Jimmy Clausen was supposed to be the Panthers' franchise quarterback. The 2010 second-round pick started 10 games as a rookie, helping Carolina to two wins -- and the first-overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. The team used that first-overall pick to select Cam Newton, which was the beginning of the end of Clausen's brief tenure with the Panthers. On Saturday, the organization released Clausen.
New general manager David Gettleman, who came from a Giants organization that kept two quarterbacks on the active roster, will do the same in Carolina. Which means the team will enter the regular season with Newton and Derek Anderson.
Forget football..hard to see a good friend go. Many good times f/o. We wish u the best! @JimmyClausen
— Derek Anderson (@DAnderson314) August 31, 2013
Meanwhile, Clausen's tenure in Carolina ends with 1,558 passing yards (52.5 completion percentage), 3 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He was in an untenable position as a rookie, forced into the starting lineup on the league's worst team.
And now, Clausen is out of work, though probably not for long in a league where quality backups are almost as important as the franchise quarterbacks they sit behind.
Just want to thank the Panthers Organization and the city of Charlotte for drafting me and making this home for me the last 3 years!
— Jimmy Clausen (@JimmyClausen) August 31, 2013
