Carolina Panthers Retrospective
Hurney says QB job is open for competition in 2010 E-mail
Written by Steve Reed   
Tuesday, 23 February 2010 15:35
Jake

Panthers GM Marty Hurney said the team's starting QB job is up for grabs next season. (Photo by John Clark)

   CHARLOTTE – Who'll be the Carolina Panthers starting quarterback next season? Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said Tuesday it’s too early to say.
   Although 35-year-old Jake Delhomme is coming off a miserable season – he was 4-7 as a starter and threw 18 interceptions and only eight touchdown passes before finishing the season on injured reserve – Hurney would not rule out the 12-year veteran starting next year over Matt Moore, who led the Panthers to four wins in five games to close the season.
   “It’s the end of February and it’s way too early to answer that,” Hurney said during a press conference at Bank of America Stadium. “Everyone knows how we feel about Jake. And Matt came in and played very well at the end of the year. I think that we go through the process and see what happens.”


   Hurney said he understands that some fans feel strongly that Moore, who had as many touchdown passes as Delhomme but 16 fewer interceptions, deserves to be the starter. Moore has a 6-2 record as a starters since coming into the league in 2007.
   “I think we all know that we need consistent play at quarterback,” Hurney said. “I think we have taken time and gone through the process on things. Competition answers most of those questions. We certainly understand (fans' opinions). We know our job is to win football games and we’ll make our decisions with that in mind. But I think competition decides those things.”
   Moore, a restricted free agent, is likely to receive a tender offer from the Panthers before the March 4 deadline. It’s expected to be either first-round tender or a first- and third-round tender.
   It’s largely expected the Panthers will draft a quarterback if one they like comes available, but Hurney wouldn’t commit to it.
   “I’m not trying to be evasive, but I think part of our success in the draft has been that we try not to reach, we try not to go into the draft with a fixed mindset,” Hurney said. “We try to be flexible and get the best players available. All of those things will answer themselves over the next few months.”