Buffalo's free agent visits have begun a bit earlier than normal this offseason as CB Stanford Routt toured the facilities at One Bills Drive Monday. The 28-year old cornerback arrived early Monday afternoon and following a physical with team physicians met members of Chan Gailey's coaching staff at the club's Orchard Park facility.
"It was a good day," said Routt. "I got a chance to go and see the city a little bit, see the staff, meet a few of those guys and I like the atmosphere around here."
Routt was released by the Oakland Raiders last week as new GM Reggie McKenzie has brought in new coaches and begun to turn over the roster in his image. It's been widely reported that Routt's situation had more to do with a cost prohibitive contract than his play on the field.
"I know that's a past chapter and now we've got a new chapter and I'm looking forward to it every step of the way," he said. "Obviously I want to go to a team that I can help win. I haven't won much in my seven years in the NFL. I just want to be on a team that I can help win and has some stability."
A full-time starter the past two seasons at cornerback for the Raiders, Routt led the team in pass breakups in 2010 with 13 and last season with 15. He also contributed six interceptions over the past two campaigns for Oakland including one in Week 2 against the Bills. It happened on a 3rd-and-10 play in the second quarter when Routt picked off a Ryan Fitzpatrick pass intended for Stevie Johnson deep over the middle.
"Me and Coach Gailey were just talking about it," said Routt chuckling. "He was asking me how I knew that play was coming. That was a good game though. It was a good matchup between their offense and our defense so I remember that game very vividly."
Routt sees the Bills as a team ready to take the next step and reach the playoffs. He liked that Buffalo is taking steps to try and raise the talent level on defense.
"They started off the season 5-2 and beat the New England Patriots, the team that represented the AFC in the Super Bowl," he said. "I don't see that as anything you can look down upon. Obviously everybody can be better except for the one team that went to the Super Bowl. But the sky is the limit because you can clearly see that there are the right pieces here in place."
Bills GM Buddy Nix in his season wrap-up press conference last month mentioned the need to add cornerback help this offseason.
"You can never have enough corners," he said. "We would like to add two corners whether it's through free agency or the draft."
