Jimmy

Clausen

Due a $923,000 roster bonus on March 27, Clausen is a strong candidate for release after being inactive for all 16 games in 2011, but Rivera insists “he’s most certainly a guy that’s in the mix in terms of ... competing.” The Panthers are reportedly in the market for backup with a skill-set more similar to Cam Newton’s. If Clausen’s back, it will again be as the third-stringer.

The $923,000 was a “one-time” bonus that Clausen would have triggered by hitting performance and playing-time incentives. After riding the pine as a third-stringer last year, those benchmarks were not met. Without a bonus, Clausen has a better chance of staying on the roster.

Butler and Pugh are Carolina’s primary nickel and dime defenders. Unfortunately, a Vikings team short on receivers probably won’t be able to exploit their absences. Clausen has been an inactive third-stringer all season long.

Clausen is due a $923,000 roster bonus on March 27. He spent 2011 as Carolina’s third-stringer, inactive on all 16 game days after failing to beat out Derek Anderson for the Panthers’ backup job. The Panthers are up against the cap, and need to shed $9.6 million before the new league year (March 13).

Barring injury to Cam Newton, it won’t happen in Carolina, of course. “The kid’s got a good arm, he’s an accurate passer, he’s learned a lot, and I think if he continues to grow this season he’s going to get his opportunity,” Rivera said. Clausen had one of the worst rookie seasons of all time, and shouldn’t generate interest as a starter when his rookie deal runs out in 2014.

It’s a troubling sign for Clausen’s future, though he could still move ahead of Anderson with a strong preseason. Despite Panthers coach Ron Rivera’s June musing to the contrary, Clausen may never sniff another NFL starting job.

Clausen loses out to Derek Anderson for the No. 2 job behind Cam Newton. Other Panthers inactives: CB Josh Thomas, FB Jerome Felton, LB Jason Williams, OT Lee Ziemba and WR Kealoha Pilares.

The inability of either backup to separate is confirmation that Cam Newton is going to have a long leash. We suspect Anderson will be the No. 2 thanks to his performance in the preseason finale. The new NFL rules on third QBs mean Clausen would still be active on Sundays, which gives the opponent something to be excited about if they manage to knock both Newton and Anderson out of a given game.

We wouldn’t disagree. Clayton isn’t as in-touch as he once was, but it’s confirmation the rest of the league has soured on the prospects of Clausen ever making something of himself as well. With No. 2 Derek Anderson a free agent, Clausen could be elevated to Cam Newton’s backup next year. Clausen’s rookie deal runs dry after the 2013 season.

Gantt also noted that Hunter Cantwell, a practice squadder last year, showed the biggest arm. Late-round pick Tony Pike appeared “very raw.” Matt Moore’s experience and salary still give him a decisive edge in the competition.