PITTSFORD, N.Y. (Aug. 17, 2005) -- Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl cornerback Nate Clements informally opened negotiations for his next contract with a very high asking price. "I'm the best and I don't settle for nothing less," said Clements, a four-year veteran who's entering the final year of his contract. "It's just like if you're the best at your job, you want to be compensated for being the best at your position." Clements shrugged when informed Denver's Champ Bailey is currently the highest paid cornerback after he signed a seven-year, $63 million contract last year that included an $18 million signing bonus. "I don't know what the figures look like, yet, I really don't get into that," Clements said. "I just worry about producing on the field." Clements can become a free agent next March and his contract status was the hot topic when his agent Todd France attended training camp. France said he's had preliminary discussions with the Bills to see whether a new deal can be reached before this season starts. "It's too early to tell," France said. "We just have to see how bad they want him. And if it can work for both parties, that'll be great." France didn't back off what Clements said about wanting to become the highest paid cornerback. "That's the mentality we have ... and the approach that we're going to take," France said. How high the Bills are prepared to go remains a question. "We'll see," team president Tom Donahoe said. "Until we start to talk, you just don't know how it's going to go." If a deal is not reached by Buffalo's season opener against Houston on Sept. 11, the sides have agreed to continue discussions after the season is over. Clements was Buffalo's first-round draft pick in 2001 and the Ohio State product has been a key player on a defense that led the NFL by generating 39 turnovers last year and has twice finished second in fewest yards allowed. Considered among the league's top emerging shutdown corners, he's coming off his best season, in which he matched a career high with six interceptions and had a career-high four forced fumbles. His most memorable game last year came in Buffalo's 33-17 win over Cincinnati, when he forced a fumble and held Bengals' top receiver Chad Johnson to two catches for 10 yards. Overall, Clements has 18 interceptions -- four of which he's returned for touchdowns -- and seven forced fumbles. Clements is also a proven punt-return threat, having returned four for scores. His six touchdown returns are a franchise record, and he's the only Bills player to lead the team in interceptions for four consecutive years.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'> "I'm the best and I don't settle for nothing less," said Clements, a four-year veteran who's entering the final year of his contract. "It's just like if you're the best at your job, you want to be compensated for being the best at your position." </div> i hate ppl like that. I'm the best that just is a cocky and annoying thing to say
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J-E-T-S 1083)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'> "I'm the best and I don't settle for nothing less," said Clements, a four-year veteran who's entering the final year of his contract. "It's just like if you're the best at your job, you want to be compensated for being the best at your position." </div> i hate ppl like that. I'm the best that just is a cocky and annoying thing to say</div> I agree. He sounds like he thinks hes the best football player in the NFL. I dont think hes the best DB in the league but close.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J-E-T-S 1083)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'> "I'm the best and I don't settle for nothing less," said Clements, a four-year veteran who's entering the final year of his contract. "It's just like if you're the best at your job, you want to be compensated for being the best at your position." </div> i hate ppl like that. I'm the best that just is a cocky and annoying thing to say</div> So you must hate Ty Law then huh? Sounds alot like Ty did both back in the day and now....hahaha
NC is allegedly an elite CB (or so I've been led to believe). So, he should be paid as such. Shouldn't he?
Yea he should make top 5 $$$ for a corner. He's in the final year of his contract if the Bills don't give him it then he'll get elsewhere next season.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J-E-T-S 1083)</div><div class='quotemain'>i might hate ppl like that but that doesnt mean i dont want him on my team.</div> Just busting your chops becuase Ty Law thumps his chest with the best of them!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'>I'm all for his getting it elsewhere next year.</div> I bet you wish next year that Nick Saban will give Clements the big $$$
Clements should move back up North maybe not to Ohio but somewhere else... cough cough Greenbay! Oh wait I forgot Ted Thompson is a cheap A@@!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pats37)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J-E-T-S 1083)</div><div class='quotemain'>i might hate ppl like that but that doesnt mean i dont want him on my team.</div> Just busting your chops becuase Ty Law thumps his chest with the best of them!</div> lol ok
wow for all your Clements bashing, I sure see a good number of you guys kinda licking your chops at the possibility of landing him - even after his 'I wanna be the highest paid CB' mentality.
He's not an Elite Corner as of yetand I hate his attitude but he would be a vast improvement over almost anyone in Greenbay. I seriously doubt he leaves the Bills however.
I don't think he's gonna leave the bills either - he said he'd stay in Buffalo for less then he would any other team however I'm fully aware that he's still not gonna come to us for cheap and he's probably still going to want champ bailey type money. The Broncos are stupid for giving Bailey that kind of money - I'm glad he got torched a lot last year - it serves the Broncos right for setting that precedent in paying a CB that much money. Hell even Winfield got overpaid with Minnesota.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (tko51)</div><div class='quotemain'>I don't think he's gonna leave the bills either - he said he'd stay in Buffalo for less then he would any other team however I'm fully aware that he's still not gonna come to us for cheap and he's probably still going to want champ bailey type money. The Broncos are stupid for giving Bailey that kind of money - I'm glad he got torched a lot last year - it serves the Broncos right for setting that precedent in paying a CB that much money. Hell even Winfield got overpaid with Minnesota.</div> Bailey got torched like every CB does now in the NFL. Bailey is a top 3 corner in the NFL. Clements is close to breaking it in my mind and might do so this year but he really didn't get torched all year.
The contact rule sometimes seems a little over emphasized, but yeah Clements may be ready for a top 5 season next year. As of now my top 5 Corners are probably... 1. Chris Mcalister 2. Champ Baily 3. Patrick Surtain 4. Ronde Barber 5. Dre Bly
