It's Christmastime and the season of giving, but it's also a season of reflection. With that in mind, Carolina Panthers fans, have you thought about what a great year you're having? An undefeated 14-0 season to this point, a fantastic defense, one of the Super Bowl favorites in the NFL, the odds-on MVP in Cam Newton ... My point is, don't forget to thank Jimmy Clausen for the gift he provided this franchise.
Now you may be confused. I understand.
Let me explain.
Way back in the 2010 NFL Draft, without a first-round pick as it was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, the Panthers selected Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen with their top pick -- a second-rounder, No. 48 overall. He was expected to replace Jake Delhomme, who was perhaps the Panthers best signal caller in their short history.
Boy, that didn't work at all.
Starting 10 of their final 14 games of the year, Clausen was absolutely putrid. Completing just 52.5 percent of his passes for just three touchdowns and nine interceptions was simply brutal, and it led to a 2-14 season overall.
His one redeeming quality, however, was that if he wasn't so god awful at football, the Panthers never would have had the No. 1 pick in the draft. If he had played at least at a subpar level, they might have won 4-5 games and then been dropped all the way to No. 2 (the next worst team still had four wins, as no one was led by a worse quarterback).
Thankfully, he gave you guys a great Christmas present that year -- and ultimately this year too -- mustering up just 13 points in the final two games as they were obliterated by 45 total points.
Truly, Clausen's gift was the one that keeps on giving. It brought Ron Rivera in, who's built a studly defense, led by perhaps the best linebacker and cornerback in the game; and it also gave them the opportunity to select the young Heisman winner from Auburn, Mr. Cam Newton, who's turned into one of the best players in the NFL and should win the MVP this year.
See? It's important to reflect. Merry Christmas, Panthers fans.
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