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Routt reportedly to visit Bills

The Buffalo Bills are giving the initial impression they're going to be players in this year's free agent market.

Buffalo is one of two teams who have reportedly already scheduled a meeting with ex-Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt, who was released by Oakland in the first surprise move of the NFL offseason Thursday. That report comes from ESPN's Josina Anderson, who quotes Routt's agent, William Vann McElroy, as saying "as of right now Buffalo has him flying in on Sunday for a Monday visit, but I will keep you posted."

Routt was released less than a year after signing a monster extension with the Raiders. Routt signed a three-year, $31.5 million contract last February that included $20 million in guarantees over the first two years. The team then restructed the deal in August by adding two years, making it a $54.5 million contract.

Those deals were orchestrated by late Raiders owner Al Davis, though, and it's clear new Oakland General Manager Reggie McKenzie didn't view Routt as a $10 million a year player.

Routt got the big contract after grading out as one of the league's top cover cornerbacks in 2010. The opposition's 39.4 percent completion rate when throwing at him was the lowest of any player targeted at least 60 times that season, according to STATS LLC. That made Oakland comfortable enough to allow Nnamdi Asomugha to leave as a free agent, making Routt its No. 1 cornerback.

He regressed in 2011, though, committing an NFL-high 17 penalties. He also allowed eight touchdown passes, second most in the league, according to STATS, although his completion rate of 47.4 was again strong.

Routt, 28, has played 110 games with 53 starts since being drafted in the second round by Oakland in 2005. Tennessee is the other team with a scheduled visit, although Routt will likely attract plenty more attention on the open market.

He joins a deep class of free agent cornerbacks that also includes the likes of Tennessee's Cortland Finnegan, Kansas City's Brandon Carr and San Francisco's Carlos Rogers, among others.

---Jay Skurski

http://twitter.com/jayskurski

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Bills release Corto (updated)

---The Bills have officially announced the release of safety Jon Corto.

The Orchard Park native spent last season on injured reserve and has been with the team since 2007.

He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2007 and was on the active roster from 2008-10, primarily as a special teams contributor. The Bills had to release him once he passed his physical since he was on the waived/injured list last season. A source told The News that several teams have interest in Corto.

Corto spent the whole season recovering from his shoulder injury but he is healthy now.

"I am ready to play and I am excited about the opportunity to continue my career," Corto told The News. "Right now I am in Miami at Bomeritos Sports Performance facility working out very hard for my next opportunity."

NFL teams need big safeties in their nickel coverage. Hopefully Corto can find a niche there and get into a training camp.

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Metzelaars back 'home'

Pete Metzelaars is back in Buffalo, where he spent most of his NFL playing career and enjoyed great success. He's also back at his natural position from a coaching standpoint. Metzelaars, the Bills' all-time best tight end, was introduced as the team's new tight ends coach today.

Metzelaars spent the past eight seasons working with offensive linemen with the Indianapolis Colts. He's looking forward to coaching the Bills' tight ends.

“I’m excited to get back involved really in the pass game,” Metzelaars said. “When you’re an offensive line coach and they start talking pass routes or pass patterns, you just turn it off and move on. All you’re concerned about is: ‘Who are we blocking?’ Now I get to be involved in that aspect of it. How are we putting it together? How are we attacking these people? What do they do? Where can we attack them? How do we need to attack them? So I’m very excited to be kind of re-introduced and re-connected with that whole aspect of the game.”

Metzelaars caught 383 passes in a 16-year playing career, from 1982 through 1997. He caught 302 passes with the Bills, from '85 to '94. He was the head offensive line coach the past two years in Indianapolis. Before that he was assistant offensive line coach under Howard Mudd, one of the most respected O-line coaches in the game.

"He’s done most everything in the league over the years," Metzelaars said of Mudd. "He’s a very inquisitive, creative mind. So he’s always trying … probing, wondering questioning. He has experienced most everything. You’ll say why don’t we try this? And he’ll say, ‘No we can’t do that. I tried that in ‘85 when I was in Cleveland and they were in this front and it just got blown up. It didn’t work.’ He has that unbelievable wealth of experience that you can draw from. He’s has been a great resource for me for years."

---Mark Gaughan

Lindell a 'Buffalo' guy

Bills place-kicker Rian Lindell, who officially signed his new contract, says that even after 12 years in the NFL, he never dreams about what it would be like to kick in the comfort of a domed stadium.

"A couple weeks ago it was windy and not the best day, and I thought, “this is football weather,'" Lindell told The News today. "This is what it’s supposed to be like, you know what I mean? It’s fun to go out when it’s a little colder and a little windy. A dome is nice. But it’s not football weather, really. It’s best to be in a place where you get that football weather. I kind a like when the snow comes and it gets a little colder."

That's the perfect attitude for a place-kicker for the Bills. Lindell is under contract with Buffalo for another four years. He said this is where he wanted to stay all along.

"I like all the people in the organization, just from when you first walk in the door – I know everybody," he said. "I’m familiar with everybody and I’m comfortable. The snap and the hold with Garrison (Sanborn) coming back and Brian (Moorman) back – they’re as good as anybody in what they do. I like the coaches and I just like the organization." Read more from Lindell in Tuesday's editions of The Buffalo News.

---Mark Gaughan

 

Focus on Bell's improvement

---According to Pro Football Focus' Trending in the AFC East left tackle Demetrius Bell was the Bills most improved player last season, defensive end Spencer Johnson suffered the biggest drop off and safety Da'Norris Searcy deserved more snaps.

---Seattle has submitted initial paperwork to the league office to host a Super Bowl.

---Brett Favre talks about finally staying retired in 2011.

---NFL owners could split over $2 billion in expansion.

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Berchtold heads SB PR staff

Buffalo Bills senior vice president of communications Scott Berchtold is working at his 25th Super Bowl today at Lucas Oil Stadium. Bertchtold has worked in the NFL for 27 years and just completed his 23rd year with the Bills. He has held a vice president title since 1999. A dozen or so NFL PR directors work the Super Bowl each year, aided by a big contingent of assistants. For the past five years, Berchtold has been in charge of the Super Bowl public relations staff, as well as the corps of volunteers who work the media center in the week leading up to the game.

---Mark Gaughan

Reed denied HOF again

INDIANAPOLIS – So close, yet so far for Buffalo Bills great Andre Reed.

The Bills’ all-time best receiver advanced to the final 10 in the voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for a third year in a row. But when the voting to reduce the field went down to the final five, Reed was eliminated.

Reed was among 15 modern-era finalists for a sixth straight year. The modern-era players elected to the Class of 2012 were center Dermontti Dawson, defensive end Chris Doleman, defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy and running back Curtis Martin and tackle Willie Roaf. Seniors candidate Jack Butler of the Pittsburgh Steelers also was elected.

Reed likely was a victim of a splitting of the vote at the receiver position. Minnesota great Cris Carter and Oakland great Tim Brown were the other receivers among the 15 finalists. Brown was eliminated in the cut-down to 10. Carter advanced with Reed to the final 10. The strong likelihood is voters only picked one receiver to get to the final five, and Reed and Carter cancelled each other out. Carter was in his fifth year as a finalist. He also made the cut-down to 10 in 2009.

The merits of all three receivers were vigorously debated during a selection meeting that lasted about 7 1-2 hours. Reed finished his career with 951 catches for 13,198 yards and 87 touchdowns. Carter finished with 1,101 catches for 13,899 yards and 130 touchdowns. Carter’s TD total ranked second among receivers in NFL history at the time of his retirement behind only Jerry Rice. Reed played in an offense that was more balanced and in worse weather conditions. Reed had more team success, helping his team to four Super Bowl appearances, and had better production in the playoffs.

A maximum of five modern-era finalists can get elected. A group of 44 veteran football writers and broadcasters vote on the candidates. The Hall does not release vote totals.

---Mark Gaughan

 

 

Nelson: Fitzpatrick played with cracked ribs

 

---Bills wide receiver David Nelson finally confirms what has long been rumored: Quarterback Ryan Fizpatrick cracked a few ribs during the Washington Redskins game and played through the injury for the remainder of the season.

---Rodney McKissic

(www.twitter.com/rodneyjmckissic)

Live chat coming Super Sunday

Before, during and after the big game Sunday, join myself, the one and only Jerry Sullivan and Bills ace beat reporter Mark Gaughan for a Super Bowl live chat, beginning at 4 p.m.

We'll talk plenty about the Patriots and Giants, of course, but regular readers of our weekly Bills chats know that almost any subject is welcome for discussion.

The chat can be found here on the Billboard blog, and on the buffalonews.com home page. Hope you can spend part of Super Sunday with us.

---Jay Skurski

http://twitter.com/jayskurski

 

Bills' Nelson on Tebow, SB vibe, his pick

INDIANAPOLIS -- Every NFL player gets the chance to purchse two Super Bowl tickets, and Buffalo Bills receiver David Nelson bought his two this year. But Nelson gives the tickets away. Even last year when the Super Bowl was in his hometown of Dallas, he didn't attend the game. Nelson said he wants his first Super Bowl game-day experience to be as a player in the game. Here's an audio clip of Nelson talking about the atmosphere in the Super Bowl city, his college teammate Tim Tebow, and who he likes in Sunday's game between the Giants and Patriots.

---Mark Gaughan