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CB Nate Clements (All B1G, NFL Pro Bowl)

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Nate Clements Settling Down Nicely As A Bengals Cornerback
Cj_tiny by Josh Kirkendall on Nov 26, 2011

Once Johnathan Joseph Ezio Auditore'ed his way out of Cincinnati, the Bengals front office quickly responded by signing former Bills and 49ers cornerback Nate Clements with a two-year contract. It wasn't a great start for the former the Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback in Cincinnati.

Against the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos, Cincinnati's first two games into the 2011 regular season, Clements allowed 228 yards receiving, including two 50-yard receptions and two touchdown receptions, for an opposing quarterback rating of 142.1 on passes thrown against players he covered. Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton posted a 156.3 passer rating when targeting Broncos receivers that Clements was assigned in week two.

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But those two games are hardly an accurate portrayal of Clements' time in Cincinnati. An accelerated free agency period, combined with the immediate arrival of training camp, eliminated offseason minicamps for free agents to adjust into a new system. Much like the NFL's early offensive onslaught in September, defenses finally recovered and defensive free agents like Clements are making a greater impact on their respective teams.

In the past eight games, Clements hasn't allowed 60 yards receiving in any game, forcing receivers to convert less than 50% of the receptions they're targeted. Against the Buffalo Bills, when the Ryan Fitzpatrick (pre-contract extension) offense was on fire eariler this season, Clements held receivers he covered to one reception for 17 yards and an opposing quarterback rating of 39.6. Against the Seahawks, Seattle receivers caught two of seven attempted targets for 22 yards receiving.

Not allowing a touchdown since week two against the Broncos, Clements has posted an opposing quarterback rating of 56.7 in eight games since Cincinnati's loss in Denver. Last weekend against the Baltimore Ravens, Clements posted his first interception in a Bengals uniform.

As the Bengals make a push into the 2011 NFL playoffs, Clements will be a huge factor keeping Cincinnati's secondary stable. In his past five games before his season-ending injury, Leon Hall posted an opposing passer rating of 61.2 in past five games.
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http://www.cincyjungle.com/2011/11/...-settling-down-nicely-as-a-bengals-cornerback
 
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Bengals' cornerback Clements questionable against Steelers
Wire Reports
Friday, December 2, 2011

CINCINNATI ? The last thing the Bengals need going into Sunday?s key AFC North game at Pittsburgh is questions about their secondary, but that is shaping up as one of the major story lines.

Cornerback Nate Clements injured his hamstring on Thursday and did not practice on Friday. When asked after practice if there was a chance Clements would play, Lewis said ?Yeah, I think so.? Clements is listed as questionable on the team?s injury report, meaning it is going to come down to a game-time decision.
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http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/s...ts-questionable-against-steelers-1293508.html
 
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OSU product makes playoffs for 1st time
Jan. 1, 2012
Written by Kevin Kelly

The Bengals are going to the playoffs for the third time under coach Marvin Lewis.

For cornerback Nate Clements, an 11-year veteran, it will be his first trip to the NFL postseason.

?It's a relief,? Clements said after Sunday's 24-16 loss against the Ravens. ?I?m ecstatic, excited. I?m going to cherish and embrace the opportunity.?

Clements addressed the team Saturday at the team hotel, but did not reveal too much about his message Sunday.

?I just wanted to share my experience with the guys so we could understand where we?re at,? he said. ?I just shared my experiences over my career.?

A first-round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills out of Ohio State, Clements entered this season with 150 career games played with the Bills (2001-06) and the San Francisco 49ers (2007-10).

Clements signed with the Bengals as a free agent in August and entered Sunday with 71 total tackles and two interceptions.

?I?ve got nothing but love for him,? Bengals defensive lineman Domata Peko said. ?He deserves it. He?s one of the hardest workers on the team. Comes in early all the time. Leaves late. He deserves to be in the dance. I'm so excited for Nate.?

Clements said the closest he had come to making the playoffs before Sunday was in 2004 with Buffalo. Did he question whether the day would ever come?

?I never questioned it,? he said. ?I just worked extremely hard every year with the mindset of reaching the ultimate goal, and I think everybody on this team has the same common goal, and that always is to win the Super Bowl.?
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http://news.cincinnati.com/article/...duct-makes-playoffs-1st-time?odyssey=nav|head
 
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Clements' play helps end playoff drought
Jan. 5, 2012
Written by
Kevin Kelly

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Nate Clements (22) reacts after recovering a fumble against the Titans in Nashville on Nov. 6. / Grant Halverson/Getty Images

The oldest player on the Bengals' active roster stood in the team's subdued locker room Sunday night and dabbed his dampening eyes with a towel.

The playoffs don't come easy. Nate Clements can attest to that.

After 10 seasons of nothing else to play for once the regular season ended, the 32-year-old cornerback felt the burden lift Sunday when the Bengals secured a playoff spot. They play the Houston Texans on Saturday at Reliant Stadium in an AFC Wild Card game.

?Exciting, man. Exciting,? Clements said. ?There's been some tough days. Some good days. Some bad days. But we're here now.?

The Bengals brought Clements into the fold ? signing him to a two-year, $10 million contract in August ? after cornerback Johnathan Joseph left for Houston as a free agent.

He made an immediate impression.

?I can remember the first day he was here we met for an hour or two,? Bengals defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle said. ?He took the playbook back to the room and came back the next day with color-coded, highlighted notes, questions. It was amazing.

?The guy wants to be right. He's a professional, takes great pride in his preparation and his understanding both of what we do and what the opponent does. He's a great example to the young players in the way he does things and carries himself

cont...
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http://news.cincinnati.com/article/...ff-drought?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Sports|p
 
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Wake-up: Could Bengals cut Clements?
May, 3, 2012
By Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

Bengals cornerback Nate Clements could be a candidate to get cut June 1 after the team drafted Dre Kirkpatrick in the first round, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer's Joe Reedy.

Clements is in the last year of his contract and has a cap number of $5.5 million this season ($4.3 million base, $1 million prorated bonus and $200,000 reporting bonus). In addition to drafting Kirkpatrick, the Bengals signed three cornerbacks (Adam Jones, Terence Newman and Jason Allen) in free agency.

Hensley's slant: I still see Clements with the Bengals this season. It doesn't look good that the Bengals used a first-round pick on a cornerback and signed all those veterans in free agency. But it's unknown whether Leon Hall (Achilles) will be ready to start the season and Clements is better than Jones, Newman and Allen. Head coach Marvin Lewis values Clements' leadership and the Bengals don't need to unload any contracts.
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http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/47514/wake-up-could-bengals-cut-clements
 
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Dre' Kirkpatrick vs. Nate Clements, Bengals cornerbacks -- Cincinnati got far more from Clements than it had the right to expect last year after losing Jonathan Joseph to Houston in free agency, and Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer loves the veteran leadership factor he brings to the position. But with the drafting of Alabama's Kirkpatrick in the first round, Clements might be vulnerable to losing not only his starting left cornerback job, but also his roster spot as well.

The reality is this: If Leon Hall has recovered from his Achilles' injury and is ready to resume his starting role at right corner -- still an iffy proposition at this point -- Clements might get squeezed out. Repeat, might. The Bengals signed veteran cornerbacks Terence Newman, Adam Jones and Jason Allen this offseason, and Kirkpatrick's arrival creates a solid six-man contingent. In that scenario, Clements' $5.5 million cap number could put him in jeopardy, although Cincinnati doesn't need the cap room and would be wise to keep Clements around until it knows for certain if Hall is fully recovered.
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Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20.../08/position.battles/index.html#ixzz1uNYr5XOw
 
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Starting LCB- Nate Clements: Clements' name has repeatedly been brought up as a salary cap casualty candidate. He is due to make over $4 million this year and will be 33 near the end of the season. Clements also struggled against the pass last year, receiving a -5.7 score. The only corner to have a lower grade on the team was Kelly Jennings. With all that being said, I expect Clements to be starting opposite Hall this season. He actually outplayed my expectations last season. He was great against the run, earning a score of 4.7. The Bengals also are not in a position where they are struggling for salary cap space. Clements also is a valuable leader on defense. He had to learn Mike Zimmer's defense later than what would have been preferred, due to the lockout. He was the glue that held the secondary together when Hall was put on Injured Reserve. He might have to earn his spot during training camp, but I would not expect him to have much trouble. A full offseason in Zimmer's defense will help his cause.
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http://www.cincyjungle.com/2012/7/11/3148971/training-camp-preview-cornerbacks
 
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Nate Clements leads Cincinnati Bengals roster battle
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By Brian McIntyre
Around the League writer
Published: July 19, 2012

Training camp is finally almost here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason.

No. 27: Cincinnati Bengals cornerback: Nate Clements, Terence Newman, Jason Allen and Adam Jones are battling for roster spots.
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Projected Winner(s): Clements, Allen and Jones. Clements was solid for the Bengals last season and continuity at the position could trump cash/cap savings. Allen is good enough to start, has the size to match up with some of the game's bigger wideouts and has added value on special teams, where had eight solo tackles and played in 34.5 percent of the Texans' special teams snaps in 2011. As long as Jones stays healthy, he could be a good option as a nickel corner and has game-changing ability on punt returns.
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http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...ate-clements-leads-bengals-roster-spot-battle
 
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starting left cornerback Nate Clements revealed that he won't be out there early in training camp. He says he won?t be shelved for as long as Kirkpatrick, but it sounds like he's going to take a week before he tries to return. He missed all of spring ball with what he called a muscle pull in the groin and abdominal region.

"Can't put a timetable on it," Clements said. "When you have a groin injury or a hamstring, they can keep lingering on and those are things we don't want to do. We want to make sure that doesn't happen."
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http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Notes-Jones-up-and-Adam/d6b1859c-9983-4093-941a-0abed2942007
 
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