SB Nation Kansas City - Stanford Routt released by Chiefs after 8 gameshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48935/kc-fave.png2012-12-04T15:15:31-06:00http://kansascity.sbnation.com/rss/stream/33698572012-12-04T15:15:31-06:002012-12-04T15:15:31-06:00Stanford Routt to Texans
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<figcaption>Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The former Chiefs cornerback was a free agent for a few weeks before signing with the Texans.</p> <p>The story has a happy ending after all for <span>Stanford Routt</span>. <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonLaCanfora/statuses/276034211490705408?tw_i=276034211490705408&tw_e=details&tw_p=tweetembed">Jason La Canfora has the breaking news</a> that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Houston Texans</a> are signing Stanford Routt to a deal after the cornerback sat in free agency for a few weeks after his release from the Kansas CIty <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Chiefs</a>. </p>
<p>The Chiefs released Routt after 8 games in a surprise move intended to shake up the team and rid them of a supposedly selfish player. The Chiefs signed Routt in the offseason to shore up the position in case <span>Brandon Carr</span> left via free agency, which he did to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> in a mega-deal worth $50 million.</p>
<p>Routt came to the Chiefs on a three-year deal after playing for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a> for his entire NFL career. The Texans are now his third team.</p>
<p>The 29-year-old cornerback has 19 tackles and 2 interceptions in 7 games this season. He has 12 interceptions in his NFL career.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/12/4/3728376/houston-texans-sign-stanford-routt-chiefs-raidersMatt Conner2012-11-06T08:25:52-06:002012-11-06T08:25:52-06:00Javier Arenas excited for 'very good opportunity'
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<figcaption>Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Kansas City Chiefs have opened the door for Javier Arenas to step into the limelight at cornerback after cutting Stanford Routt.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Kansas City Chiefs</a> unexpectedly cut <span>Stanford Routt</span> on Monday. For <span>Javier Arenas</span>, it was an open door. </p>
<p>The Chiefs made the surprise move in the secondary, which means the next man up philosophy in the NFL now falls on Arenas to step into it. The former Alabama product says that he's ready for it. </p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">"</span>That's not my job to look at and evaluate," said Arenas. "If it was, I wouldn't be playing the position I'm playing. They called me to go out there and start and start at corner. I'm excited about it, I'm ready to fulfill that opportunity. And that's the only thing I can worry about."</p>
<p>Arenas did say that he liked Routt as a player and teammate. It likely surprised the entire roster, but Arenas says he is simply focused on the things he can control.</p>
<p>"Great guy. Great teammate from my perspective," said Arenas when asked about Routt. "I talked to him, we were cool. We talked about adjustments, things like that. I liked him, I liked him a lot. Cool guy. I personally think he's a good football player. What's happened has happened and again, I have no type of control over that. I can just control what I do."</p>
<p>Until now, Arenas has largely found his value for the Chiefs on special teams while providing depth in the secondary. Now he stands across from <span>Brandon Flowers</span> trying to occupy the role that <span>Brandon Carr</span> once held for the long-term. The Chiefs will get their first chance as they face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> offense, now under the control of Todd Haley.</p>
<p>"It's a very, very good opportunity," said Arenas. "I'm very excited about it. I'm going to go out there, like I told the guys before, I'm going to go out there and just compete, I'm going to do what I'm asked, I'm not going to go out of my way to try to do anything fancy, that's not the type of player I am. I'm a get-it-done type player. Whatever you ask me, I'm going to play that technique, I'm going to do that job and I'm going to have fun doing it."</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/11/6/3608890/javier-arenas-chiefs-stanford-routt-cornerbackMatt Conner2012-11-05T14:01:34-06:002012-11-05T14:01:34-06:00Who will take over for Stanford Routt?
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<p>Stanford Routt was cut by the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday afternoon. At least that's when the announcement came -- a surprising one that leaves the Chiefs in an interesting position in their secondary.</p>
<p>Given that Routt was signed to be the replacement for Brandon Carr this offseason, it begs the question of who will start at cornerback now that Routt is out. The Chiefs do not have solid secondary depth even with Routt in house, so it's an odd move that depletes a defense that was already struggling all season -- to the tune of 240 points allowed. </p>
<p>In recent weeks, quarterbacks like Josh Freeman of the Bucs and Carson Palmer of the Raiders have enjoyed fine days at the expense of the KC defense. Ryan Fitzpatrick looked great earlier in the year, and that's not the mention the obvious productivity of Matt Ryan of the Falcons or Drew Brees of the Saints. With the Chiefs schedule still including games against Peyton Manning twice with the Broncos and Andrew Luck of the Colts, things could get even tougher.</p>
<p>Javier Arenas is the cornerback listed behind Routt on the depth chart, and he's likely going to be the man opposite Brandon Flowers when all is said and done. Perhaps Jalil Brown could also step in. Yet neither player is going to inspire quarterbacks to look away.</p>
<p>Instead new defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs has his hands full with a thin secondary that's already ailing with Eric Berry struggling in his comeback from injury and health issues affecting nearly everyone on the depth chart this season. </p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/11/5/3605836/will-javier-arenas-stanford-routt-chiefs-cornerbackMatt Conner2012-11-05T13:40:06-06:002012-11-05T13:40:06-06:00Chiefs release Stanford Routt
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<figcaption>Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Kansas City Chiefs surprised everyone with the announcement that they'd released the newly-signed cornerback just halfway into his first season.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Kansas City Chiefs</a> shocked many around the NFL today with the announcement that they have <a href="https://twitter.com/adamteicher/status/265537057693249536"></a><a href="https://twitter.com/KSeaboldt/status/265537478067355648">released Stanford Routt</a>, cornerback for all of 8 games, and signed defensive lineman Shaun Smith. The move comes in the midst of a frustrating season for a team searching for answers.</p>
<p>Routt had been signed as a proactive move to help replace <span>Brandon Carr</span> who eventually went on to sign with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> this offseason for $50 million. The move was applauded for its cost-effectivenss and the reviews on Routt seemed positive for the first half of the season. Thus the surprise with today's announcement.</p>
<p>Perhaps something was going on behind the scenes that fans and media were not privy to. Then again, perhaps Routt was not the fit that he was believed to be. But a secondary that has already allowed 240 points this season -- good for fourth worst in the NFL -- just got a lot thinner.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/11/5/3605712/chiefs-release-cornerback-stanford-routtMatt Conner