| December 10, 2004 | « Previous Story | HOME | Next Story » | Posted at 04:36 AM |
Imagine this, you are college football’s premier receiver and you have to go on tour to places you don’t know. Clemson’s wide receiver Jerry Butler had that problem when he came into the league. At that time (1979) there wasn’t a scouting combine as there is today. Eligible players had to visit individual teams to be tested by the coaches. Tom Cousineau, whom the Bills chose first-overall, didn’t want to come here. He held out and was cast aside in a trade. As the fifth overall pick, the spotlight was originally not as bright until he became the top pick for the Bills.
Jerry Butler’s career started off with a bang. Against the Jets, in only his fourth game, he caught 10 passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns. What a game, let alone a great game for a rookie. However he would miss three games that year, but would be named AFC Offensive Rookie-of-the-Year, for his efforts. In 1980 he led the club with a career-high 57 receptions and was named to the Pro Bowl.
Then it all fell apart for him. Midway through the ‘83 season, Butler was set down with a knee injury. He missed the final seven games that year and all of 1984. 23 consecutive games. He returned to the field during the ‘85 preseason after a period of rehabilitation where he rebuilt his knee. Butler’s playing career came to an abrupt end during an ‘86 game against the Dolphins.
A 25-yard touchdown catch would be his 278th and final reception. From 1993-96, Butler was the Bills’ alumni director. Now he works for the Cleveland Browns, where he started out as the receivers coach of the Browns. He moved up to Cleveland’s director of player programs. He and his wife, Paula, live in suburban Cleveland with their two children: Jerry, 15, a high school sophomore; and Chrissy, 13, who is in the eighth grade
