Suddenly, I have more respect for Jimmy Clausen.

A couple of days ago, a news (and I use that word loosely here) story broke that first overall pick Cam Newton wants to wear No. 2 in the pros, just as he did at Auburn. The problem is that number already belongs to Clausen, who told the media on Tuesday that he wasn’t willing to give it up.

“It’s mine right now,” Clausen told the Charlotte Observer. “We’ll see what happens.”

Apparently Clausen hinted that he’s willing to give up the number if Newton was willing to pay for it. Considering Newton will receive a huge signing bonus once the lockout ends, a number of people in Clausen’s shoes would probably do the same thing.

Hey rookie, if you want the number, pony up for it.

Based on what I’ve read, it doesn’t sound like Newton demanded Clausen to give up the number like some are suggesting. He was probably asked if he wanted to wear No. 2 in the pros and he answered yes. He may have not even known that Clausen wore that number last year.

But if this does become an issue, you have to wonder if that scathing report that Pro Football Weekly’s Nolan Nawrocki wrote back in March is starting to come to fruition.

SI.com’s Don Banks is reporting that Panthers’ GM Marty Hurney is the only member of the team’s front office or coaching staff who still has faith in Jimmy Clausen as a potential starter.

Banks writes, “Everyone else in Carolina, and many coaches and personnel men around the league for that matter, thinks the Panthers have to draft a franchise quarterback this year.”

Ouch.

For those who watched Clausen play last year, this is hardly surprising news. But even though I’m not a believer myself, for God’s sake he only started 10 games last year and it’s not like he had much around him. He was absolutely horrible, I know. But is it just me or do other young players usually get the benefit of the doubt at this stage in their career?

That said, I do think the Panthers will draft a quarterback at No. 1. Ron Rivera will want to build around a signal caller that he had a hand selecting, although if Carolina does take a QB at No. 1 then Hurney will basically be admitting that taking Clausen in the second round last year was a mistake. He also foolishly traded this year’s second round pick so that he could reach for Armanti Edwards last April, so Hurney’s head is firmly placed on the chopping block.

The good news for Clausen is that unless the team releases him this offseason (which is doubtful), he’ll have a chance to prove everyone wrong this summer. Even if the Panthers take a quarterback at No. 1, Clausen will be given the opportunity to beat him out in camp because coaches are always hesitant on handing the job over to a rookie. Clausen will just have to man up and take the position if he wants it.

When a team suffers a loss and needs a good pick-me-up, the Carolina Panthers often offer the perfect remedy.

A week after losing at home against the Jets, the Steelers rebounded on Thursday night to beat the Panthers 27-3. Ben Roethlisberger completed 22-of-32 passes for 320 yards and one touchdown, while also adding a second score on the ground. On his lone passing touchdown of the night, he read blitz and quickly hit Mike Wallace for a 43-yard score to give Pittsburgh an early 10-0 lead. Thanks to the Panthers’ brutalness, the Steelers went on to collect their easiest win of the year.

With the win, Pittsburgh is now in position to wrap up the AFC North and clinch a bye in the first round of the playoffs if it can beat Cleveland on January 2. And actually, the Browns could help the Steelers well in advance if they can knock off the Ravens this Sunday in Cleveland.

As for the Panthers, the season couldn’t end fast enough for them and John Fox. Their roster is so devoid of talent and it’s tough to evaluate young players like Jimmy Clausen when he has no support around him. Carolina’s running game isn’t bad, but who does Clausen have to throw to? Defenses double-team Steve Smith, leaving Clausen to throw to fellow rookies who are trying to learn the game along with him. And forget protection – Clausen doesn’t have any.

Of course, by this time one would think he would look a little better than he has. He has little to no pocket presence and his accuracy is suspect at best. His decision-making might be coming along a little, but he still does some things that make you want to pull your hair out (like taking a sack on a 4th and 5 in the second quarter instead of just heaving one in the direction of a receiver). Maybe he’ll develop into a solid starter one day but as of right now, he’s showed zero signs of developing. (Again, that’s not all his fault either.)

The Panthers will have an awfully different look to them next season, that’s for sure.

This is the second installment of my new column: “I’m Just Saying.” Peter King has a column (Monday Morning Quarterback), so it only makes sense that a well-respected sports blogger like myself has a column as well.

What-ev.

- So let me get this straight, the NFL moved the Giants-Vikings game to a NFC North city and is handing out free tickets? If I’m the Vikings, I’m pissed. Nice home game for Minnesota – think any Lion fans will get sauced up and attend the game for free just to root against the Vikings?

- Of course, if the roof of the Metrodome weren’t made of paper mache, the Vikings wouldn’t have to worry about playing at Ford Field.

- Does anyone else find it ironic that Sal Alosi’s job as the Jets’ head strength and conditioning coach is to help players get in shape and avoid injuries and he goes out and trips a Dolphins player…who gets injured? You stay classy, Sal Alosi.

- I’m willing to bet that if the Patriots played all of their games in a blizzard, they would be 19-0 and will have beaten their opponents by a combined score of 855-17.

- The Titans’ backdoor cover against the Colts on Thursday night was one of the worst backdoor covers in the history of backdoor covers. First of all, Indy was up 21-0 in the first half. So what should have been a blowout actually turned into a decent game because their defense is made of Charmin extra soft tissue paper. After they allowed Tennessee to crawl back in the second half, Peyton Manning had not one, but two chances to waste the clock and move the ball and he did neither. Then, with the Colts up by 10 in the final minutes of the game (they were favored by 3), Jeff Fisher trots out Rob Bironas for a field goal attempt but calls him back instead. He decides to put his offense back onto the field and Kerry Collins marches the Titans up the field for a touchdown on the final play of the game (a 4th down no less) and covers the spread. If Fisher were actually trying to win the game, he would have kicked the field goal and tried an onsides kick (he needed 10 points, after all). But because he was trying to screw bettors (which is the only logical explanation here), he decided to go for the touchdown and run the clock down to zero in the process. Final score: Colts 30, Titans 28. Thanks, Jeff.

- Speaking of Fisher and the Titans, I loved his explanation after the game as to why Randy Moss didn’t play much (because Moss and Kenny Britt play the same position). I’m sorry, is he running the triple option? Can you not have Randy Moss and Kenny Britt on the field at the same time? Nice coaching.

- I firmly believe that if Cleveland fans had to make a choice between watching Derek Anderson quarterback their team or Jake Delhomme, they’d opt for c) the sweet release of death.

- I’m a little confused by Mike McCarthy’s game plan in Detroit on Sunday. The Lions’ weakness is clearly their defensive backfield and the Packers’ strength is clearly their passing game. So why McCarthy decided to establish the run is beyond me. What’s worse is that the Packers stuck with the run when it wasn’t working. What, did you think you were going to pull a fast one on the Lions, Mike?

- From now on, the Detroit Lions defense will be known only as Ndamukong Suh. “Man, the Ndamukong Suh is playing lights out today.”

- I would write something about the Redskins’ botched extra point but that would be too easy. To watch that catastrophe live was punishment enough for Mike Shanahan and Co.

- I’m starting to think that Jimmy Clausen flat out enjoys being hit. Because there’s no way a quarterback has that little pocket presence.

- The Raiders-Jaguars contest was the most entertaining game of the day and absolutely nobody outside of Jacksonville saw it.

- Sam Bradford ran down Saints’ safety Roman Harper in the open field after Harper scooped up an apparent fumble recovery (the play was overturned because the runner was down) and started racing down field. I don’t know whether to laud Bradford for one of the best hustle plays of the year or criticize Harper for actually being run down by a freaking quarterback.

- With their 40-21 shellacking of the Seahawks on Sunday, the 5-8 49ers are now one game out of first place in the NFC West. If the Giants, Packers or Bucs don’t make the playoffs and a 7-9 NFC West team does, then the NFL should fold up shop for good.

- What time does the Patriots-Bears game start?

- Only the Packers-Lions debacle could hold a candle to the crap football that went at the New Meadowlands. Watching Mark Sanchez and Chad Henne try to move their offenses is like watching a drunk try to start a car with his house key.

- Who would have thought that at the beginning of the year that pundits would be saying, “Man, the Chiefs really need Matt Cassel to come back soon – he’s the key to their playoff hopes.”

- I’m starting to feel the hits Michael Vick is absorbing from my couch.

- Hopefully Kyle Orton still has Josh McDaniels’ number saved in his phone because they’ll both be looking for work soon.

I’m Just Saying…

If you’re a Carolina Panther fan and you haven’t asked for the sweet release of death yet, then kudos to you.

Matt Moore was placed on injured reserve on Monday, ending his horrific season as a first-year starter. John Fox isn’t a big fan of Jimmy Clausen, but Carolina’s front office is committed to a youth movement and wants to see what it has in the second round pick.

This is likely Fox’s final season with the Panthers, so Moore’s injury makes for an uneasy situation. He’ll likely get heat from the front office to play Clausen, even if he doesn’t think the rookie is ready to be on the field. His other option is Tony Pike (another rookie), but the former Cincinnati product isn’t ready either. Fox said Monday that the Panthers will add a quarterback, but the market is bare and with the team currently sitting at 1-7, it doesn’t matter who they bring in.

Making matters worse, Dan Connor will also miss the rest of the season after he was injured in the Panthers’ loss to the Saints on Sunday. Carolina won’t activate Thomas Davis (PUP list), so their linebacker corps is extremely thin. Jon Beason will have to move back to the middle after playing the first half of the year on the weak side and Nic Harris or Jordan Senn will take over Beason’s old spot.

It’s amazing to think that some pundits actually thought this was a playoff contender this year. Yikes.

Rookie quarterbacks struggle in the NFL – it’s part of the game. But it says something when a rookie is benched for another signal caller who compiled a 41.8 passer rating in his first two starts of the season and who has generally looked awful himself.

The Panthers announced Monday that they’ll start Matt Moore over rookie Jimmy Clausen this Sunday against the 49ers. It’s a move that indicates that John Fox and his coaching staff don’t believe that Clausen is ready to lead a bad team with very little around him (the Panthers are awfully thin at receiver).

The unfortunate part here is that Clausen was regarded as the most “NFL-ready” quarterback prospect in April because he played under Charlie Weis at Notre Dame. Now, this doesn’t mean that he’s destined to fail in the NFL and keep in mind that the Panthers became the first NFL team since 1999 to start a rookie quarterback and two rookie receivers when Clausen, Brandon LaFell and David Gettis all started in Week 5 against the Bears.

But it is concerning how unprepared Clausen was in his first taste of NFL action. He failed to move the offense, he never got into rhythm and he displayed little to no accuracy. It’s not fair to compare all rookie quarterbacks because no two situations are similar, but Sam Bradford appears to be light years ahead of Clausen and he didn’t play in a pro style offense at Oklahoma. (He’s also working with a limited receiver corps in St. Louis.) Granted, he was also the top pick in the draft, but Clausen hasn’t shown anything yet to make you believe he can be a starting quarterback.

That said, it’s still early and it’s not like he has the best coaching staff around him in Carolina. This wouldn’t be the first time that Fox mismanaged his quarterback situation and it stands to reason that Clausen just needs a couple of more starts under his belt to figure things out. But seeing as how he won’t get them unless Moore is a disaster again (which could happen), he’ll have to hone his craft in practice.

The Jimmy Clausen era isn’t over with in Carolina, but it isn’t off to a great start either.

With Jay Cutler out and the I-can’t-believe-dude-is-this-bad Todd Collins in, Mike Martz knew he had to change his offensive philosophy for Sunday’s game against the Panthers.

So for the first time ever in his career, Martz ran the football. And he ran the football. And he ran, and ran, and continued to run until the Bears managed to scoop up a dominating 23-6 win. And thanks to Martz’s dedication to the run game, Matt Forte had an opportunity to be the hero and that’s exactly what he was.

Forte rushed 22 times for a career-high 166 yards and two touchdowns, which included a score on the first drive of the game on an 18-yard scamper. He also added a 68-yard score later in the first quarter to give Chicago a 14-3 lead.

It was rather impressive that the Panthers knew the Bears had to run to win and they still couldn’t stop Forte. Collins was just as bad as everyone feared (he completed only 6-of-16 passes and threw four interceptions), but it didn’t matter because Chicago grabbed an early lead and never looked back. Collins kept Carolina in the game, but thanks to Forte and Jimmy Clausen, the Bears never trailed.

At 4-1, the Bears now have sole possession of the NFC North.