CB Nate Clements (All B1G, NFL Pro Bowl)

[Buckskin86]

Clements knows value veterans display
By Conrad Clowers
Cincinnati Herald Contributor

Sheer attitude has been Nate Clements key to success since coming into the NFL. It wasn?t like the NFL veteran attended a podunk university. Clements is a product of Ohio State where he starred for the Buckeyes. Now in his 12th season, there is little the veteran has not seen on the gridiron.

The Bengal defensive backfi eld has taken a beating by way of injury this season. Clements, who made his name and had success as a cornerback, is now doing the jack-ofall trades. The former Buckeye is also playing the role of safety for the Bengals also.

Clements spent the first six seasons of his NFL career as a cornerback for the Buffalo Bills. He tallied 23 interceptions in six seasons at Buffalo. During that time, Clements had a reputation as one of the best cover corners in the League. ?I always felt confident I could take theothers teams best receiver and shut him down,? said Clements. For his career, Clements has nine touchdowns. Five of those were interception returns, two punt returns, and two blocked field goal returns. During that time, Clements had a reputation as one of the best cover corners in the League.

The opportunity for ?greener pastures? came calling on the bay. Clements took his talents to San Francisco where he played for the 49ers for four seasons. Now in his second season with the Bengals, he finds himself in the position as a mentor to the younger defensive backs on the team.

This past off-season, the Bengals drafted Dre Kirkpatrick out of Alabama in the first round. The Alabama product has yet to play in a game due to injury. Clements knows that the League is tailored for young players and felt no threat whenhe heard about the draft. ?The team is going to draft players they feel can help them improve,? said Clements. At present, the Bengals just stopped a four-game losing streak by defeating the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. Hopes of back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since the 1981-2 season are still alive but will need a big turnaround the second half of the season. ?We dug ourselves a little hole,? said head coach Marvin Lewis. ?We?ve just gotta keep fighting, and we?ll be ok,? Lewis added. Still left on the schedule for the Bengals to have to contend with are dangerous receivers such as Dez Bryant (Dallas), Deshawn Jackson (Philadelphia), and Anquan Bolden (Baltimore). No matter if he is at cornerback or safety, Clements being on the field gives the Bengal defensive backfield intelligence. Veteran intelligence will give the Bengals an advantage of at least containing one of the dangerous receivers.

http://www.thecincinnatiherald.com/news/2012-11-17/Sports/Clements_knows_value_veterans_display.html

 

[Buckskin86]

Bengals veteran Clements relishes playoffs
By Todd Jones
The Columbus Dispatch Friday January 4, 2013

CINCINNATI ? Retirement is not a topic of discussion for cornerback Nate Clements. He won?t say whether he wants to play a 13th NFL season in 2013, or whether the Bengals have asked him to return.

?I?m just enjoying the moment,? said Clements, in the final season of his contract. ?I?m not even focusing on that right now. I?m focused on this Saturday.?

The former Ohio State star is more concerned about getting his first career playoff victory when the Bengals (10-6) play the Texans (12-4) in Houston on Saturday in an AFC wild-card game.

Clements, who turned 33 last month, knows time is short in a career that has included 180 games played, including 168 starts, since the Buffalo Bills made him a first-round draft pick in 2001 after his junior season at OSU.

?Nobody ever wants it to end,? Clements said. ?I don?t think like that. I really do cherish the little things, even going out to practice. I?m enjoying the little moments.?

Clements played his first 10 NFL seasons with Buffalo and San Francisco, and he didn?t make the playoffs before signing a two-year, $10.5 million deal with Cincinnati as a free agent in July 2011. The long postseason drought for Clements ended last year with the Bengals, although it was over quickly as Houston defeated them 31-10 in a wild-card game.

?Making the postseason the last two years has definitely been the highlight of my career,? said Clements, a native of the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights.

Clements has been his usual durable, productive self. He has played in 15 games, starting nine, made 53 tackles, intercepted a pass and defended five others. He also has forced a fumbled and contributed on special teams.

?He?s extremely versatile and valuable to us,? Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said. ? He?s a great veteran leader and a terrific player. He?s a pro?s pro.?

cont...

http://www.dispatch.com/content/sto...ngals-veteran-clements-relishes-playoffs.html

 

[PhxBuckeye]

I know I'm in the minority when I say this but Nate is as good of a DB as I've ever seen at OSU and I've been watching the Buckeyes for more than 30 years. Good in coverage, great tackler and hitter and was good on STs too. One of the players I just really enjoyed watching.



Go Bucks!!!

 

[Buckskin86]

Former Bengals DB Nate Clements would love to return to the Bengals
By Josh Kirkendall on Jun 19 2013 @CincyJungle 20

Former Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Nate Clements isn't sure that he'll be able to return and contract talks appear to be quiet.

Defensive back Nate Clements is still without a home.

While training and hoping to latch on with a team this year, it appears that his future in Cincinnati may have reached its end. Telling Alex Marvez with FoxSports.com, Clements, though open to returning, doesn't feel that it's likely.

Clements, who like many veteran free agents, is surprised that the new Collective Bargaining Agreement has been met with such limited interest.

During his two seasons with the Bengals, Clements started 24 of 28 games, posting three interceptions, three forced fumbles, a quarterback sack and 82 tackles. His contributions significantly decreased in the final quarter of the season last year, taking part in 16 defensive plays from week 12 through week 16 -- though he played all but one snap against the Ravens and Texans combined due to Terence Newman and Chris Crocker injuries.

http://www.cincyjungle.com/2013/6/1...-clements-would-love-to-return-to-the-bengals

 

[bucknut11]

 

[brodybuck21]

despite nate's connection to the game that never happened in '98 (and the ron johnson debacle) he was fun to watch on defense and at PR. his punt return td at purdue was such a huge play