Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
There's no doubt second-year quarterback Matt Moore has a fan club in Carolina. The basis came late last season when Moore, then a rookie, stepped into the lineup after Jake Delhomme's elbow crumbled, David Carr's entire game crumpled and Vinny Testaverde fossilized.
Moore looked pretty good, and watching him in practice throughout the year, you could tell he had some intangibles. Some other players in the locker room were quietly calling for the Panthers to give Moore a chance as the team was sticking with Testaverde.
But the Panthers can't be sure what they have in Moore and Brett Basanez, who sat out all last season with an injury. The Panthers obviously have a medical staff that must feel great about every aspect of Delhomme's recovery from Tommy John surgery.
Maybe Delhomme's elbow will hold up perfectly and he'll play 16 games. Or maybe Delhomme's elbow will hold up perfectly and he'll twist an ankle. Then, we'll find out if Moore or Basanez are for real.
After bombing on Carr, the Panthers refused to go out and sign another quarterback with some experience. All last season, John Fox told anyone that would listen how difficult it is to win without your starting quarterback. If it comes down to that again this season, Fox's excuse won't fly.
