The Carolina Panthers have the worst record in the NFL, and there’s already talk that they’ll use the first pick in the 2011 NFL draft to select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. If they do, that would mean this year’s second-round pick, Jimmy Clausen, isn’t the quarterback of the franchise’s future.
Fortunately for Clausen, he has the opportunity to win a couple games over the final four games of the season and prevent the Panthers from having the league’s worst record. And he says that’s his goal.
“I’m trying to do everything I can to do that,” Clausen said, per Darin Gantt of the Charlotte Observer. “I’m trying to do everything I can to get us a victory, and that’s the only thing I can control is going out each day, trying to get better, get the team better and try to get a W on Sunday.”
When asked specifically if he’s motivated by staving off Luck coming in and taking his job, however, Clausen said he didn’t want to get into that.
“That’s for you guys to judge that,” Clausen told reporters. “I’m just trying to get better each and every day and each and every game.”
It’s premature to call anyone a lock for the No. 1 overall pick (remember those reports that the Texans had already decided to draft USC running back Reggie Bush first overall in 2006?), but Luck certainly appears to be a good fit for the Panthers, and the Panthers are the front runners to have the first pick. Clausen has four weeks to change that.