Editing Nate Clements (section)

====2001====
On July 27, 2001, the Buffalo Bills signed Clements to a five-year, $6.70 million [[contract]] that includes $3.17 million guaranteed.<ref name="spotrac">{{cite web |title=Spotrac.com: Nate Clements contract |url=http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/nate-clements-3370/ |access-date=June 5, 2018 |website=Spotrac.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Former Ohio State Cornerback signs with Buffalo Bills |url=http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/073001aaa.html |access-date=June 5, 2018 |website=ohiostatebuckeyes.com |date=July 30, 2001}}</ref>

Throughout training camp, Clements competed to be a starting cornerback against [[Lance Brown]], [[Ken Irvin]], and [[Jimmy Williams (cornerback, born 1979)|Jimmy Williams]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Time to make an impression |url=http://buffalonews.com/2001/08/25/time-to-make-an-impression/ |access-date=June 5, 2018 |website=BuffaloNews.com |author=Wilson, Allen |date=August 26, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Feel-good football under the lights |url=https://247sports.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/Article/Feel-good-football-under-the-lights-104027224 |access-date=June 5, 2018 |website=247sports.com |date=June 30, 2001}}</ref> Head coach [[Gregg Williams]] named Clements the third cornerback on the depth chart to begin the regular season, behind [[Antoine Winfield Sr.|Antoine Winfield]] and Ken Irvin.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Football Database: Buffalo Bills Roster (2001) |url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/buffalo-bills/roster/2001 |access-date=June 5, 2018 |website=FootballDB.com}}</ref> He was also named the starting kick returner to begin his rookie season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pro Football Reference: Nate Clements (2014) |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ClemNa99/gamelog/2001/ |access-date=June 5, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]/}}</ref>

He made his professional regular season debut in the [[2001 Buffalo Bills|Buffalo Bills']] season-opener against the [[2001 New Orleans Saints|New Orleans Saints]] and recorded one solo tackle in their 24–6 loss. On September 23, 2001, Clements made one tackle, deflected a pass, and returned his first career interception for a touchdown during their 42–26 loss at the [[2001 Indianapolis Colts|Indianapolis Colts]]. He intercepted a pass by quarterback [[Peyton Manning]] and returned it for a 61-yard touchdown in the third quarter to mark the first score of his career.<ref name="49ers.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.49ers.com/team/roster/Nate-Clements/e9de3ddd-7b8d-4869-bd13-ba23a8f300aa |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806012531/http://www.49ers.com/team/roster/nate-clements/e9de3ddd-7b8d-4869-bd13-ba23a8f300aa/ |archive-date=August 6, 2009 |title=San Francisco 49ers: Nate Clements}}</ref> On October 18, 2001, Clements earned his first career start after he surpassed Ken Irvin on the depth chart. He recorded three solo tackles and broke up a pass in the Bills' 13–10 win at the [[2001 Jacksonville Jaguars|Jacksonville Jaguars]] in Week 5. In Week 8, Clements collected three combined tackles, deflected a pass, and returned a punt for a 66-yard touchdown during the second quarter of a 30–24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pro Football Reference: Week 8-2001: Indianapolis Colts @ Buffalo Bills |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200111040buf.htm |access-date=June 5, 2018 | website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> In Week 14, he collected three combined tackles and made his first career sack on quarterback [[Tom Brady]] during a 12–9 loss at the [[2001 New England Patriots|New England Patriots]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots- November 11, 2001 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200111110nwe.htm |access-date=June 5, 2018 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> On December 23, 2001, Clements collected a season-high 11 solo tackles, a season-high three pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by [[Michael Vick]] in the Bills' 33–30 loss at the [[2001 Atlanta Falcons|Atlanta Falcons]] in Week 15.<ref name="stats1">{{cite web |title=NFL Player stats: Nate Clements (2001) |url=http://www.nfl.com/player/nateclements/2504744/gamelogs?season=2001 |access-date=June 5, 2018 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> He completed his rookie season in 2001 with 63 combined tackles (53 solo), ten pass deflections, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, a sack, and a touchdown in 16 games and 11 starts. He also had 30 kick returns for 628-yards and four punt returns for 81-yards and a touchdown.<ref name="career">{{cite web |title=NFL Player stats: Nate Clements (career) |url=http://www.nfl.com/player/nateclements/2504744/careerstats |access-date=June 5, 2018 |website=NFL.com}}</ref>