He'll plead with referees, make a frustrating gesture if a receiver runs the wrong route or slam the football to the turf in after taking a sack. Those in Carolina know that is just Jake being Jake.

But Delhomme's emotions -- and the possible negative impact they might have on his team - were called into question this past Sunday when Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen questioned Delhomme's ability to control them after a 20-10 win over the Carolina Panthers at the Metrodome.

"Jake is really passionate about what he does and you can use that against him sometimes," Allen said after the Vikings sacked Delhomme five times and forced three fumbles. "We figured if we could hit him, get him frustrated and shut down the run then we could put him on his back."

As Delhomme began preparations for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons, he was asked about Allen's comment. He said he hadn't heard about them, but then went on to shrug them off.

"Maybe that is what he feels," Delhomme said. "Maybe because I'm emotional I can let one thing lead to another. But I think I do a decent job of harnessing that. But I can understand how people say that. Guys say things after wins sometimes. It happens."

Whether or not Delhomme lets his emotions get the best of him has been debated before among fans and observers of the team. But he's never been flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and those who've covered the team can never remember an instance where his emotions hurt the team - at least on the surface.

Delhomme views his passion as a good thing, just like his teammates and his head coach.

"Yeah, I've been (fine with it) for about six years now," coach John Fox said. "He hasn't changed. He's the same guy, and I stress to the guys to be the same guy. He brings that passion to the game. I think it's a positive, not a negative."

Added wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad: "Jake is Jake. He's going to be motivated. He's going to be energetic. He's going to try to fire his players up. That is how he plays. ... I think it's a good thing for a quarterback to have some enthusiasm out there on the field. You get excited about what you're doing out there and sometimes you need that."

Delhomme admits he does talk quite a bit to the referees, but it's never in a disrespectful manner.

"I know a lot of times with refs it's, 'Hey tell the lineman to watch hands to the face,'" Delhomme said. "A lot of that is back and forth and I'm asking them certain things."

He said that's pretty normal for quarterbacks to do most of the talking with the referees.

"The refs in this league, I think they're pretty good with the quarterback. If you throw and get hit, they will be like, 'He was close, but he was good.' A lot of them will be like, 'Hey they're coming at you or watch this.' They kind of use you as a communicator with the offense."

He said he regularly talks to them before the game.

"As a quarterback, I think you get to know them more than other players do," Delhomme said.

In his six seasons with the Panthers, the team has a winning record when he's under center in five of those, including this year (2-1). His record, including the playoffs, with Carolina is an impressive 44-29.

As for his emotions, Delhomme said it's never an act.

And, he said, there's nothing he can do to change it -- nor does he feel the need to do so.

"I think I've been that way since I came out of the birth canal," he said. "That's me. I won't change. And I think it's worked well for me, somewhat."

SERIES HISTORY: 27th meeting. Falcons lead series 16-10. The Falcons won the last meeting at Bank of America Stadium when Joey Harrington connected on a 30-yard touchdown strike with tight end Alge Crumpler for a 20-13 win. Strangely enough, this series has been dominated by the visiting team of late with the road team winning in each of the last five games. The Falcons have won six of the last eight games at Bank of America Stadium.