Detroit Lions receiver Golden Tate is happy his former college quarterback, Jimmy Clausen, is getting another opportunity to start in the NFL for the Chicago Bears
It just so happens that start will come as Clausen’s Bears will take on Tate’s Lions this week.
According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Tate feels Clausen didn’t get a fair chance to prove what he can do as a starting quarterback in the NFL after being selected in the second round out of the University of Notre Dame by the Carolina Panthers in 2010.
“I think it was unfair when he was in Carolina,” Tate said. “He wasn’t on a great team and being a rookie, the next year, they draft Cam Newton, so he sits as a No. 3 because Derek Anderson was the No. 2. They wouldn’t let him go, so he couldn’t even get an opportunity to prove himself.”
Tate said he sent Clausen texts congratulating him for getting a chance and said he hopes Clausen plays well, to a certain extent.
“I believe in him and I’m hoping that he makes the best of his opportunity for his last two games,” Tate said. “In a perfect world he would play well and throw no touchdowns and we will win.”
Clausen stated 10 games for the Panthers in 2010 for a team that finished 2-14 on the year. He completed just 52.5 percent of his passes for 1,558 yards with three touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also fumbled nine times, losing two. The Panthers went 1-9 with Clausen as their starting quarterback.
Clausen had not played in the previous three seasons before getting signed by the Bears this offseason. He’s appeared in three games in limited duty this season for Chicago, completing 3 of 9 passes for 42 yards.
