kkSteve Reeder caught a couple of hysterical Jake comments in Spartanburg yesterday, stuff that helps you understand why Jake is the leader of the Panthers:

On a third-and-1 play running back Decori Birmingham busted loose outside for a 12-yard gain before safety Nate Salley knocked him out of bounds. If it were a real game Salley probably would have been flagged for a late hit. Delhomme reminded Salley of that by shouting, “That’s undisciplined, Nate! That’s how you lose!”

Earlier in the day, Delhomme threw over the middle for a receiver, but cornerback Richard Marshall got there a little early to break up the play. Delhomme thought Marshall interfered on the play and said, “Thanks, Rich. We’ll take that all day, baby!”

This is the sort of stuff the S-PIN fly-by coverage of the Panthers always misses. They can rag on Jake’s arm, raise questions about his surgically repaired elbow but it takes a little more exposure to the team operating as a team to understand all the intangibles Jake brings to the table.

No way the Big Cat was gonna undercut Jake’s recovery by signing another vet to compete for the job. Yes, the Panthers are gonna live or die with Jake. That is exactly the way the team wants it.

Oh, and Kelli says hi.