The Carolina Panthers have announced that Jimmy Clausen is now their starting quarterback. A more fitting announcement would be that Matt Moore is no longer the starting quarterback.
In all likelihood, coaches wanted Moore to hold down the fort in 2010 and delay the start of the Clausen era as long as possible. But Moore’s 40.8 completion percentage and penchant for turnovers (three interceptions and a fumble against the Giants; one interception and a fumble against the Bucs) ruined that plan. (Just to pile on…Moore has also taken four sacks in both outings this season.)
Clausen will start this week at home against the Bengals. Head coach John Fox said the decision was made because the offense needed a “spark”. Spark a popular word this week – Tom Cable and Jeff Fisher both used it when talking about benching their quarterbacks on Sunday.
The Panthers chose to make this announcement early in the week even though they could have stayed quiet and forced the Bengals to prepare for both passers. Apparently, Carolina decided that the distraction of a quarterback controversy wasn’t worth the rewards of subterfuge.
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