The Panthers will not have any holdouts after QB Jimmy Clausen agreed to terms. (AP Photo)

   SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The Carolina Panthers signed rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen to a four-year contract worth potentially $6.4 million on Wednesday, meaning they won’t have to worry about any holdout distractions.
   Clausen will be on the field when the Panthers begin practice Thursday morning.
   The contract includes $2.53 million in guaranteed money and a rare escalator clause in the final year (2013) that will pay him up to $2.8 million if he reaches certain individual and team incentives, sources said. Playing time is one of those incentives.
   The contract is unique in that it's believed to be the first time a second-round pick has received an escalator clause in his contract since the last CBA was signed, meaning the Panthers certainly did their part to get Clausen signed. Of course, the Panthers made it clear all along how much they coveted Clausen, even trying to trade up to the No. 33 spot in the draft to get him.
   That deal never happened but as it worked out Clausen fell to them at No. 48 anyway.
   "It always helps to have everyone in camp on time," said Panthers general manager Marty Hurney. "(Contract negotiator) Rob Rogers did a great job working with (Clausen's agent) Gary Wichard to get a deal done. It was important to Jimmy that he get into camp on time."

   Wichard didn't want to talk about the specifics of the escalator clause, but applauded Carolina's efforts to go out of their way to get the contract completed, saying, "I've never been in such a collaborated effort to get a deal done. They were incredible to work with."
   Wichard said Clausen made it clear to him that he wanted to be in Spartanburg for the start of camp.
   In fact, Clausen was so adamant about getting the deal done he hopped on a red-eye flight from California to Charlotte on Monday night to make sure he would be on hand for team meetings, even though he negotiations were ongoing at the time.
   "It was absolutely my marching orders from Jimmy to get it done," Wichard said. "He wanted it that way. And I know how important it is for a rookie quarterback to be there on time. There is so much to learn and take in. Just being with your teammates and developing the camaraderie -- that’s huge."
   Clausen was unavailable for comment, but is expected to address the media after Thursday’s practice.
   A second-round pick from Notre Dame, Clausen hopes to buck the trend of recent Irish quarterbacks who've struggled to make an impact in the NFL.
   He enters camp in a battle with Hunter Cantwell for the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Matt Moore, although his own expectations may be higher. When Clausen was drafted by the Panthers, he told reporters, "My goal is to try to be the starter from day one. That is going to be my mentality -- be the starter from day one and whatever the coaches want me to do, I will do it to the best of my ability. At the end of the day if I'm good enough to play then I will play. If not I will do everything I can to help the team win."
   Clausen has been the face of the Notre Dame program for the past three years and has shown improvement in virtually every aspect of his game each year. He’s a classic drop back quarterback with good mechanics and a quick release.
   Clausen became only the second quarterback in school history to throw for more than 3,000 yards twice in his career, finishing with 8,148 yards, second behind only Brady Quinn in total passing yards. He ranks first or second in 32 passing categories for the Irish but the downfall is he was only 16-18 as a starter.
   He left Notre Dame this past season following his junior year when coach Charlie Weis was fired.
   Clausen is the first quarterback the Panthers have selected in the first round since taking Kerry Collins fifth overall in 1995.
   Clausen believes playing in Weis’ pro-style offense will make the transition to the NFL much easier.
   “I think it’s going to help me tremendously being in coach Weis’ system,” Clausen said. “Coach Fox told me it’s the same exact system I played in the last three years at Notre Dame so I’m excited about that. I’m going to hit the ground with my feet running and do everything I can to help the organization win.”
   Clausen called being drafted by the Panthers "a dream come true."