Jimmy Clausen Should Start for the Panthers

It is time for the Jimmy Clausen era to start with the Carolina Panthers. I am both a Panthers fan and a former Matt Moore supporter. Matt Moore however has proven to be a good backup but can't handle the pressure of starting.

With Panthers owner Jerry Richardson taking the low road on salaries in 2010 the Panthers are just waiting to implode. Richardson cleaned house in the front office last year by getting rid of two of his sons. Then high paid players Jake Delhomme and Julius Peppers were shown the door.

Richardson has never been one to be a cheap owner until this year. With all the labor strife and a 2011 season in doubt, the Panthers are crying poor. Some team owners hope to show by not spending that they don't have the money to pay huge salaries.

The Panthers are rebuilding with their youth movement and I think Jimmy Clausen should be playing now. I had him ranked number one of the rookie quarterbacks in the 2010 NFL draft, as you can see here.

Matt Moore was given a one year contract and Clausen was so coveted by the Panthers that they tried to trade up for him. Jimmy Clausen deserves to start and show what he can do. If he looks like a bust then the Panthers will probably have a high pick in the 2011 draft to take another quarterback.

John Fox is a lover of veteran players but the Panthers have three young quarterbacks in Matt Moore, Jimmy Clausen and Tony Pike. I believe they were forced on Fox who is a lame duck coach in the last year of his contract. Prior to this season the Panthers offered to let him find a new job as long as they didn't have to pay him for 2010.

The Panthers have a decent offensive line and a great running back group but no wide receivers other than Steve Smith. That coupled with a toe injury Clausen is fighting, may be a reason NOT to start Jimmy. He may get shell shocked playing for a bad team as a rookie.

But I think the positives of getting Jimmy Clausen some experience outweigh the negatives. No matter who the quarterback for the Carolina Panthers is, they will struggle due to a lack of receivers.