Jake Delhomme is still the starting quarterback of the Panthers despite his NFL-high 13 interceptions. Carolina coach John Fox said Wednesday that Delhomme gives the team "the best chance to win" against the Cardinals this week. Fox admitted earlier this week that he would consider benching the veteran. "If he would have went that way, how could I blame him? I mean, let's be real here, how could I blame him?" Delhomme said. "But I was hoping it would be me. I'm going down swinging. I don't know any other way to put it."

Panthers coach John Fox has hinted that he could move starting quarterback Jake Delhomme to the bench. "The reality is we're not operating very well there, and I don't know if status quo is necessarily the answer or not," Fox told the Charlotte Observer. "We definitely need to do whatever it takes to get better. If that entails a quarterback change, that's what it'll entail." Delhomme ranks 32nd in the NFL in passing and leads the league with 13 interceptions.

Panthers coach John Fox says that he will evaluate the play of quarterback Jake Delhomme before deciding if he'll remain the starter. "Like all positions we'll evaluate it and whatever changes we need to make, we'll make," Fox told Carolina Growl. When asked if he felt Delhomme would remain the starter, Fox replied, "We just got off the field and we've not evaluated the thing. He played the whole game and I thought we moved the ball well, but the turnovers were critical." Delhomme has a league-high 13 interceptions this season.

Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith heard trade rumors involving his name prior to Tuesday's deadline. "I heard multiple teams I was going to," Smith told Carolina Growl. "You hear the stories about waking up and being traded. You never want to be a guy who wakes up Carolina and hears there is a flight for you going somewhere else, so when you hear that you ask people. I asked my agent if there was anything going on. I got a few texts from different people in different states, so I had to make sure and investigate it." The Panthers claim that they never had any trade discussions about Smith.

The Chiefs traded defensive lineman Tank Tyler to the Panthers on Monday. In exchange, Carolina sent Kansas City a fifth-round draft pick in 2010. Tyler, a third-round pick in 2007, started all 16 games for the Chiefs last season.

Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith may be beginning to gesture for a trade. He caught one pass for four yards in the team's win over the Buccaneers on Sunday. "I'm no longer an asset to this team," Smith told the Charlotte Observer.

Panthers safety Dante Wesley was ejected from Sunday's win over the Buccaneers. Wesley launched himself into Tampa Bay kick returner Clifton Smith, who had signaled for a fair catch on the play. The hit, which came with 10 seconds left in the second quarter, brought players from both teams off the sidelines. Smith suffered a concussion on the play and did not return to the game.

Adam Schefter of ESPN.com points out that the Panthers might benefit from acquiring quarterback Brady Quinn. Quinn has been surrounded by trade rumors after since the Browns benched him in favor of Derek Anderson. In addition, there have been reports that he has put his house on the market. "Clearly, the Quinn-Cleveland marriage hasn't worked any better than Greg Norman and Chris Evert's, so call it a day. Right now, Carolina doesn't have a first-round pick in April, and would be unable to draft one of the top quarterbacks, so it would make sense to take a chance on a quarterback who needs a change of scenery," Schefter wrote.

Panthers linebacker Jon Beason apologized on Thursday for calling out teammate Julius Peppers for his lack of production last week. "After what happened, I realized I was wrong," Beason said on radio station WFNZ. "There are certain things you shouldn't say in public, certain things that should remain in-house. That's where I made my mistake." Beason, who wanted more production from Peppers, said that he isn't going to talk to the defensive end about their issues. Peppers notched two sacks and a safety in the team's win over the Redskins this past Sunday.

Panthers' head coach John Fox firmly denied a report on the Fox Sports Web site which said he'd told friends and some close acquaintances that he expected to be fired at the end of the season. "I think if I was talking to my friends, I'd probably tell them if I was expecting a new five-year contract, but I don't think I'd be telling them I'm getting fired at the end of the season," Fox said after the Panthers' 20-17 come-from-behind win Sunday against the Washington Redskins at Bank of America Stadium. "I really don't even know how to respond to that. It doesn't make much sense if it did come out."