Editing Nate Clements (section)

===San Francisco 49ers===
====2007====
On March 2, 2007, the [[San Francisco 49ers]] signed Clements to an eight-year, $80 million contract with $22 million guaranteed.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2786253 49ers make Clements NFL's highest-paid defender ever]</ref> The contract made him the highest paid defensive player in league history in 2007.
[[File:Nate Clements on field pregame at Eagles at 49ers 10-12-08 1.JPG|thumb|upright|left|Clements on the field prior to a game against the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] on October 12, 2008]]
Clements became part of a revamped secondary that finished 27th in passing yards the previous season. Head coach [[Mike Nolan]] officially named Clements the No. 1 starting cornerback to start the season, along with cornerback [[Walt Harris (cornerback)|Walt Harris]] and safeties [[Michael Lewis (safety)|Michael Lewis]] and [[Mark Roman]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ourlads.com: San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart: 09/02/2007 |url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/17/SF |access-date=June 6, 2018 |website=Ourlads.com}}</ref>

In Week 2, Clements collected six solo tackles and sacked quarterback [[Marc Bulger]] in the 49ers' 17–16 win at the [[2007 St. Louis Rams|St. Louis Rams]].<ref name="stats7"/> On November 25, 2007, Clements collected a season-high ten combined tackles (eight solo) and a pass deflection during a 37–31 victory at the [[2007 Arizona Cardinals|Arizona Cardinals]] in Week 13.<ref name="stats7"/> On December 23, 2007, he recorded seven combined tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception during a 21–19 victory against the [[2007 Tampa Bay Buccaneers|Tampa Bay Buccaneers]].<ref name="stats7">{{cite web |title=NFL Player stats: Nate Clements (2007) |url=http://www.nfl.com/player/nateclements/2504744/gamelogs?season=2007 |access-date=June 6, 2018 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> Clements finished the season with 92 combined tackles (77 solo), 14 pass deflections, four interceptions, three forced fumbles, and a sack in 16 games and 16 starts.<ref name="career"/>

====2008====
Defensive coordinator [[Greg Manusky]] retained Clements and Walt Harris as the starting cornerbacks in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ourlads.com: San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart: 08/31/2008 |url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/29/SF |access-date=June 6, 2018 |website=Ourlads.com}}</ref> On September 14, 2008, Clements collected a season-high seven solo tackles and deflected a pass in a 33–30 win at the [[2008 Seattle Seahawks|Seattle Seahawks]] in Week 2.<ref name="stats8"/> On October 19, 2008, he recorded five combined tackles, a pass deflection, and returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown during the 49ers' 29–17 loss to the [[2008 New York Giants|New York Giants]]. Clements recovered the ball and returned it 74-yards for a touchdown in the third quarter after linebacker [[Manny Lawson]] blocked a field goal attempt by Giants' kicker [[John Carney (American football)|John Carney]].<ref>{{cite web |title=New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers - October 19, 2008 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200810190nyg.htm |access-date=June 6, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> On October 21, 2008, the San Francisco 49ers fired head coach Mike Nolan after they fell to a 2–5 record. Assistant head coach/linebackers coach [[Mike Singletary]] was named the interim head coach for the remaining ten games. In Week 13, he collected six solo tackles during a 10–3 win at his former team, the [[2008 Buffalo Bills|Buffalo Bills]].<ref name="stats8"/> During the game, Clements injured his thumb and was inactive for the 49ers' Week 14 victory against the [[2008 New York Jets|New York Jets]].<ref name="stats8"/> This became the first time in Clement's professional career that he was inactive. His injury ended his streaks of 119 consecutive game appearances and 115 consecutive starts.<ref>{{cite web |title=New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers Injury Report |url=http://www.49erswebzone.com/articles/17649-new-york-jets-san-francisco-49ers-injury-report/ |access-date=June 6, 2018 |website=49erswebzone.com |date=December 5, 2008}}</ref> In Week 17, Clements tied his season-high of seven solo tackles and also deflected a pass in a 27–24 win at the [[2008 Washington Redskins|Washington Redskins]].<ref name="stats8">{{cite web |title=NFL Player stats: Nate Clements (2008) |url=http://www.nfl.com/player/nateclements/2504744/gamelogs?season=2008 |access-date=June 6, 2018 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> Clements finished the [[2008 NFL season|2008 season]] with 63 combined tackles (56 solo), nine passes defensed, two interceptions, and a forced fumble in 15 games and 15 starts.<ref name="career"/>

====2009====
The San Francisco 49ers' new head coach, Mike Singletary, officially named Clements the No. 1 cornerback to start the 2009 regular season, opposite [[Tarell Brown]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ourlads.com: San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart: 09/06/2009 |url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/40/SF |access-date=June 6, 2018 |website=Ourlads.com}}</ref> He started in the [[2009 San Francisco 49ers|San Francisco 49ers']] season-opener at the [[2009 Arizona Cardinals|Arizona Cardinals]] and five combined tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception in their 20–16 victory. The following week, Clements made six combined tackles and a season-high four pass deflections during a 23–10 win against the [[2009 Seattle Seahawks|Seattle Seahawks]] in Week 2.<ref>{{cite web |title=NFL Player stats: Nate Clements (2009) |url=http://www.nfl.com/player/nateclements/2504744/gamelogs?season=2009 |access-date=June 6, 2018 |website=nfl.com}}</ref> On September 27, 2009, Clements recorded four combined tackles and returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown in the 49ers' 27–24 loss at the [[2009 Minnesota Vikings|Minnesota Vikings]]. Clements recovered the ball and returned it for a 59-yard touchdown after it kicker [[Ryan Longwell|Ryan Longwell's]] attempt was blocked by [[Ray McDonald]] in the second quarter.<ref>{{cite web |title=NFL Game Center: Week 3-2009: San Francisco 49ers @ Minnesota Vikings |url=http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2009092704/2009/REG3/49ers@vikings#tab=recap |access-date=June 6, 2018 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> He joined [[Kevin Ross (American football)|Kevin Ross]] as the only players in NFL history return a blocked field goal for a touchdown on two separate occasions. On November 1, 2009, Clements suffered a right shoulder injury in the first quarter of a Week 8 loss at the [[2009 Indianapolis Colts|Indianapolis Colts]] and exited the game. He sustained the injury after he was tackled by [[Philip Wheeler]] and [[Jerraud Powers]] while returning a punt in the second quarter. Many media members called into question head coach Mike Singletary's decision to place Clements in the punt return role due to his substantial contract and importance in the secondary. Clements took over punt return duties from [[Arnaz Battle]] who had disappointing performances after replacing recently released [[Pro Bowl]] return specialist [[Allen Rossum]].<ref>{{cite web |title=49ers Hot Reads: Injury calls Clements' future into question |url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2275944-181/49ers-hot-reads-injury-calls |access-date=June 6, 2018 |website=pressdemocrat.com |author=Maiocco, Mike |date=November 2, 2009}}</ref> Former head coach Mike Nolan was asked upon Clements signing about the possibility of Clements returning punt and immediately rejected the idea stating, "Not even maybe." On November 3, 2009, it was reported that Clements sustained a broken right [[scapula]] to his right shoulder and was expected to miss the remainder of the season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Staley, Clements to miss several games |url=http://www.espn.in/nfl/news/story?id=4617575 |access-date=June 6, 2018 |website=ESPN.com |date=November 2, 2009}}</ref> Head coach Mike Singletary elected to not place Clements on injured reserve for the rest of the season in hopes of a possible late season or playoff return. He finished the [[2009 NFL season|2009 season]] with 35 combined tackles (30 solo), seven passes defensed, and an interception in seven games and six starts.<ref name="career"/>

====2010====
Head coach Mike Singletary retained Clements as the 49ers' No. 1 starting cornerback to start the season, alongside [[Shawntae Spencer]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ourlads.com: San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart: 09/05/2010 |url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/111/SF |access-date=June 6, 2018 |website=Ourlads.com}}</ref>
On September 26, 2010, Clements collected a season-high nine solo tackles in the 49ers' 31–10 loss at the [[2010 Kansas City Chiefs|Kansas City Chiefs]]. In Week 7, he collected a season-high tying nine combined tackles and a sack in a 23–20 loss at the [[2010 Carolina Panthers|Carolina Panthers]].<ref>{{cite web |title=NFL Player stats: Arizona Cardinals (2010) |url=http://www.nfl.com/player/nateclements/2504744/gamelogs?season=2010 |access-date=June 6, 2018 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> On December 27, 2010, the San Francisco 49ers fired head coach Mike Singletary after the team fell to a 5–10 record. He finished the season with 82 combined tackles (72 solo), ten pass deflections, three interceptions in 16 games and 16 starts.<ref name="career"/>

====2011====
On July 28, 2011, the San Francisco 49ers released Clements.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rosenthal|first=Gregg|title=Release Tracker|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/28/release-tracker/|work=[[Pro Football Talk]]|date=July 28, 2011|access-date=July 29, 2011}}</ref>