Clements, Lewis sign with San Francisco

**Nick** · #1 (**permalink**) -03-03-2007

NFL Network's Adam Schefter is now reporting that former Buffalo Bills cornerback Nate Clements has signed with the San Francisco *****. The deal is supposedly for eight years and is worth a massive $80 million.

EDIT: Just to update, it would appear the ***** have also signed former Eagles safety Michael Lewis.

*Dr. Defense* · #2 (**permalink**) -03-03-2007

This isn't a good sign for us. The last thing we need is for a team that we already have trouble beating for some reason getting an even better cover corner. I just hope we can retaliate in some way.

*Rambos* · #3 (**permalink**) -03-03-2007

whinners are nuts 80 mil 8 years,

*jkramsfan* · #4 (**permalink**) -03-03-2007

$80 million for a DB, thats insane,this is going to be a real circus the next week or so.

**Nick** · #5 (**permalink**) -03-03-2007

The ***** are also reportedly close to reaching a deal with former Ravens nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin.

*Brain Daddy* · #6 (**permalink**) -03-03-2007

Holy cow, that's alot of money. Just wow. That's a little risky.

Hopefully we can get Franklin and he can be the NT we've been lacking for the last 3 years.

*jkramsfan* · #7 (**permalink**) -03-03-2007

Nick, why do these guys sign so quickly,if Clements can get 80 million on the first day,why not play the field and possibly get more,maybe he's a bad example but some of these second level guys,why not wait and see if teams try to outbid one another.

**Nick** · #8 (**permalink**) -03-03-2007

Supposedly Clements' contract essentially is a six-year deal worth a little over $44 million, so a lot of that money is stuff he's not going to see in the final two years of the deal. Still, heck of a lot of money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkramsfan

Nick, why do these guys sign so quickly,if Clements can get 80 million on the first day,why not play the field and possibly get more,maybe he's a bad example but some of these second level guys,why not wait and see if teams try to outbid one another.

It's hard to say. Perhaps they think if they take that offer to another team, the original team will wise up and lower it. Maybe they're so blown away by the offer they talked the team up to that they simply sign and save time (ie. Wistrom in Seattle).

*Rampage39* · #9 (**permalink**) -03-03-2007

This reminds me of the Nate Burleson deal that seattle gave him last year. Eventhough it was a reported 7yr/49 mill., in reality its a 4yr./16mill dollar contract. There is no way Clements sees the end of that contract because i'm pretty sure he won't be as effective when hes 34 yrs. old.

*jkramsfan* · #10 (**permalink**) -03-03-2007

ESPN's John Clayton is saying that Clements got 22 million of that guaranteed,wow.

*5fingerRing* · #11 (**permalink**) -03-03-2007

$80 million deal, with $22 million in guaranteed money for 8 years.

I can see where this would only cost the ***** $4.75 M in cap space the first year, example below. The 22 M signing bonus is always prorated over the life of the contract, in this case, for 8 years at 2.75M per year. The only guarantee money is the signing bonus of $22M. Probably backloaded contract, the ***** could cut Clements after 4 years of service, the fifth year would get expensive and Clements would be 32 yrs old. After 4 years the cost goes high and the player gets old. The 5yr thru 8yrs would only cost the ***** $2.75M per year if Clement is cut at 32yrs of age because only the signing bonus is the only guaranteed money. This is only an example of how a $80M contract is not really a $80M guarantee money and the team only take an average hit of $5M the first year on the salary cap, the ***** could do 7 more of these $80 M deals and still have cap room. The ***** have $40M in cap space.

1st yr 2M + 2.75M bonus = 4.75M
2nd yr 3M + 2.75M bonus = 5.75M
3rd yr 5M + 2.75M bonus = 7.75M
4th yr 6M + 2.75M bonus = 8.75M
5th yr 9M + 2.75M bonus = 11.75M
6th yr 10M + 2.75M bonus =12.75M
7th yr 11M + 2.75M bonus = 13.75M
8th yr 12M + 2.75M bonus = 14.75M

totals = 58M + 22M bonus = 80M

*Goldenfleece* · #12 (**permalink**) -03-03-2007

That's still an expensive deal. I suspect that this specific deal was only on the table until he left town. Either that or the teams may have already hinted at their ballpark figures to his agent before free agency.

*BIG GAME 81* · #13 (**permalink**) -03-03-2007

I tyhink I heard on Late Hits that they have also signed SS Michael Lewis. Anybody think we can use another reciever in the passing game? Now they have a ridiculous secondary.

**HUbison** · #14 (**permalink**) -03-03-2007

Quote:

The 5yr thru 8yrs would only cost the ***** $2.75M per year if Clement is cut at 32yrs of age because only the signing bonus is the only guaranteed money.

I could be wrong, but actually wouldn't those final 4 years then accelerate to a 5yr cap hit of $11 Mil? That is to say....

1st yr 2M + 2.75M bonus = 4.75M
2nd yr 3M + 2.75M bonus = 5.75M
3rd yr 5M + 2.75M bonus = 7.75M
4th yr 6M + 2.75M bonus = 8.75M
5th yr final 4 years @ 2.75M bonus = 11 M

That's $41 Mil of cap hit for 4 seasons of service.......a lot of money no matter how you slice it.

**Nick** · #15 (**permalink**) -03-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG GAME 81

I tyhink I heard on Late Hits that they have also signed SS Michael Lewis. Anybody think we can use another reciever in the passing game? Now they have a ridiculous secondary.

Not sure what to think of Lewis. Former Pro Bowler but had a really poor year last year. Eagles benched him at one point in the season and wanted to move him to LB.