CB Nate Clements (San Francisco 49ers)

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

congrats Nate, I love to hear Buckeyes making the big bucks

[Cornerback6]

They said this year free agents would be overpaid and don't get me wrong, I love Nate as much as the next guy (and it looks good for tOSU recruiting & what not), but 10 million a year. WOW. Congrats to him though and I'm happy it wasn't someone else.

One thing many people forget about Nate is that he has the sure tackling skills of a strong safety except he's a terrific cover corner. Also, his ability to help out in the return game couldn't have hurt his pricetag too much.

Hope he tears it up in San Fran although I'm not looking forward to seeing him in those awful unis.

[Buckeyedynasty]

Congrats to Nate. It is always great when a former buckeye is successful and Nate is making us all proud.

[Buckskin86]

Posted on Sun, Mar. 04, 2007
HE MIGHT JUST BE THE MAN NOW
By Daniel Brown
Mercury News

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...s/16830429.htm

[LoKyBuckeye]

LINK

Clements has high hopes for Niners

Apparently we aren't the only ones rollin' with Mike Nolan.

With oodles of cap room, Nolan's personality and the pieces in place to finally get back to the playoffs, San Francisco has been a popular destination this off-season.

As guys get settled with their new teams, they've been touching base with Adam Schein. He checked in with Eric Steinbach, Brian Simmons and Tony Pashos.

The big splash was lockdown cornerback Nate Clements. But the club also significantly improved its defense by bringing in safety Michael Lewis, linebacker Tully Banta Cain and nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin.

Clements was bursting when he chatted with us on Monday and he believes the Niners are headed for something special.

continued....

[Buckskin86]

Character counts
Niners' new leading man makes good on and off field
John Crumpacker, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, May 27, 2007

"I actually enjoy pressure, especially at my position, one-on-one, on the island," Clements said. "I just play like I can play. I see the dollars being a reward. I've been rewarded for my hard work. I feel blessed to be able to do something I love. A lot of people go to work angry every day. I'm just blessed."

Ability -- and durability

In Clements, the 49ers are getting a man with rare cornerback size (6-feet, 215 pounds) who has played in all 96 games of his NFL career, starting 91. Along with the durability all teams look for in a player ("Can't make the club in the tub" is the opposite refrain), Clements makes things happen when he's on the field.

In those 96 games over six seasons in Buffalo, he broke up 75 passes, made 23 interceptions, returned five interceptions for touchdowns, returned two punts for touchdowns, forced 13 fumbles, recovered five fumbles and had 1 1/2 sacks. Punching the calculator, that adds up to a minimum of 124 1/2 positive things created by Clements.

"It's based on my work ethic," he said. "You can't expect to show up and make things happen. You have to put in the work, film study, and those things. It sounds simple, but it's not. I put in the work so when game day comes I'm ready."

"No. 1, it's his competitive edge. He's a tremendous competitor," said John Tenuta, Clements' position coach at Ohio State and now defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech. "That's the thing that puts him above a lot of guys. He has great speed, he has great technique, great vision, excellent hands. He had all those things instinctively, and it was easy to coach him on the little things."

Tenuta said Clements never quit on a play, whether the ball was coming his way or not.

"I don't think the money will change the way he plays," Tenuta said. "I think it's due to his upbringing, his hard work and his competitive edge. He wants to prove he's the best guy in the NFL."

Clements proved his worth in three years at Ohio State. He played in 36 games, started 24, made seven interceptions and averaged 12.0 yards per punt return. In Columbus, Clements learned from fellow cornerbacks Ahmed Plummer and Antoine Winfield and surpassed them in the NFL.

Clements File
``

Position: Cornerback

Age: 27

Height: 6-feet

Weight: 215 pounds

Hometown: Shaker Heights, Ohio

College: Ohio State

Residence: San Jose (in-season), Houston (offseason)

Marital status: Married (wedding scheduled Saturday in Houston) to Melissa Duncan.

Monetary status: Signed for 8 years, $80 million, of which $22 million is guaranteed.

Career highlights

College: All-Big Ten (2000). ... 154 solo tackles, 7 interceptions. ... Teammates included Ahmed Plummer, David Boston, Antoine Winfield and Na'il Diggs.

NFL: Pro Bowl (2005). ... 96 games, 91 starts. ... 23 interceptions, 75 passes broken up, 7 TDs (5 interceptions, 2 punt returns).

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...7/CLEMENTS.TMP

[Buckskin86]

Former Ohio State standout Nate Clements married Cleveland childhood sweetheart Melissa Duncan at the Hotel Derek near their Houston home last weekend, and the guest list was impressive: Minnesota Vikings and former OSU teammate Antoine Winfield, NFL players association president Troy Vincent, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Takeo Spikes (a former Buffalo Bills teammate), the Washington Redskins' London Fletcher and numerous others with NFL connections, including former NFL standout Bobby Taylor, who played host to the couple's pre-wedding cocktail party at his downtown Houston club, The Office.

Apparently, the couple was waiting for a little security before they made the commitment, and Clements got it in early March with an eight-year, $80 million contract from the San Francisco 49ers.

Beforehand, Clements pulled a little practical joke on his agent, Todd France. Clements called him several times to talk about the boxing workouts he'd been doing to sharpen his hand speed and footwork, and then hit France with the big phone call.

"It culminates with him calling the office," France told the San Francisco Chronicle. "I answer the phone and he says, 'I've got a bout. They're paying me $3,500 and I'm going to have a fight.' This is in February, before free agency. I'm like dead silent. I'm trying to subtly go at him -- 'No, it's not a good idea.' All of a sudden he bursts out laughing. He'd been setting me up for weeks, with the patience to do that. I said, 'You give me a heart attack' and hung up."

The Columbus Dispatch : Bob Hunter commentary: Rumblings

[jwinslow]

CNNSI

''He's done exactly what you expect a pro to do. He's here every day. He's a good presence.''
-- 49ers coach Mike Nolan

[osugrad21]

Link

Clements acquisition already paying off for 49ers
By Danny Dabiri on June 25, 2007 12:44 AM

When the San Francisco 49ers signed cornerback Nate Clements to an eight-year, $80 million contract back in March, there was a lot of debate as to whether the team overpaid for his services. While the price tag was pretty high, Clements -- a former Buffalo Bill -- appears to be well worth it. Granted, it's only June and not a single down has been played, but Clements has provided invaluable leadership during San Francisco's organized team activities thus far.
Even though it's only his first season in the Bay, Clements has been very vocal and engaged with his teammates. He has accepted his new leadership role, raising expectations for the upcoming season. The six-year veteran believes the 49ers have the components to make a significant improvement this year.

Cont...

[Buckskin86]

49ers' Clements shines in first week of training camp
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 08/01/2007 09:01:19 PM PDT

SANTA CLARA, Calif.?Nate Clements is here to make the San Francisco 49ers better, and the Pro Bowl cornerback has been at his best doing that during the team's first week of training camp.
The 49ers made Clements the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history when they signed him to an eight-year, $80 million deal in March, and so far the seventh-year veteran has been a very good investment. Clements leads by example, and his play in the secondary has been exceptional.

Clements has been in the hip pocket of San Francisco receivers during team drills, giving the 49ers the kind of coverage ability the team covets to improve a defense that ranked 26th in the NFL last season.

"I'm just trying to make us better as a team as well as myself, just trying to go out there and compete and do everything that I can do to make my teammates better by pushing them, and vice versa, them pushing me as well," Clements said Wednesday.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_6521598

A cornerstone at cornerback
Clements capable and confident
By Dennis Georgatos
Mercury News
Article Launched: 08/02/2007 01:52:14 AM PDT



The aggressiveness and intensity that 49ers cornerback Nate Clements brings to the field is evident even in training-camp practices.

Clements, signed to an eight-year, $80 million free-agent contract in March, seems to be in two places at once when he's covering receivers: in their ear and in their hip pocket.

His coverage is so tight, completions against Clements have been few and far between. And when he knocks down a pass or intercepts it, he lets everyone know with good-natured trash talk.

"I'm just going out there and having fun and competing," Clements said Wednesday. "I try to push my teammates, offense and defense. They're going to try to complete passes and run routes on me. I have to do my job and play tight coverage."

http://www.mercurynews.com/49ers/ci_6523947

[Buckskin86]

In particular, Nate Clements looked like a man among boys. He covered his guy like a blanket every time, and made a nice pick against Ashley Lelie, timing his jump perfectly to go up and take the ball away. He has great instincts, gets a great jump on the ball, and always seems to be in the right position. Yes, he was matched against the likes of Lelie, so this is no basis for crowning him the Champ Bailey of the NFC. But after watching Clements (and watching him closely), I am very excited to see him match up against Cardinal WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald on national television in the season opener.

Report from training camp: Offense looking crisp, Clements looking great - 49er Huddle - San Francisco 49ers blog from the San Jose Mercury News

Clements stepped in front of receiver Ashley Lelie to make a dazzling interception to end one offensive series, then danced toward the sidelines to share his enthusiasm with the crowd. It was one of three interceptions by the defense.

The 49ers made Clements the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history in March when they signed him to an eight-year, $80 million deal, and he was clearly a standout in the first week of camp.

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_6546494

[Buckskin86]

Camp Spotlight: CB Nate Clements
August 08, 2007

QUICK HIT
Tough Love - Nate?s disciplined approach, humbleness and self-motivation stems from a strong figure in his life, his father. Nate Sr. made sure that his young, talented son was focused solely on school and football so that he could achieve his dream of attending Ohio State on scholarship. Nate worked out at 6 a.m. before school started and during his junior and senior years at Shaker Heights High School in Ohio, stayed up until midnight to finish his homework and study for the SAT?s after he finished football practice. Nate later became the first player inducted into his high school Hall of Fame and was a USA Today All-American at Ohio State. Nate Sr. has pushed him all the way, and still does today. After being voted to the Pro Bowl twice in the NFL, Nate Sr. told his son that while the All-Star game was an impressive achievement, maintaining consistency is how Nate would truly leave his mark in the league and eventually earn the ultimate ? Pro Football Hall of Fame status.

Official Site of the San Francisco 49ers - PR News

[Buckskin86]

Clements brings superior attitude to 49ers Nation

UNION-TRIBUNE

August 12, 2007

SANTA CLARA ? You don't have to know Nate Clements' jersey number to locate him on the practice field. All you have to do is listen. He's the one whose deep voice booms above the other players on the San Francisco defense. Doesn't matter if it's team drills or individual drills, he can be heard talking or laughing, laughing or talking. It's hard to know which comes first because Clements, a standout cornerback, blends the two with the same ease that he shuts down wide receivers.

As he goes through a workout, there's the sense that he's right where he wants to be. Not on a beach or at a resort, but in the middle of a seemingly never-ending procession of two-a-day practices beneath a bright summer sun.

?The only guy that I know that likes to practice more ? and I don't know how he is now, but in his early days ? was Ray (Lewis),? 49ers coach Mike Nolan said of the Ravens' perennial Pro Bowl linebacker. ?Ray loved to practice, and so does Nate. He has a passion for the game.? And for challenges.

In signing with San Francisco in March, Clements joined a defense that surrendered a league-high 412 points last season and 428 the year before. The unit, which ranked 26th against the pass, had more question marks than exclamation points, unless the exclamation point came immediately after the question mark ? which was the case at most positions.

The simple explanation for why he would willingly take on these problems as his own was that the 49ers gave him the largest contract for a defensive player in league history, a staggering eight-year, $80 million deal that included $22 million in guarantees. But the truth is that Clements, the top cornerback in his free-agent class, could have gotten a deal in the same neighborhood, if not on the same block, from other clubs that had more talent on paper.

But Clements liked what he heard from Nolan, who laid out an intriguing plan for upgrading the defense. He also liked the idea of trying to restore the shine to a franchise that was the model organization in all of sports in the 1980s and part of the 1990s but has had only two winning seasons the past eight years.

To understand his mindset, consider his response when someone at his introductory news conference asked him about lining up one-on-one every Sunday against the other team's best wideout.

?I just accept it as a challenge, and I'm definitely game,? Clements said. ?I say that I'm the best, and I say that with conviction.?

Clements' impact on the defense ? which was further upgraded by the signings of safety Michael Lewis and defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin and the drafting of linebacker Patrick Willis ? won't be felt until the Sept. 10 season opener in a nationally televised against divisional foe Arizona ? on a Monday night. In the meantime, Nolan believes he has gotten a solid return on the team's investment.

?We haven't played a game yet, but up to this point I think the accountability is the very first thing that comes to mind with Nate,? Nolan said. ?He signed his contract and he came in, got a house and got right into the offseason program when it started. So the accountability is big.

?A lot of times when a free agent signs, they kind of wallow in that high profile like, 'Look at me, here I am, aren't I great?' He came in right away and went to work. The tape will tell you what type of player you're getting on the field, but you're never really sure what kind of person you're getting. Up to this point, I'm as pleased about the person as I am the player.?

SignOnSanDiego.com > Sports -- Clements brings superior attitude to 49ers Nation

[Buckskin86]

Clements proving his worth to 49ers
By Bill Soliday
MediaNews
Article Launched: 08/22/2007 10:23:34 PM PDT


The $80 million man doesn't say much, but $80 million men don't have to. The money speaks for itself.
It speaks quietly in the 49ers locker room. That cornerback Nate Clements signed the huge eight-year contract might result in outside pressure, but inside these walls it fazes neither him nor his teammates.

There, it's all about business - not pressure, jealousy or even jest.

"Off the field he's been more than I expected," Mike Nolan said. "Not that I thought he wouldn't be, but I didn't know him. Both on and off the field he's been a real addition. He's a positive influence, has a tremendous work ethic and was here for the entire off-season program. Every day, he comes to work, does sprints on the treadmill and gets extra work. I can see why he's a good player already.

"The money hasn't changed him any. If it did, it changed him for the better because I don't know how much more he could do."

There is no doubt in backup quarterback Trent Dilfer's mind that Clements will prove his worth. As a quarterback, Dilfer knows cornerbacks all too well and says Clements has stood out from the first time he saw film of him.

"He is the best at playing the ball in the air that I have practiced against in my 14 years," Dilfer said.

"I call him Little Gnat because everywhere the ball is, he is there - picking it up off the ground, knocking it out of people's hands. He has trained himself to be ball-aware. And he plays the ball instead of playing the man."

That makes Clements rare in today's game.

"When there were fewer defensive schemes, there was less to think about as a corner," Dilfer said.

"The job was to play the ball. But as defensive schemes evolved, so much thinking (goes) on now, people are just playing the scheme instead of the ball. Somehow Nate has found a balance. He still plays scheme well, but his attention is on the ball and the man he is covering."

http://www.mercurynews.com/49ers/ci_6693987

[Buckskin86]

New salary, same corner: Clements unchanged by money
By Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY

SANTA CLARA, Calif. ? Money cannot buy class, peace, happiness or love. Allegedly.
Yet it certainly goes a long way on the NFL free agent market.

This much seems evident as Nate Clements? the San Francisco 49ers' 80 Million Dollar Man ? settles into his new job.

The 49ers not only landed one of the NFL's best cornerbacks with an eight-year package that includes $22 million in guaranteed cash, but also secured an Energizer Bunny whose habits are infectious.

"I'm the same guy," says Clements, 27, who fled the Buffalo Bills after six seasons. "Money doesn't change people. It just makes you more of who you are. So if you were cheap and tight with it before, you're going to be really cheap."

Nolan ranks Clements, who earned a Pro Bowl berth in 2005 and has started 91 consecutive games since his rookie year, among the NFL's five best cornerbacks. In November, Clements matched up against Marvin Harrison for an entire game and held the Indianapolis Colts receiver to two catches for 21 yards.

Yet as impressive as a shutdown of Harrison was for his resume, the 6-1, 215-pound Clements has garnered even more praise for being a complete cornerback. He is aggressive against the run and a magnet for big plays. Of his 23 career interceptions, he ran back five for touchdowns. He also has 13 forced fumbles and two punt-return TDs.

New salary, same corner: Clements unchanged by money - USATODAY.com