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http://sports.espn.go.com By Sal Paolantonio ESPN.com The NFL's new math is mind-boggling: $80 million for Nate Clements, $59.5 million for Asante Samuel, $70 million for DeAngelo Hall. What do those three p_layer_s have in common besides a bank account now flush with cash? They are all cornerbacks. And as pro football's offseason transitions from free agency to the draft, paying that kind of unprecedented dough for that position is at the heart of an increasingly contentious debate. So, let's leap into this argument. Here's the question: Is the never-ending quest for the next great cover corner often paved with fool's gold? Here's the answer: Yes. Let's take the latest example. The Oakland Raiders have won only 19 games over the past five seasons. Since 1990, the only other team to win fewer than 20 games in a five-season span was the Bengals, who won 19 from 1998 to 2002, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. What was the Raiders' biggest problem in 2007? They couldn't stop the run. The defense allowed 4.8 yards per rush last season, worst in the league. It was the highest average-per-rush ever allowed by an Al Davis team. So what did Oakland do? With Warren Sapp retiring, the Raiders signed Giants defensive tackle William Joseph