Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed that former Giants linebacker Marcus Buckley was in Foxboro on Tuesday. Two more of his clients are scheduled to visit this week.
In addition to Buckley, former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Shane Burton and former Detroit Lions cornerback Robert Bailey, all Rosenhaus clients, will meet with the Patriots this week.
Buckley ,29, was released by the Giants before the start of free agency after posting 16 tackles in 12 games. He was originally a third-round pick in 1993 (66th overall) by the Giants out of Texas A&M and is a solid special teams player. In 1998, Buckley (6-3, 248) took over at strongside linebacker following the season-ending neck injury to Corey Miller in training camp and started 12 of the 14 games that he played, finishing with 46 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, one pass defensed, one fumble recovery and one interception.
Burton, 26, played in 15 games for the Bears last year, starting none. The 6-6, 305-pound defensive end finished with 11 tackles, three sacks and an interception. He was a fifth-round draft pick in 1996 (150th overall) by the Miami Dolphins out of Tennessee and played in 47 games in his first three seasons with Miami before joining the Bears last year.
Bailey, 31, started 11 games for the Lions in 1999 and finished with 59 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions. The nine-year veteran was originally a fourth-round pick (107th overall) out of Miami by the Rams, where he spent four seasons before splitting the 1995 season between Washington and Dallas. The 5-10, 182-pound cornerback was with the Dolphins in 1996 before jumping to Detroit.
Patriots officials did not confirm these visits, but several players apparently will be making trips to Foxboro Stadium this week.
