These 2004 Fleer cards are really sharp to me. The picture quality and simplistic font and overall simplistic style on the back, is just awesome. A simple elegant style.
Jake Delhomme is one of the most intriguing quarterbacks that I ever remember watching play. He's like a milder version of Eli Manning in some ways. Fairly average in the regular season, but was a pretty tough out in the playoffs.
I remember in 2003 when Delhomme and the Panthers came out of freaking nowhere and were just winning games. The Panthers were a very young franchise, forming in 1995, and only made the playoffs once in their franchise's history prior to 2003.
The Panthers themselves were very under the radar in 2003 and Jake Delhomme was extremely under the radar. Jake had actually made a name for himself in Europe in the NFL Europe league and won the World Bowl Championship in 1999! Pretty sweet accomplishment.
Delhomme got a chance to play for the Panthers in the NFL in 2003, and absolutely ran with it. Delhomme led the Panthers all the way to the Super Bowl in his very first season as a starting QB!
The Panthers were underdogs, and Delhomme looked like the most unassuming, unimposing character, but he was getting the job done! They won the NFC South and just kept on winning. The Panthers went on a really fun run in those 2003 playoffs, and I was really hoping they'd win it all.
They lost the Super Bowl that season to Tom Brady and the Patriots, but even that game was a thriller!
Jake led the Panthers to two more winning seasons and two more trips to the playoffs in his time as a starter, and even another NFC Championship Appearance in the 2005/06 season.
Jake's career came to an end after the 2011 season but man, what a legend in his own way. He really achieved a lot and was a part of some good teams and made history.
He was a World Bowl Champion and an NFC Champion. He was a Pro Bowler in 2005 and he managed to pass for over 20,000 passing yards and 126 passing touchdowns! He's got a 56-40 record as a starting QB. Low-key a legend!
He's in the Panthers' Hall of Honor.
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