Delhomme despondent after loss to Dolphins

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - No one takes losing harder than Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme. So upset after the Panthers lost the Super Bowl, he forced himself to watch from the sideline with tears in his eyes as New England celebrated the win.

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So imagine how bad Delhomme felt Monday, a day after his late interception set up the winning field goal in Carolina's 27-24 loss to the Dolphins.

"It is not like Jake has never had adversity... today is no different," Carolina receiver Steve Smith said. "I am not getting down on Jake, but today I kind of left him alone."

Delhomme had his best game of the season statistically on Sunday, going 19-of-35 for 285 and three touchdown passes to Smith.

But his final throw of the day was a disaster and it came while the Panthers were headed for what could have been their own winning drive. The game was tied at 24 and the Panthers had moved to the Miami 43-yard line when Delhomme locked in on receiver Keary Colbert.

Delhomme never saw Lance Schulters, who broke in front of the pass and grabbed it to set up the Dolphins' decisive kick.

"Didn't see it," Delhomme said. "I thought it was a perfect call. I really lost vision of the guy. So that's on me. It doesn't feel good. It sucks. You can't put it into words.

"As a player, you don't want to look your other teammates in the eye because you let them down. There ain't nothing worse than that. There's nothing worse, sports-wise - nothing worse than that."

Delhomme has always been a player who wears his emotions. He's not afraid to call out a teammate who misses a block or runs the wrong route, and doesn't shy away from blaming himself for his errors.

So far this season, he's had plenty of chances.

Delhomme has accounted for six turnovers this season - four interceptions and two fumbles - that have led to 13 points for Carolina's opponents. In a win over the Patriots last week, his poor throw was picked off by Mike Vrabel and returned 24 yards for a touchdown.

Delhomme got into a shouting match with Carolina safety Mike Minter as he left the field. Minter maintains he said "Come on man, let's go" as they passed as words of encouragement.

Delhomme has never revealed why he reacted the way he did - erupting animatedly and having to be calmed on the sideline by coach John Fox. Instead, he told a story that revealed how intense he can be, explaining that he nearly came to blows with close friend Brandon Stokley on a daily basis when the two were college teammates.

The Panthers are rallying behind Delhomme now, refusing to blame the loss to Miami on his one throw. Smith said his fumbled punt return, which set up a Miami touchdown, was as big a factor in the outcome as Delhomme's interception.

"Everybody's hard on themselves when you don't win," Fox said. "I think that's key. I'd assess all of our play, not just Jake Delhomme. All of our coaching, even myself. Right now we're 1-2, so that's assessment enough.

"It's not good enough. It has to improve."