Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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IRISH IN THE PROS "There were a lot of growing pains and struggles, and we weren't very good my freshman year," he said. "The second year it got better and the third year we were a heck of a team. We just couldn't pull off a few of those wins." In 2010, the Carolina Panthers drafted Clausen in the second round, but just one year later used the No. 1 overall pick to select Cam Newton, who remains the starter today. Clau‑ sen and the organization went their separate ways following last season. While spending 2013 on injured re‑ serve with a torn labrum, Clausen re‑ turned to Notre Dame in November to finish his degree. "It was good being back on campus from November to early December," he said. "I was freezing when I was out there, but I promised my parents I would go back and it meant a lot to me, and I know it meant a lot to the Notre Dame people. "The reason I went there is to get a good education and play football, and get a good experience." It wasn't until June that the Bears came calling with a potential No. 2 job on the line if Clausen could beat out Jordan Palmer. In August, he did exactly that and wound up on the team's 53‑man roster. With one injury to Cutler, Clausen would take charge of an explosive offense with running back Matt Forte and wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. "It means a lot. For Coach [Marc] Trestman and the Bears to give me an opportunity here to compete, that's all I can ask for," he said. "I had to go out each and every day and make the most of it and whatever happens, happens." Clausen said he was not worried that another shot at the NFL might never come. "No, I was injured and waiting to get another opportunity," he said. "It was kind of frustrating not getting more calls early on, but patience is a virtue my parents taught me. I had to wait it out longer than I wanted, but it worked itself out in the end." For now he's holding the clipboard, but his focus is on eventually being named a starting quarterback some‑ where. "Obviously I want to be a starter in this league," he said. "I've got to go out each and every day and act like I am the starter. You're one play away and with the circumstances you don't get to have all the reps the starter does." As Clausen has already learned in his football career, this game doesn't always play out how people expect. NFL NOTES Through Sept. 11 • Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert suffered a dislocated elbow in a 23‑16 win over the Baltimore Ravens Sept. 7. A few days later, the team placed Eif‑ ert on injured reserve designated to return, meaning the team can activate him sometime around midsea‑ son. He caught three passes for 37 yards. • Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd caught five passes for 119 yards in the team's 18‑17 win over the San Diego Chargers Sept. 8. • Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith re‑ turned an interception 81 yards for a touchdown in the team's 34‑6 blowout win over the St. Louis Rams Sept. 7. ✦