Raiders' Clemons is used to battling

By JASON JONES
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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ALAMEDA -- It's always been a fight.

So making the Raiders roster as an unheralded free agent after a knee injury was no big deal for Chris Clemons. He leads the Raiders with five sacks and earned his first starting assignment with the team last weekend in Minnesota.

Oakland has sought a consistent pass rush opposite Derrick Burgess for more than two seasons. Clemons has stepped in to fill the void. Clemons has won over teammates with his work ethic and play. He learned the value of hardwork growing up in Griffin, Ga.

"My grandmomma had 15 kids," Clemons said. "I have 80-something cousins. So, it wasn't like you could just walk in the house and get a piece of bread, you had to earn your way to eat around the house."

And that's exactly what Clemons likes about the Raiders.

He missed all of last season with a knee injury after spending the 2003-05 with Washington. He signed with the Raiders in the offseason, presumably as a training-camp body.

But for a defense that's had issues this season, he's been a bright spot with five sacks while also playing on special teams.

Raiders coach Lane Kiffin has shown he will play the Raiders that produce, which has given Clemons an opportunity to shine.

"Not a big-name game, not a big-money guy, just came to work every day," Kiffin said of Clemons. "Took to his coaching, got better, improved himself, and he's in here all the time."

Clemons isn't one to make excuses or take days off.

At 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, he' s built more like a linebacker, but plays defensive end like he's trying to beat one of his cousins to that piece of bread in Evelyn Clemons' kitchen in Griffin.

"My mom (Mattie Clemons) always told me that from the day I was born, I always seemed like I had a chip on my shoulders and that's how I approach life," Clemons said.