Over his last two seasons at Oregon State, Butler had.... ...22.5 sacks for 179 yards -12.0 as a senior (#6 in the NCAA) for 78 yards -10.5 as a junior (#10 in NCAA) for 101 yards (#4 in NCAA) ...34.0 TFL for 218 yards -21.5 as senior (#3 in NCAA) for 94 yards -12.5 as junior for 124 yards (#3 in NCAA) ...and 90 tackles, 9 QB hurries, 6 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT -His 4 forced fumbles as a senior was #11 in the NCAA He was the #110 overall pick in the 2009 Draft, and has been an outstanding sub for the Cowboys, with 11.0 sacks and 89 tackles in four seasons, but he was stuck behind DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer in Dallas. Now at 25 years old, he has been a hot commodity in his first shot at free agency, being courted by the Saints, Steelers, Eagles, Browns, etc...in what NBC Sports calls the " The Victor Across America Tour" Butler on playing behind Ware and Spencer: "DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer taught me how to be pros and the whole different way of watching the game, watching the films, prioritizing my time, getting a schedule and sticking to it. Whether it’s a diet or what I’m doing from time after practice to when I go to sleep. And Bradie James too, really all the veteran linebackers." What are some of the things you enjoy doing in your spare time? Victor Butler: Watch film, a lot of film, I like to be one step ahead of the opponent. (note he graduated high school with a 3.5 GPA and was a regular honor roll student, and at Oregon State, he earned his degree in Business with a 3.7 GPA)
from a 2012 aricle by Cowboy blog, Lone Star Struck, titled "Victor Butler: A rising star in Dallas" You have developed a large following among the Cowboys fans. How does it make you feel knowing so many fans are out there talking about you and wearing #57? Victor Butler: Is great! Dallas is one of the most recognizable organizations after Manchester United and the NY Yankees, so to have a great following and a great group of fans follow you and respect what you do and like how you’re performing. It’s a great feeling. ... My own thoughts about Victor Butler are that he needs to be a bigger part of the Cowboys defense. It seems as though every time he is on the field he is around the ball and is making something happen. I love his motor on the field and how he is always causing problems for the opposing team. The Cowboys defense can only benefit with Victor Butler becoming a bigger part of their game plans And from the comments to the article: Hope he becomes a staple on this rebuilding defense. Love rooting for players like him. I’m a huge Victor Butler fan and I’m very high on him too. He’s definitely a part of the solution. Butler has always been one of my favorites since he was drafted, his speed and natural instincts make him someone to be reckoned with when he is in the game — wish they could find more playing time for him. Think he could handle either inside or outside LB position. Hopefully he made a good enough impression on Ryan that he can be on the filed more. It’s time to turnl him loose! My kind of player (agressive) smart and fast! http://lonestarstruck.com/2012/01/06/victor-butler-a-rising-star-in-dallas/
I've known about Ben Watson from fantasy football but not much about him until hearing an interview recently on the radio. He sounded like a highly educated, good all-around guy and hoping that he and Graham will become a lethal TE duo. I've never really even heard of Keenan Lewis but liking everything I've heard about him so far, both as a player and person. If only he was on the roster the past couple of seasons. The little I know about Victor Butler is from this thread but sounds as though he's ready to take the next step in his career and could be a much bigger signing than we realize.
reactions on twitter to the Victor Butler to the Saints news: Adam Schefter, NFL Insider for ESPN, @AdamSchefter 3h Nice pickup in New Orleans: Cowboys LB Victor Butler Will Brinson of CBS Sports, @WillBrinson 3h Saints came into free agency with not a lot of $ and landed Keenan Lewis + Victor Butler. Damn good work. Matt Miller of New Era Scouting, @nfldraftscout 3h Butler and Martez Wilson at OLB? Not bad. WWL-TV Sports @wwltvsports 3h Big signing if true. Nader Mirfiq, Sports Director for @WTXG_Talk_Radio, @Nader723 Good move #Saints. DougTatum, Sports manager for The Times-Picayune @DougTatum 6h Big news for #Saints fans Fox 8 (WVUE-TV) Sports Reporter Garland Gillen, @garlandgillen 6h Love this pickup! Albright College junior All-MAC TE from Bristol, PA, Eric Wade @BigEmoney87 7h That's a solid pick up.. Dude is a beast Reactions from other fanbases: brandon walker @BrandonWalker79 3h Noooooo Victor Butler signed with the saints. I hate this. dude gonna be good given a chance I wish would stayed in Dallas Drew Temple @dreeeeeeeeeeew 7h NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Nate @nate2usmc 2h NOOOOO!! Bren's Swang @vikingthug 5h Noo!! Hector @Twerk_TooHard 5h NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! John K @MeetMyBiscuits 6h NOOOOOOOOO Mike @MikeH_63 6h Nooooooo Lil Bit @Mylove_t 7h Nooo Cristian Limon @Cristian_Limon 2h Scandal. Wish we would've held on to Victor Butler. I liked him. #DallasCowboys Brenden Calheta @BJC_728 2h Damn im pissed dallas lost victor butler, i liked him as a young pass rusher for the future he had potential #CowboysNation Zain @Celtics_Cowboys 6h Damn it, we lost Victor Butler Trinidad RJames @PrinceAreJayII 6h I ain't gonna sit here and act like Victor Butler is Lawrence Taylor but that nigga is good. Man fuck Jerry Jones Billy Wilson @Maestro7Music 7h Come On Cowboys Really!!! Aaron Elias.☝ @aaronisbadass_ 45m F*cking saints always take our fucking players! Ugh, victor butler was good! brandon walker @BrandonWalker79 1h Victor Butler is going to be a great player if saints give him a chance I'm gonna miss him on Dallas defense #cowboysnation Clayton Dalrymple @Claydalrymple 6h Crap Lorne Raisis @LBo56Ace 6h That sucks, dude has mad potential J ▲ L Ξ N @jvlen 6h we lost Victor Butler man f*ck....... Dez Cuevas @dezzzc_16 6h We are so dumb Jay Mireles Jr @J_Smooth263 6h Cant believe Dallas let this Guy go. jaime @jamieadame 2h Victor Butler definitely has potential to be a great athlete, just needed more playing time in Dallas.we always losing good players -.- DancingWithDevils @DerayTheTruth 6h My Boy Victor Butler Is Expected To Sign With The New Orleans Saints Today!! F*CK!!! It Was Great Tho! Walker Hall @The_Real_Walker 5h Hate to see him go Trinidad RJames @PrinceAreJayII 6h Bro what the FUCK are yall doin? @dallascowboys J.P. Ackels @jpackels 5h Victor Butler, I will be cheering for you in New Orleans. You will be great Gil @heelberto 5h Victor Butler is a beast. Sucks he's not a Cowboy anymore. Prob the guy who understood Rob Ryan's D the best. Rǝllʎ Rǝll™ @darrellbooker_ 2h cowboys were dumb to let him go! Majik in the Morning @MattMajik 6h wow, just get rid of our future Jerry Jones G money$$$ @G_moneyy24 6h F*ck Victor Butler , u can go 2 tha saints! it's still Cowboysnation all day everrrdayyyyyy!! Luv my boys!!!! #CowboyNation Jared Chandler @Chandlerman5 6h Sad to see Victor Butler leave the #Cowboys he's gonna do great things in the league! Good luck to him as he puts on a #Saints helmet now Trey Roof @RQRIII 5h Goodbye Victor Butler, you will be missed. Hingle MKringleberry @Zepp1978 6h dammit... THAT guy. @Tokyo_Xpress 6h Wtf cowboys! -_- Hector @Twerk_TooHard 5h Victor butler is too great to go to the saints Ariana Calderon @ary_fsu09 6h Rob Ryan and Victor Butler reunite in New Orleans... They were both great for Cowboys... Good luck to both! #whydoesntjerryjonesfirehimself Kevin Raza @K_Azar23 2h He will be missed oh its just me Kos. @KOSanostraa 2h So we just gon let victor butler go huh @dallascowboys ?! Shahan Khan @Shawny227 5h The Cowboys let Victor Butler sign with The Saints. This is getting annoying Jerry. Dylan @Murphimus_PRIME 5h The only productive one was Victor Butler and now he's with N.O. JERRY IS STILL A JERKOFF Mr. Nice Guy @blig75 5h Nice job Jerruh!!! Chrissa Navarro @ChristinaNavar7 5h Victor Butler signing with the saints!!!! I think the cowboys have just lost another fan. #saints all the way baby!!!! #SORRYNOTSORRY Erick @iBeHollin 7h F*ck. The saints won the victor butler sweepstakes. Very underrated free agent. Good pickup. That niggas nice Justin Dunio @jdunio 5h Victor Butler chooses the Saints. Steelers lose out again. Damn. BK @dizzerpgh 6h F*ck the saints just signed Victor Butler I woulda loved to see him in a @steelers uniform Craig Gottschalk @NicePickCowherC 7h #Steelers blew this one, big time. D'gene_O @ITS_Gene_O 7h Way to go steelers Penrod @Penrod937 6h Victor Butler On The Verge Of Signing With The #Saints, Visited The #Browns Last Week, Would Have Been A Great Young Signing! Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor 6h Darn! Really wanted Victor Butler in Cleveland. Too bad. Connor King @King_Connor29 6h Really would've liked to see the Browns pickup Victor Butler Daniel @TexansDC 7h Damn, Saints nabbed Victor Butler. I had been hoping the Texans would go in on him. #HiddenGem Brandon Lee (Eagles Fan) @BrandonLeeSBN 7h Darn. Brocc Obama @rbrocco 7h @Eagles nice job letting victor butler slip away Jake Lebowitz @JakeLebowitz 7h Wanted him a NYJ.
reactions on twitter from Saints fans on the Butler to New Orleans news: Tina @Redjem25 6h Saints to sign former Cowboys Linebacker Victor Butler, Who Dat!! Mr. 김 @soh1zzle 6h The saints are signing victor butler!! Stoop Kidd @JetLife_Mindset 49m Saints just signed Victor Butler! DeSean Davis @BDaY_ 5h Saints sign victor butler! Robert Schexnaydre @RobertRs51 6h Victor Butler is a Saint!!!!! Brittany @CajunBrittinAtx 7h We got Victor Butler!!!!!!!!!! #WHODAT #Saints Jon Michaels @imdear29 6h Victor Butler signs with the Saints!! BLeeYPCGang @DatBoiB_Lee 6h We got Victor Butler!!! Rahul Sadhwani @rahulsadhwani11 5h we signed victor butler! Steve B. @SteveB41 6h Saints sign Victor Butler !! Green Ranger @Dat_Creole_Boi 5h Saints just signed Victor Butler! Milos Kocic @KaranAlonso1 5h VICTOR BUTLER TO NEW ORLEANS!! jordanta2 @jordanta21 1h The Butler did it! He signed with the Saints! Brett Brezden @brettbrezden WOOOOOOOOOOOOO WhoDat4Eva™ @WhoDat4Eva 7h Woohoo Victor Butler is a#Saint #WhoDat Phew... @YoungAndThrew 5h YEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!! Taylor @YomKipManX 7h YESSSSS D'Brickashaw Magnum✈ @bruiserKNOWS99 6h AHHHHHH sh*t yea Espinoza. @Espinoza_56 5h YES! Brody Haydel @SAINTLYnSnDiego 6h Yes!!! Darryl @Styles_P70 7h YESSS Barri Bronston @BarriBronston 7h Yes indeed! Eri @EriReynolds 7h !!!! Kevin Hargrave @KGrave05 7h WHO DAT!!! Stephanie Navarro @stephnav 5h Yasss! CJ Marshall @CJMarshall3 6h Hell yea! Big time addition for the #Saints Jordan ♕ @Jordan_TheKiNG_ 6h Saints signed Victor Butler?? Hell yea! Katie Wohl @Katnawlins 5h Y A Y !!!! Matt McD @1nOnlyMattMcD 6h Hell yeah! Drew @Asg627 55m Saints got Victor Butler yeeeaahhhh King Dee @iWoodPeckHer_ 7h Leeeeggggooo Matt Lee @WhoDatMat 6h BOOOOM! Pimpin2013 @cchopz 5h Hell yea #WhoDat Colin Procyshyn @cpsaints 23m HUUUUUGGE jonathan handy @Thepro318 50m wow!! Eezus Christ @Eezo_ 6h Yes sir!! LL Cool Jay Gizzle @jay_gizzle 7h Whoa! Jakob Pinggera @jakobpinggera yes! Who dat! Michael Claudet ✝ @MichaelClaudet 6h YES SIR!!!! #whodat EazymE @EricDaCleric 6h !!!!!!!!!! Sterling Jr. @Cra2y_Ape504 6h !!!!!!!!!!!!!! ~Byroneee❤ @ByroneCole 6h @Saints get Victor Butler.. Thank God!! #WhoDat #Saints AJ Luna @AJLuna 1h That's good news!!!!!!!!!! Billy Cease @Billy_Cease 2h Keenan Lewis now Victor Butler!! Hell yeah!! Terri Troncale @TerriTroncale 6h Woohoo! Trevor Hiatt @TNTTrevor 6h Awesome! Ryne E. Hancock @RHancock19 6h Awesome. Chris Burke @ChrisBurke_SI 7h Very nice. Wil Minor @thewil54 2h Nice.. Corey Clay @djclay22 6h Victor Butler!! #WHODAT Razaa Ali @Razaa_Ali 7h NICE! Serena™ @SerenaCheyanne 6h Welcome to the #WhoDat nation Victor Butler...This will be perfect!!! #ShouldDefinitelyBeAGreatlyImprovedD Lupin III @_VooDooKing 5h Nice JBlack21 @JBLACK21 2h I like it!! Roy Brown @RoyBoi10 5h Ahh yeahh Nick Mensio @NickMensio 6h Very nice get. The Torch @believe_dat77 24m WHO-DAT ron scherfel @scherf09 2h who dat Ronita Windless @whodatsaints_1 6h WHODAT Victor Butler
more reactions: Jason Bernos @Berns247 6h Great signing. Alen Dumonjic @Dumonjic_Alen 7h Good sign. Jordan Grove @LaSportsDude 6h Damn good signing Bill Ray @Slickwilly22 4h Big sign for the Saints! kwikjr @kwikjr 5h Nice move #WHODAT!!!!! Alejandro Granados @alex_xxv 6h Love the signing of VictorButler, has that rare instinct that only the elite passrushers have Hondo @504Livin 2h Welcome to New Orleans Victor Butler, always relieves me when we sign quality talent, things are looking up Stephen Harrell @DOMEBOYS 2h Saints on the move....victor is a great talent Miguel Salcedo @miguelito94r 5h New Orleans Saints didnt get Line Backer Brian Urlacher. But we did get beast ass Line Backer Victor Butler from the Cowboys! Ash Ketchum @5outh_PSIde11 5h Us picking up Victor Butler is a good move dBREES_ @Deezo_Brees 5h Victor Butler to the Saints?! Aaaaah shit can't wait till football season Scott Alexander @ScottyAWGSO 6h Wish granted: LB Victor Butler is now a New Orleans Saint! Michael Tassin @MichaelTassin 6h Exactly what we needed! James#1 @Joeboyjr 5h The 15th pick is officially now a luxury pick Chris Crane @ChrisCrane27 6h Signing Victor Butler is absolutely HUGE!!! Makes our, @saints, pick at 15 an absolute LUXURY pick. #BestPlayerAvailable Stephen Guillory @S_Guillory 6h Saints got Victor Butler! This opens up a ton of options for the draft New Orleans Saints @SaintsNews 5h With the Victor Butler pickup, the Saints are now in a position to select the best available defender in the draft or even trade down Jordan Grove @LaSportsDude 6h Now, after the Victor Butler signing, I wouldn't be opposed to trading back especially if SF offered 31 & 34 for 15. Mario Mckenzie @_codenameKND 5h N.O. got victor butler on deck. Jus. Need to sign a tackle or anotha CB an we good........#WHODATNATION Tom Mantzouranis @themantz 6h Victor Buter and Junior Gallette are gonna be pretty tough to deal with at OLB. Now Saints can focus on LT in the first round of the draft. E.F.Cuttin™ @EFCuttin 6h Lets Welcome Victor Butler to the #WhoDatNation!!!!!!!! He should flourish in Rob Ryan's defense...OLBs/pass rushers no longer a priority... Ian Guevara @zod_1 5h Boom, #Saints have their passrusher, Victor Butler is now a Saint. Albus Dumbledore @ThatGuyBryant28 2h Victor Butler will be good Jesse Reed @JesseReed78 6h Breakout player in 2013 Tommy Blaze© @THETommyBlaze 36m @Saints sign Victor Butler! Add him to the mix of @JuniorG93, Martez, & a draft pick... & it's what we call "ON" #SackCityTrick RattlerMade#2 @BlessedByGod21 5h @JuniorG93 @MartezWilson95 victor Butler and maybe Mingo...mannnnnnn yall thought 09-2011 was wild.. #BODYBAGS Peter Lara @PrinceofBelAirr 5h Dam. @JuniorG93 @MartezWilson95 and now Victor Butler . All upcoming players LOOMIS= Genius!!! Billal Khan ⚜ @B_Khan82 59m Martez Wilson, Junior Gallete, Victor Butler, and Jarvis Jones/Mingo?? Yes, please!! Hank Jones @HankJoness 2h Victor Butler to the #Saints They have 3 guys who are good fits at OLB now, looks like they might go DL, Safety, Maybe even OL in 1st. Max Myers @mmyers104 47m Saints sign Victor Butler who is considered by many coaches to be one of the up and coming premiere 3-4 Rush OLB's #hugepickup Dylan Hebert™ @DJH2k12 1h Victor Butler, welcome to the #WhoDatNation glad to have you in the Big Easy! JSC @jschav15 6h Victor Butler, welcome to who dat nation!!! matt theo @thatkidtheoo 1h Welcome to the Who Dat Nation Victor Butler !!!! Ouuuu weeeee RACHY @rachtummi 5h The #WHODANATION welcomes you with open arms! Brittany @CajunBrittinAtx 6h Welcome to #WhoDatNation, Victor Butler!!!!!!!! Remy LeBeau @D_W_Love1 6h Victor Butler WELCOME to the Black & Gold of the #WhoDat nation. Steven Morrow @bleedit1960 5h Welcome to THE WHO DAT NATION Victor Butler! Anil Singh @asing625 1h Victor Butler to the Saints is a great move Devin Dufrene ⚡. @imwhite504 5h Big move...... Devin McIntyre @DevinJMcIntyre 42m Love the victor butler deal with the @saints grass @grassman225 2h nice signin victor butler to #nola Kieran Osborne @kbo84 2m good signing by the saints, picking up victor butler Jesus Shuttlesworth @KidVercetti 14m good signing by the saints Michael Bradford @The_Currency 2h Solid pick up with Victor Butler Brother Shabazz @westbank4 4h that's a good move right there John Plazak @Jplazak 2h Good signing Jay Hussey @jayhussey 2h Very good free agent pickup Neyski @IamNeyski 6h Good pick up Kendall. @Lastkinglivin 6h good pickup Daone @MrChuck_Finley 5h #DAMN #SPORTSNEWS Nice pickup in New Orleans: #Saints plan to sign #Cowboys LB Victor Butler. Gregg Richard @GreggRichard 4h The saints are quietly having a nice offseason signing Keenan Lewis, Victor Butler, and Benjamin Watson Bruce Melan @BrucE_LIK_MElan 5h Victor Butler another solid pick up for theSaints. Great free agency so far #WhoDatNation Rashad Chambers @ryc30078 5h Good off-season so far for the Saints. Kenan Lewis, Ben Watson, Victor Butler
quotes from Butler: “Lunch with Mickey (Loomis) was phenomenal,” said Butler. “I know it was a business lunch, but it was more of a personal talk. Mickey asked about my family, my background and how I liked New Orleans so far. He really took the time to get to know me as a person and I respect that. When you bring somebody into an organization you want to know what kind of person they are. “I know Rob Ryan well and I am familiar with his scheme, but after sitting down and talking to Sean Payton and the other guys I felt it was a great fit. " While visiting the four different NFL teams that courted him, Butler said he kept thinking about one factor that would narrow his decision. “The chance to come in and compete is all I wanted in this free agency opportunity,” said Butler. “After sitting down and talking with everybody, I felt like my best chance to compete and be a part of a winning team was in New Orleans.” “I like Rob Ryan’s system because he puts players in position to make big-time plays,” said Butler. “He knows so much about this game and the opponent that we were going to play the next week. From week to week, he is doing his homework and really helping us in our film sessions. He wants you to be the most prepared you can be on Sundays. That’s what I like about him.” “The people seem all about their Saints in New Orleans,” said Butler. “They are a lively bunch of people that want to have a good time and watch good football. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
quotes on Butler: Pro Football Focus: "OLB Victor Butler will visit the Saints on Thursday as he continues his search for a starting role. He recently met with the Steelers as he could be a possible replacement for OLB James Harrison. Butler has always produced in his limited opportunites with the Cowboys including a +7.2 overall grade last season. The Saints are in need of edge rushers for their pending switch to a 3-4 scheme and Butler could be a perfect fit." Calvin Watkins, ESPN Dallas "Rob Ryan loved the impact he made on the field. ... He was fourth on the team in sacks...had seven quarterback pressures, three pass breakups and one forced fumble. Butler is one of those players who could excel with a new team in the 3-4 scheme, which is what the Saints are moving toward with Ryan as their defensive coordinator." Alejandro Aviles, New Orleans Saints beat reporter for Rant Sports "he is a perfect fit and exactly what the team needs. ...another great signing for the team." Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune "If the Saints had signed both Butler and cornerback Keenan Lewis in the opening days of free agency, they would probably be universally praised as free-agent 'winners.' Both players are young, up-and-coming athletes just entering their prime years. And they filled two of the most glaring needs on a defense that so desperately needs an injection of fresh blood."
Rob Ryan on Butler: "When I saw him on the tape, it was like, ‘Who is this guy? This guy is explosive,'" Ryan said. "I understand he is behind the best outside backer in football (DeMarcus Ware) and behind another excellent football player in (Anthony) Spencer. The kid can get frustrated in that role. But we've expanded his role, and he's been excellent. We think he's going to get better and better." Butler on Rob Ryan: “Look at who I've got as a defensive coordinator,” Butler said. “When you've got a guy who's taken the leash off you, letting the dogs hunt, it feels good as a defense,” Butler said. “There are no restrictions, there's no cage, there's no box — go hunt, go eat. Whoever's got the ball, kill 'em. I love it.” “When you get that kind of confidence from a coach and that type of responsibility, you've got to live up to it,” Butler said. "You want to go out there and make plays,” Butler said. “You hit people in the mouth. You sack the quarterback. You stop the run. You get them off the field on third downs.”
Man, Mickey Loomis proves once again that he's on of the top GMs in the game. Dude is a fukkin genius at finding these relatively unknown players that are on the verge of breaking out. And that's what you've got to do in today's NFL when restricted by salary cap.
