Jimmy Clausen

Jimmy Clausen is best known these days as the Carolina Panthers' third-string quarterback -- in other words, we haven't heard much about him lately. Until recently, when the former Notre Dame quarterback tweeted a photo of a T-shirt touting the upcoming BCS championship game between the Fighting Irish and Alabama as "Catholics vs. Cousins. " It's a play on the classic Notre Dame vs. Miami matchup in 1988, dubbed "Catholics vs. Convicts. " In this case, the "cousins" would be the Crimson Tide because apparently everyone in Alabama is related.

Jimmy Clausen is best known these days as the Carolina Panthers' third-string quarterback -- in other words, we haven't heard much about him lately. Until recently, when the former Notre Dame quarterback tweeted a photo of a T-shirt touting the upcoming BCS championship game between the Fighting Irish and Alabama as "Catholics vs. Cousins. " It's a play on the classic Notre Dame vs. Miami matchup in 1988, dubbed "Catholics vs. Convicts. " In this case, the "cousins" would be the Crimson Tide because apparently everyone in Alabama is related.

Split-second decision-making skills, proven leadership ability and a knack for making opposing defenses look foolish, whether they're trying to tackle him or defend against his pinpoint passes. He might be the best high school quarterback in Southern California. And he is not Jimmy Clausen. He is Aaron Corp, and he's going to USC, where he hopes to follow in the footsteps of Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart.

Sure it was unfortunate for Carolina to defeat Arizona, 19-12, on Sunday. But there's no reason to panic. The Panters (2-12) "still control their own destiny," the Charlotte Observer said. "Lose out, and no one can catch them. " It's nice to have a goal. If Carolina can maintain the worst record in the NFL, the Panters will get the No. 1 draft choice, quarterback Jimmy Clausen's replacement, Andrew Luck. The Cincinnati Bungles (3-11) goofed up, as usual, by winning, 19-17 over Cleveland, to remain one game behind Carolina in this exciting race.

Things are so bad on offense for the Carolina Panthers that struggling rookie Jimmy Clausen was benched Monday to make way for a quarterback with eight turnovers and a 33.3 passer rating. But Matt Moore is hoping a nostalgic film session will help him regain his 2009 form and end Carolina's nightmare start to the season. The Panthers (0-5) returned from their bye weekend to hear Coach John Fox announce in a team meeting that Moore, benched after six turnovers in the first two games, would again take control of the NFL's worst offense against San Francisco (1-5)

Pete Carroll was among the most popular coaches in Los Angeles history. But as far as USC's Taylor Mays is concerned, his old coach has some serious explaining to do. Mays, drafted 49th by the San Francisco 49ers on Friday in the second round of the NFL draft, is upset Seattle Seahawks Coach Carroll took a different safety in the first round -- Earl Thomas of Texas -- and says the coach gave him bad advice about how to prepare himself for...

. -- Jimmy Clausen must have felt as if he was still in paradise. Clausen, last seen playing nearly flawless in a Hawaii Bowl victory, completed 15 of 18 passes for 315 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 23 Notre Dame to a 35-0 victory over Nevada on Saturday. For Fighting Irish Coach Charlie Weis, a pivotal season began with Notre Dame's first easy season-opening win since his first game in 2005. The Irish ended a disappointing 2008 season, one in which they finished 7-6 and had to deal with plenty of speculation about Weis's job security, with a 49-21 victory over Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl that provided at least some hope for the future.

Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen leads the nation in passing efficiency and is performing the way USC envisioned he might when they pursued him as a recruit out of Westlake Village Oaks Christian High. Clausen, a junior, has passed for 12 touchdowns with only two interceptions. Receiver Michael Floyd is injured, but Clausen can still turn to receiver Golden Tate and tight end Kyle Rudolph , who have combined for 54 receptions and seven touchdowns. So the Trojans' secondary will be on high alert going into Saturday's game against the No. 25 Fighting Irish.

Golden boys Former Southland high school stars Matt Barkley and Jimmy Clausen face off in a game that could go a long way in determining each of their legacies. USC's Barkley showed no signs of timidity at Ohio State or California, so there's no reason to think the freshman will be fazed by the grand stage that is Notre Dame Stadium. Barkley has completed 59% of his passes, but has only three touchdowns with two interceptions. That could change against a team ranked 110th among 120 major colleges in passing defense.

As a high school football game unfolded before a Cincinnati crowd of about 10,000 in a rain-dappled bowl known as the Pit, eyes strayed to the back of one end zone. There stood a handful of college players, including one wearing an Elder High shirt despite previously never having spent a minute there. Jimmy Clausen was a weekend guest of Notre Dame teammate Kyle Rudolph, an Elder grad, along with fellow Irish quarterback Dayne Crist. Rudolph outfitted both with the apparel from his alma mater.

Considering the miserable play of the team's quarterbacks, Carolina fans couldn't be blamed for having just a passing interest in the Panters. But Carolina is actually in an exciting race ? to see who gets the No. 1 pick in the next draft. The Panters (1-12) may need to lose all three of their remaining games to beat out Cincinnati (2-11) for that honor. That should be no problem for Carolina. The team is ranked No. 32 in the NFL in passing yardage, No. 32in yards per pass attempt (5.5)

Carolina quarterback Jimmy Clausen has been cleared to play after a concussion and will seek his first win as an NFL starter Sunday against Cleveland. Clausen practiced for a third straight day Friday after missing last Sunday's loss to Baltimore, and Coach John Fox says doctors have signed off on his return. Clausen, who was injured on the final offensive play Nov. 14 at Tampa Bay, was listed as probable. "I think he had an outstanding week of preparation," Fox said.

Lots of NFL teams are playing Monday-morning quarterback these days ? not second-guessing themselves, but trying to figure out who will be their quarterback come Monday morning. On a day marked by weirdness in Washington ? an out-of-the-blue (and into-the-green) contract extension for Donovan McNabb only two weeks after he was benched ? various injury problems left several other teams scrambling for answers. First, McNabb. At the end of a loss at Detroit on Halloween, the Redskins benched him in favor of Rex Grossman.

Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez , both of the Colorado Rockies, and Cincinnati pitcher Bronson Arroyo are first-time Gold Glove award winners. Also winning National League Gold Gloves were St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols and Reds third baseman Scott Rolen . It was the eighth Gold Glove for Rolen and the second for Pujols. Cincinnati second baseman Brandon Phillips won his second award. Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina repeated, as did outfielders Shane Victorino of the Phillies and Michael Bourn of the Astros.

Things are so bad on offense for the Carolina Panthers that struggling rookie Jimmy Clausen was benched Monday to make way for a quarterback with eight turnovers and a 33.3 passer rating. But Matt Moore is hoping a nostalgic film session will help him regain his 2009 form and end Carolina's nightmare start to the season. The Panthers (0-5) returned from their bye weekend to hear Coach John Fox announce in a team meeting that Moore, benched after six turnovers in the first two games, would again take control of the NFL's worst offense against San Francisco (1-5)

It's only at the quarter pole, and already the NFL season is half-nuts. At no position is that more apparent than quarterback, in which injuries, inconsistencies and inappropriate behavior have teams all over the league reeling. For every snap count, it seems, there's a standing eight count. Quarterback has always been a difficult position, but the job appears to be even tougher this season as the bruises ? and in some cases boos ? have left signal callers shell-shocked. From the Kevin Kolb/Michael Vick juggling in Philadelphia, to the wild unpredictability in Arizona (where undrafted rookie Max Hall just knocked off the defending Super Bowl champions)

'A lot of people don't really know who I am. That's why I'm here today. I want you guys to get a chance to know who I am as a person and a player.' Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame freshman quarterback, speaking Friday to the media for the first time since arriving in South Bend, Ind., in January

USC (9-1) vs. NOTRE DAME (6-4) Nov. 29, 5 p.m. Channel 7 The Fighting Irish withstood rain and a furious rally by Navy for a 27-21 victory Saturday. Notre Dame plays Syracuse before meeting the Trojans, who have an open date this week. The Fighting Irish have not defeated USC since 2001 and have not won at the Coliseum since 2000. Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who starred at Westlake Village Oaks Christian High, has passed for 18 touchdowns with 13 interceptions.

Even though their one sack ranks them at the bottom of NFL teams, the Carolina Panthers sure know how to rush the passer. Their own passer, that is. Just two weeks into the season, the Panthers already are rushing starting quarterback Matt Moore off stage and replacing him with rookie Jimmy Clausen in hopes of jump-starting their offense. And the 0-2 Panthers aren't the only team pushing the panic button. Winless Buffalo is switching quarterbacks; injuries have led to promotions in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia; and changes at least have been contemplated in Tennessee, Oakland and Jacksonville.

Pete Carroll was among the most popular coaches in Los Angeles history. But as far as USC's Taylor Mays is concerned, his old coach has some serious explaining to do. Mays, drafted 49th by the San Francisco 49ers on Friday in the second round of the NFL draft, is upset Seattle Seahawks Coach Carroll took a different safety in the first round -- Earl Thomas of Texas -- and says the coach gave him bad advice about how to prepare himself for...