Well for Carolina Panther fans, he was known as a hero and a goat, a winner and a crybaby, an underdog and an over-hyped quarterback. However you saw him, Jake Delhomme was the face of a roller-coaster ride the last seven seasons, and today the Carolina Panthers have sealed the bittersweet fate of number 17 as he was cut by the organization. This news comes just over a year after they gave him a lucrative contract extension only to watch him have his worst season as a pro. It signals that the Panthers intend to go with Matt Moore or someone new at quarterback for the first time since Delhomme burst onto the scene in 2003 and led Carolina to the Super Bowl. Despite committing six turnovers in a playoff loss to Arizona to end the 2008 season, Panthers GM Marty Hurney and coach John Fox were so committed to Delhomme they gave him a new deal in which he's still owed more than $12.5 million in guaranteed money. Delhomme had no legitimate competition in training camp, but then had a miserable 2009 season. After throwing a career-high 18 interceptions, Delhomme was sidelined with a broken finger. Moore came on and had eight touchdown passes and only two interceptions as Carolina won four of its final five games. The Panthers on Wednesday gave him the highest restricted free-agent tender of $3.043 million for one season. Now the 35-year-old Delhomme is out of work, ending his career in Carolina with a 58-40 record as a starter that included a trip to the Super Bowl and an appearance in the NFC championship game after the 2005 season. Delhomme holds almost every team passing record, but cutting him in a season without a salary cap will save some of the hit his contract will have in future years should the cap return.

The Panthers continued to stay busy this week, releasing veteran defensive tackle Damione Lewis in a move that saves $5 million in payroll and further depletes the defensive line. Finances played a decision for Lewis, who was let go a week after the Panthers sided against giving Peppers more than $20 million with the franchise tag. The 32-year-old Lewis had 41 tackles and a half sack in 16 starts last season as he played with numerous other tackles in Carolina's banged-up line. Lewis was signed to a contract extension before the 2008 season, but the deal was restructured last off-season to clear salary-cap space. There was a clause that called for the contract to revert to its old terms if a large bonus wasn't paid this spring. Lewis would have been due $4 million this season and a $1 million roster bonus. The move mow leaves Carolina with no starters from the line that ended last season. Peppers, Tyler Brayton and Hollis Thomas are unrestricted free agents. The Panthers did however offer tenders to restricted free agents Louis Leonard and Tank Tyler on Wednesday, and signed fellow defensive tackle Ed Johnson last month.