybe he would’ve been ok to pick up when he wasn’t 35 years old and coming off career-bad seasons on a team in a much better situation. He has no real upside at this point, no future as a player here, and we’re paying too much for him.
@67
Since “we aren’t winning this year regardless of the quarterback,” wouldn’t it have made more sense to use this year to develop Quinn, if for no other reason than to increase his experience, and thus his trade value, if he isn’t the long term answer? Now, for the $7 million the Browns are paying JD, who else could they have had? Darren Sharper? Thomas Jones? Antonio Bryant? All greater needs than adding ANOTHER quarterback to the endless cycle of QB suckitude.
We aren’t winning this year regardless of the quarterback
So we should pay someone 7 million dollars?? Airtight logic.
I wish I had more hands…
…so I could give this move FOUR THUMBS DOWN.
I cannot believe someone actually posted Jake Delhomme’s stats. What a joke.
Delhomme was not brought in here as the answer!!!!!
I give up. You are right. Brady Quinn is the long term answer. Just like Tim Couch, Spurgeon Wynn, Kelly Holcomb, Charlie Frye.
I cannot believe someone actually posted Jake Delhomme’s stats. What a joke.
Delhomme was not brought in here as the answer!!!!!
Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, even Johnny Unitas couldn’t lead this team to 10-6 next year.
Again, I feel like I am taking crazy pills in this town.
think of it this way…the cavs play boston tomorrow…
I hope he keeps his jersey number, that way I have something better to do with the Braylon Edwards jersey I foolishly bought a couple years back.
I don’t mind the move. He could be a mentor to the QB of the future (whoever that is) and a stop gap. Who knows, he might even pan out and regain his form from a few years back. I feel bad that Brady never got his shot, but he’ll get it somewhere.
@ 69 – Unless Holmgren, who actually knows a thing or two about quarterbacks, doesn’t think Quinn is the real deal and is looking to move forward.
@69 and 70 – Is the problem that pro athletes are overpaid? Or do you really think bringing in Thomas Jones aka Jamal Lewis 2.0 would have helped more?
@70. I too wish i had more hands for a totally different reason.
But yes 7 mil is waaaay too much.
Delhome and Quinn aren’t gettin’ it. Down with the west coast stuff too. Josh Cribbs is our future. We should draft all offensive linemen and run that dude up the middle from the wild cat! Unstoppable. Here we go brownies here we go.
Both the local fanbase and national media are in near unanimous disgust with this move. I have faith in Holmgren and Heckert but man, Jake Delhomme sucks.
Maybe they despise Delhomme and have decided it’s worth $7M to teach him a lesson, Cleeeeeveland style.
Crazy thing is, they gave him a workout and then signed him. Does that reek of how bad our quarterbacks have been, or what? I wonder if Mangini and Daboll were like, Jake’s WAY better than you-know-who.
Yeah, $7 million is way too much for him.
Scotty Doesn’t Know
Honestly… D.A. completed 2 passes in a game last season, & Quinn couldn’t beat him out for the starting job. It can’t get much worse right ?
I’m just hoping Jake comes here with that fat chip on his shoulder and lights it up. Holmgren should be able to work with him and the QB coaches to curb his int’s. The man took a team to the Super Bowl, he’s not all bad.
@Christopher and Scotty—
I 100% agree. Everyone was ecsatic with the team management literally 1 day ago and now you’re gonna trash em over a veteran qb signing. Let’s show this new regime some faith and stand behind them. Their track record speaks for itself so stay optimistic and show some support. I have a hunch more roster moves are on the horizon…
couldn’t we have signed dan marino from cbs for 7 mil?
cleeeeeeeeeveland style.
Right on Steppenwolf… We especially need to stand behind Jake. I really think he has a Knoblauch/Wohlers thing going on, and I’m sure he’d appreciate the support. I’m with you and Chris. When I heard he was coming in town, I was not excited but I felt that I wouldn’t be too bummed if he did (for Quinn’s sake). Now that he’s here, I’m pretty pumped about the move. “So you’re saying there’s a chance…” That’s how I feel. He’s had a few strong seasons. However, I still don’t think Quinn was dealt with in the correct manner to get a strong read on how good he is/can be.
doesnt this just plummets quinns already plummeting value? 4th round pick…max.
@65. Dan Marino was my favorite non-Browns player growing up, but Montana would be the one I (or you) would take if given the choice. Yes, JD’s a bit old and probably overpaid, but he’s experienced and it’s not my $$. Carolina has been a pretty solid team for awhile now. Good Defense helps, but he obviously was doing something right..
That’s the last time I say “well it can’t get much worse.”
Can we say paying 7 mil for a “stop gap” is crazy….Besides we have Wallace now who’s run Holmgren’s offense for oh what 8 years but yeah bringing in Jake Delhomme is a great Vet signing as he was again the only QB worse than the two were cutting lose? I think some of you are taking crazy pills….the dude was horrible with a GOOD team around him he’s going to be a joke here……
But look on the bright side now we won’t have more people saying we should trade our early picks for Mcnabb anymore….
*inserts face firmly into palm*
“I really think he has a Knoblauch/Wohlers thing going on”
and how did those end up.
btw is it too late to trade jakes? I think i’d rather have Jake Plummer at this point…
@83
“Carolina has been a pretty solid team for awhile now. Good Defense helps, but he obviously was doing something right.”
Not really, no, they’re wildly inconsistent. Here are Delhomme’s stats and the team’s finish going back to 03.
09 – 7-9, no playoffs: 2015, 8/18, 55%
08 – 12-4, lost in divisional round: 3288, 15/12, 59%
07 – 7-9, no playoffs: 3 games played
06 – 8-8, no playoffs: 2805, 17/11, 61%
05 – 11-5, lost NFC championship: 3421, 24/16, 60%
04 – 7-9, no playoffs: 3886, 29/15, 58%
03 – 11-5, lost Super Bowl: 3219, 19/16, 59%
Now these are certainly better than the Browns, but not a great team year-to-year. Their best team seasons came when Delhomme was ok, not with his best season in any of yardage, completion %, or TDs. I’d take that for sure, except that it came years ago and he was poop last year and in the playoffs the year before. Oh, and he’s freaking 35 now on a rebuilding team.
Consider that, in the 08 playoffs, they relied on Delhomme when their rushing attack wasn’t working, and he responded with 6 turnovers. And then consider that he accomplished all of the above numbers with Muhsin Muhammad, Steve Smith, Keyshawn Johnson, DeAngelo Williams, and Jonathan Stewart on offense.
What’s the purpose of this move, seriously? What’s the positive here? It:
-decreases the trade value of Quinn (indisputable)
-saddles the team with 7 million dollars worth of the above even when this guy’s value is at its lowest (indisputable)
-gets us someone who, in the ABSOLUTE best case scenario, maybe has a couple years of not being awful
-gives us someone with a track record of being pretty good to ok on teams with superstars on offense and very good defenses, who still spent plenty of time at 7-9 or 8-8
-gives us someone who soiled himself in the most important game of the year when his team needed him in 2009, played like poop in the regular season of 2009, and was then injured (indisputable – really, you can find pictures of his brown pants, which would fit right in here) (not really)
-before LAST SEASON was given a five year deal by his team and then released after playing 11 games. Again, he was signed to a five year extension and then released after only playing 11 games of it (indisputable)
So while I am still a fan of our front office, I just don’t support this move. Maybe Delhomme’s secretly been taking steroids or some experimental decision-making-improvement pills or something, in which case I’d feel better about it, but why couldn’t we have just given the steroids to Quinn or the decision-making-improvement pills to DA?
I should’ve split that into chapters.
The purpose of this move?
He is obviously better than our other choices at QB(Holmgren style)
I’m a big Brady fan, but nobody can honestly say that Brady has earned a guaranteed starting spot.
BQ’s numbers are eerily similar to DA’s.
Similar completion %
Similar QB rating
Probably similar TD/INT ratio
Just off the top of my head I’d say they have a similar win/loss record.
So, please, get off of the ‘Brady is my savior’ theme. He hasn’t proven he can do anything in the NFL beside flex and get injured.
Again, major Brady fan. I’m just being realistic. I see lots of people on here who would vote Brady into the Hall of Fame just because he’s gorgeous, from Dublin and he knows how to command a huddle.
My first reaction upon reading the news this morning, bleech, oh dear god why, this makes no sense, another Jake Taylor…
But then after the nausea passed I am really OK with it and I will continue giving the benefit of the doubt to the new, New Browns.
And with Jake Taylor the Tribe won the pennant.
DA- 52.9% 46 TD/45 INT 69.7 QB rating W/L 16-19(.457)
BQ- 52.1% 10 TD/9 INT 66.8 QB rating W/L 3-8(.272)
I didn’t count the Baltimore game into either of their W/L. Brady may have started the game, but DA did a lot of damage with 3 picks in one half.
Three of DA’s losses came from 2006.
Delhomme- Career 59.2% 123 TD/94 INT 82.1 QB rating
Delhomme over the last two season (his worst seasons since becoming a starter)
57.6% 23 TD/30 INT 72.1 QB rating W/L 16-11(.592)
Delhomme is still an upgrade at QB over DA and BQ at his worst!
Matty… the last 12 games Delhomme has played have been garbage… that spans a playoff game and a full season.
Garbage. Garbage that will pay him ~20 million freakin dollars next year.
I think I chose the wrong line of work.
I love how everyone is all of a sudden concerned about the 7 million bucks. If Lerner would have installed new drinking fountains in the stadium for the same cash would you all be upset?
Who cares what they are paying him? Is he putting us over the “cap” thus forcing us into luxury tax thus making it impossible to sign another “max player”?
NO.
quinn sucks and will never be good. he wasnt that great in college and lacked composure. this is why troy smith was better than bq in college. bq just doesnt have it for the pros.
anyways who cares if we sign delh0m0. hes a gapstop qb. well draft someone and then draft a qb with a real arm.
This is going to be one odd Browns team this year. Whatever I’m still excited.
I can’t wait for training camp and the competition between Seneca Wallace and Jake Delhomme – wait, isn’t this the same organization that tried this a year ago and who said it wouldn’t happen again? Just when I start to feel good and think I know where this miserable franchise is headed they make a move like signing Delhomme for 2 years and at a very nice salary, for Jake.
Oh btw Delhomme provided another illustration that it’s not about winning by signing with the Browns and not the Saints. Why win when you can lose and still get paid. This is why I was hoping the Browns would make Cribbs sit out but they couldn’t so they caved.
I like the signing…Delhomme was better than our guys prior to his surgery and really only had one terrible year.
Delhomme was in Carolina for a long time, sometimes a change of scenery helps these guys…
@ 22 – What would be Delhomme’s mentoring topics: How to throw interceptions, how to squander RB and WR talent, how to choke under pressure, how to “pretend” to be a great QB when you are barely above average?
This was quite an ugly move. I understand that if Holmgren doesn’t see what he wants in Quinn then i have to respect that. The Browns are in a rebuilding process and there are going to be some hole patching jobs done until that weakness can be filled. Right now Holmgren is just patching a hole until he can fix it later with the right tools.
That being said 7 mil is way to much and I would have rather stayed with Quinn and at least given him a couple years as starter to see what happens.
Delhomme’s numbers were/are horrible with the Panthers and that was with respectable wide receivers. Where is his rating going to go with our receivers.
Sigh….grit the teeth and bear it for now.