Jimmy Clausen and Reggie Bush: Dreams Deferred by Cam Newton and Mark Ingram

Yikes! That is the word I hear when putting a cup up to the walls of veterans all over the country.

With the NFL labor situation becoming more of a headache than a journey, there are players with solid standing in the league that most now shake of the doubt that they may not have a starting job when the 2011 season eventually arrives.

As scary as that may sound to USC fanatics, there must be an amount of truth to understand how overvalued Bush has become as a running back. He was somewhat productive in the NFL, but with the addition of 2009 Heisman Trophy Winner Mark Ingram, Reggie is going to have to do more than express his emotions via twitter to convince the New Orleans organization of his worth.

The only thing more uncertain than his position in the league with the Saints is Cam Newton’s success as a starting quarterback and people are beginning to shift towards CamNation. Bush’s biggest problem is that he seems to refuse progression, not just in performance, but in work ethic and creating a new dynamic to his approach. He needs to give his team a competent running edge, even if he is the only viable RB on the field.

Jimmy Clausen tried his hardest to smile and congratulate Cam Newton as he was announced as the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, but how many people believe that he does not feel a bit of angst?

Fans would love to believe that he is simply excited by the addition of such a charismatic quarterback. Candidly speaking, Clausen knows how he performed last season as the starting quarterback and if he did not remain with the Carolina Panthers, he does not know where he would fit in regards the remaining teams of the league.

Who does? Clausen was the first to arrive at the Carolina facility to receive his playbook, which exhibits his desire to compete against Newton. However, these strides seem to have been taken too late. His rookie season, he dished out a quarterback rating of 58.4 that was mirrored by his disconcerting stats, such as only 1558 yards and only three touchdowns.

The dog-and-pony show that Carolina executives and coaching staff are putting forth  for Cam Newton’s start at the beginning of the season hidden has been recognized and brushed off by fans and commentators.

Everyone understands that Newton was not drafted to sit and will not be asked to take a back seat to Clausen for the simple reason that he was their first overall pick. That type of preschool reasoning has no place in the National Football League.

It is amazing how quickly life can be changed and how an inept performance can crush the value of a player in football. Nowadays, it's keep up or bow out.