Day one in pads was much anticipated by many players on the Raiders roster. But not everyone who was looking forward to the ‘bang, bang’ of padded practices that Antonio Pierce touted were able to make their presence felt.
One player who did show up was Adam Butler.
We know he showed up because he made sure he let everyone know. On more than one instance, when the defense made a stop, Butler hopped up and strutted well into the offensive backfield to flex and jaw at the offensive players.
Butler wasn’t the only one doing it. Others like Christian Wilkins, Maxx Crosby, and Jack Jones were making sure everyone knew when they made the play. The thing about those players is they have been recognized for their work. With regard to Wilkins and Crosby, their recognition came in the form of lucrative long term deals
A lucrative contract is something that has evaded Butler entering his seventh NFL season. He thought the season he put together last year for the Raiders might change that, but ultimately, after testing the market, he found that his best bet was to accept the deal the Raiders offered him and return to give it another shot.
“I don’t want to talk about contracts and all that, but my goal is to get a better one,” said Butler candidly. “Let’s leave it at that. My goal is to get a better one. I had six sacks last year and that’s good for me. I was hoping for a better one, but my goal is to get a better one. That’s it.”
Coming into the offseason, I had Butler among the most valuable players for the Raiders to bring back. And when he was not re-signed prior to free agency, it seemed like a risky move that could lead to another team swooping in and getting him. But that didn’t happen.
For Butler, it’s just a reminder that his performance on the field is not getting recognized. Mostly he is seen as a one-dimensional player.
“Most of my career I’ve been mostly pass downs, mostly third downs,” said Butler. “And that’s good. I think my stats could be better, but I really want to be more of an early down player as well. And just change the narrative about myself around the league and show that I can play the run and I can rush the passer at the same time.”
There’s no question Butler offers a lot in terms of interior pass rush. And that’s a valuable thing. Though apparently not even to earn him a job as a full time starter and thus why he is now on his third straight one-year deal after spending his rookie contract in New England.
So, Butler is no longer going to keep his head down and let his play speak for itself. When he makes a stop – especially against the run – as he did a couple times on the first day in pads, he is making sure everybody knows it.
“I have a new attitude. I really do. I want to be seen,” Butler said of his celebrations. “I want to show up because I still feel like in this league I have something to prove. And I want to prove it to my teammates, I want to prove it to my coaches, and I want to let everyone know I’m here. I’m not going back to just being third down. I’m here, I’m here for the early downs, the whole thing.”
Being a member of a Raiders team with a coach like Antonio Pierce serves to encourage Butler’s new attitude. Just as several other Raiders players, Butler feels the freedom to come out of his shell. Which is probably why five of the six times he took down the quarterback last season came over the final nine games since Pierce took over head coaching duties.
The one potential obstacle to Butler being seen as an every down player with the Raiders is he’s behind Christian Wilkins on the depth chart. Sure, they can take the field together, but since they are both interior pass rushers, typically it would be Wilkins and a nose tackle on the field for early downs. As of now that nose tackle is veteran John Jenkins who was re-signed the same day as Butler last March.
What Butler can do is prove to his coaches that there is no risk to having him in the game should the opposing team decide to run and therefore that would at least make Butler a regular part of the rotation and the next man up in case of an injury.
No question the Raiders are happy to have gotten him back into the fold this season. Just as any player would, Butler would like to see his value receive more recognition. He is still playing at a high level when given the opportunity. Perhaps his new attitude will help shine a brighter light on that and we’ll revisit this next offseason.