A difficult (I thought it was a no -brainer at the time) decision made by coach Jim Haslett might have changed the course of Saints and Panthers history. Haslett and Jake Delhomme were with the Saints then, but in different places today.

Delhomme played in four games for the Saints in 2002. The Louisiana native from Louisiana-Lafayette signed with the Panthers as a free agent in March of 2003 and directed Carolina to the Super Bowl that season.

Haslett is now the Rams coach when he replaced Scott Lineham. Delhomme isn't the Saints' backup quarterback he was from 1998-2002. He's the Carolina starter.

But a difficult decision made by Haslett seven years ago might have changed the course of history for the Saints and the Panthers.

As the Saints, the Panthers' divisional opponent on Sunday in Bank of America Stadium, closed in on a playoff berth in 2002, starting quarterback Aaron Brooks suffered a shoulder injury, Haslett, however, decided to Brooks in the lineup and Delhomme on the bench.

A debate raged in the Big Easy over the season' final three games, Should local favorite Delhomme replace Brooks, whose effectiveness was diminished by his sore shoulder.

Delhomme knew Brooks was struggling, When Brooks came off the field in those final three games, he'll tell Delhomme. But with Brooks hitting just 40 per cent of his passes, the Saints went down 0-3 down the stretch and missed the playoffs.

Delhomme, who had played in six games in his five years with the Saints, became a free agent after the season  He signed with the Panthers and has since established as

one of the NFL's top quarterbacks, helping Carolina to the 2005 Super Bowl and a place in in the NFC Championship two years  later.

Today, Haslett admits he should have gone with Delhomme in those final three games in '02..

"We had a chance to go to the playoffs, and I got hardheaded because Brooks got hurt," Haslett told the St. Louis Post. :I should've put in Delhomme and didn't. :I should have put Jake in, and didn't. In hindsight, I probably should have because Jake turned out to be a pretty darm good quarterback, Jake Delhomme”.

Here's where where what-might -have -been comes into play,

Had Haslett made the move and Delhomme played well, he might have felt he had a shot a Brooks' job

Jake had plenty of reasons to stay with the Saints, He's a native of nearby Breau Bridge and his wife Keri was pregnant with their first child.

"In the back of you mind, Gosh, you're back home," Delhomme told the Charlotte Observer. "I know it was in the back of my mind, my wife was having a child in two weeks. You're comfortable, it's  home  ---  Hey I might get a chance to play for next year.' Who's to say what's going on.? Are they going top tell you it's an open competition? That's something. Who knows what would have happened?"

Delhomme was the Panthers' No. 2 quarterback behind Rodney Peete at the beginning of the '03 season. But after replacing Peete in the opener and leading a comeback against the Jaguars, Delhomme has since been the Panthers; starter.

Brooks left the Saints after the 2005 season and is now a land developer in his hometown of NewPort News, Va,

Delhomme, in the meantime, doesn't sit around and wonder about what might have been with the Saints.

"I like Haslett's decision," said the quarterback. "Maybe I would have played terrible and I wouldn't have had the opportunity to come to Charlotte.

"I'm glad I didn't play. It's worked out and I'm more than happy to be in Charlotte."

Prediction: Saints 31, Panthers 24

SOME HITHER, OTHERS YON: Sunday's Colts' 31-3 rout of the Ravens directed by Peyton Manning  had Colts wide receiver wondering what all the fuss was about. "Peyton's the same ol' same ol', you know?" said Wayne, "He doesn't change."  Just getting older. Arm...can't throw as far.."Age and arm strength haven't been the issues with the 32-year-old former Newman Greenie. Rather, the problem almost certainly has been the knee surgery that kept him out the entire preseason, as Manning now acknowledge. Manning's crispness delivering the ball is back. He has completed 71 per cent of his passes and compiled a 116.2 rating over the past twp games...Anyone out there still think Reggie Bush is a big-name underachiever? Not this season. Four touchdowns in the past two games, and eight total in six games speaks volumes. He is finding the end zone as a rusher, a pass receiver, and a return man. What more do we want?...

JaMarcus Russell's homecoming was not the most triumphant. The Raiders quarterback hit only 13 of 35 passes for 159 yards and an interception in Oakland's 34-3 loss to the Saints. That's a shaky showing for a quarterback who already had three games with a completion percentage 47.4 or lower...Trivia Time: What NFL team is the oldest continuously ran franchise in league history?....John Madden: "The Saints will win the NFC South."....Ex-Clemson coach Tommy Bowden  peaked eight years ago.. The Tigers started the season 8-0 and reached the top 5. but eventually lost to Florida State and then to Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl. That was the last time Bowden had the services of offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez, his right hand man on his undefeated 1998 Tulane team. Rodriguez wanted the Tulane job badly, didn't get an offer, and followed Bowden to Clemson. He's the new coach at Michigan that lost to Toledo last week. Wolverines fans are yelling for his scalp after that loss...

Too bad Johnnie Cochran  wasn't alive to see O.J. Simpson being led off the jail the other day. He probably would have just shrugged and consoled the Juice as he walked with him, "No need to share tears, I gotcha 13 extra years."...Shaq O'Neal's all-time NBA team: Hakeem Olajuwon at the center; Barkley at the small forward,; Karl Malone at the power forward; Pistol Pete and Mike Jordan at the guards. His starting five today: Kobe, D-Wade, LeBron, Amare and me at the five."   Trivia answer:Cardinals, founded in 1898. They 're also known as the Phoenix Cardinals, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cardinals, Racine Cardinals, the Normals and the Morgan Athletic Club....Who had a worse week? Dow Jones or Pacman Jones?

MAILBAG: From Steve in Kenner: "How long did Sylvester Croom, the Miss. State coach, play for the Saints?

Croom was signed as an undrafted d\free agent out of Alabama in 1975 and he and his wife moved to New Orleans with everything they owned in the back of a van. But they hardly had time to unpack because Croom, a center and special teams player, was cut after the first game on the season. He returned to Tuscaloosa and joined Bear Bryant's coaching staff.

From Keith in New Orleans: "Why would you promote a movie ("W") made by a wacko radical who can;t tell the truth and hates America? This movie does nothing more than condemn and make fun of the president and his office in these times. America needs grass support for the country and its traditions, not demeaning it. Oliver Stone is nuts and corrupt. He'll never see a dime of my money and you'll never see me reading your column again. Regards, Keith, proud American."

"W", which opens on Friday, takes viewers through Bush's eventful life, his struggles and triumphs, how he found his wife and family and the critical days leading to his decision to invade Iraq. Stone is still the enfant terrible of movies. "W" contains surprises for for Bush supporters and detractors. Many New York critics loved the movie. Pro-Bushes will hate it. Anti-Bashes will love it.

Ed Staton can be reached at edcoachstaton@yahoo.com.