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Delhomme: ‘I’m here to compete’
New quarterback Jake Delhomme answered questions from the Cleveland media for the first time Wednesday. He made no excuses for his lousy 2009 season with the Carolina Panthers and insisted the Browns have not promised him a starting job.
“I’m here to compete,” he said. “That’s the honest-to-God truth.”
Here’s some of the give-and-take with the 35-year-old who chose this opportunity over a backup job with his hometown New Orleans Saints even though he knew that organization well, having spent six seasons there at the beginning of his career:
Q: Why didn’t you take your scheduled visit to New Orleans before signing here?
A: We set up two visits basically. There were two areas that I wanted to go to, one was here and one was New Orleans. We had a bunch of other teams call and what not. I waited a little bit to make my trip because I wanted to let the, I guess, sting of the release (from Carolina) get out and let the emotion kind of get out of it and try to write down all of the different scenarios. What might work, what might not work. I came here on my visit, I had a great time. Actually, I was at the airport headed to New Orleans, but the weather was bad in Atlanta, that’s where I was connecting through. It kept getting delayed, delayed, delayed so I ended up getting a flight back to Charlotte that afternoon.
Q: What happened last year?
A: I didn’t play good football. I’m not going to blame anybody else or anything. I didn’t play good football, very simple. For whatever reason, I can sit here and blame this, blame that, but ultimately that doesn’t do anybody any good. I didn’t play good football from Week 1 on. The 2009 year football-wise wasn’t fun. … I probably tried to press too much. I don’t think there’s any doubt I probably tried to do too much and it didn’t work. I wasn’t just being me and that’s something for six out of the seven years that I started there, I was just me. I maybe tried to do a little too much last year and it didn’t work obviously.
Q: Why the Browns and not the Saints?
A: I had an opportunity to compete over here. I kind of knew what my role would be in New Orleans. I didn’t think there’s any doubt. I’m good friends with Drew (Brees). I’ve known Sean (Payton) for many years. I’m very comfortable with that organization, naturally, playing there for six years. It’s two hours from my home. I had to decide if I still wanted to still try to compete or if I wanted to hold a clipboard. I wasn’t ready for that. I just wasn’t ready for that plan and simple. I wanted to have a chance to come in to compete and play.
Q: Why will you be better in 2010, at age 35?
A: I think for one, I’m optimistic, I’m a glass half full guy. Two, it’s a fresh start for me. That’s what I’m excited about. It’s a fresh start, learning a new system, new players and that’s what’s great. That’s been the most refreshing part about being here so far.
Q: You get emotional over leaving Carolina. Why was that?
A: I’m a guy, I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I get to know people. I develop relationships with people. Those seven years there were great. We did some very good things and I became close to a lot of people. Not just football players, front office staff, equipment managers, trainers and things like that. You develop all those relationships with people and those are important to me.
Q: How does Cleveland’s offensive system compare to New Orleans’?
A: I’m not exactly sure. We ran the west coast offense with Coach (Mike) McCarthy down in New Orleans when Jim Haslett took over. Over here, we are still going to be running a lot of the same things that were run last year by Brian (Daboll). Who’s to say there’s not some new things that will be added? I haven’t got that far yet, I’ll be honest with you. M
Q: What had you heard about the Browns?
A: Jeff Davidson was my coordinator in Carolina for three years and Jeff was here for four years, I believe. Rip Scherer was my quarterback coach last year. Rip was here for four years, I believe. I guess I kind of had an understanding of the organization, somewhat. Everything they always said was the organization is trying to do things the right way, great people, it’s a great football town and things like that.
A big thing for me was over last weekend and early last week kind of researching. This team started 1-11. You find a lot of teams that started 1-11 and those bags are packed in December. Guys are ready to get out. This team won the last four games. I am telling you, that’s something. Something was happening. Something was going in the right direction.
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