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Butler, Woodson named finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame

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Former Green Bay Packers legends LeRoy Butler and Charles Woodson are among the 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2021.

Butler was a finalist last year as well and was selected to the Pro Bowl four times, logging 38 interceptions and 20 1/2 sacks during his career.  He was named first-team All-Pro four times and is one of only four players in league history with at least 35 interceptions and 20 sacks.  The others are Brian Dawkins, Charles Woodson and Ronde Barger.

Butler played for the Packers from 1990 through 2001.

Woodson became eligible for the Hall of Fame for the first time this year.  He ranks among the best defensive backs in NFL history and would appear to be a lock for induction in his first year of eligibility.

Woodson played for the Packers from 2006-2012 (7 of his 18 NFL seasons) and was named the league’s defensive player of the year in 2009.

The two will have their cases discussed at the Hall of Fame’s selectors meeting sometime before the Super Bowl.  A maximum of five of the 15 modern-era candidates will be voted into the Hall during that meeting.  Candidates must receive a minimum of 80% of the votes for election.

Woodson, Butler are Hall of Fame semifinalists

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Two former Green Bay Packers were named semifinalists for the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Charles Woodson joints Peyton Manning, Jared Allen and Calvin Johnson as first-year eligible players to make the list of 25 semifinalists.

Former Packers safety Leroy Butler is also a semifinalist for the fourth time.

Woodson spent 18 years in the NFL with Oakland and Green Bay and won a Super Bowl with the Packers.  He was named All-Pro three times.

Candidates will be trimmed to 15 modern-day finalists who will be considered for entry by the selection committee during Super Bowl week in February.  Inductions are scheduled for next August, when the 2020 class and a special centennial class also will be enshrined after the COVID-19 pandemic forced postponement of those ceremonies last summer.

Nine former Packers on Pro Football Hall of Fame nominees list

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Charles Woodson

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced a total of 130 modern-era nominees for the 2021 class on Wednesday.  That list includes a total of nine former Green Bay Packers.

Safety LeRoy Butler, who was a finalist last year, is on the ballot again this year, while Charles Woodson is one of 14 first-year nominees.

Woodson played 18 years in the NFL.  Seven of those seasons came in Green Bay, where he helped the Packers win the 2010 Super Bowl.  During his time with the Packers, Woodson registered 38 interceptions and 11.5 quarterback sacks.

The other former Packers on the list of nominees are:  WR Donald Driver (1999-2012), kicker Ryan Longwell (1997-2005), TE Keith Jackson (1995-96), TE Wesley Walls (2003), safety Nick Collins (2005-11), cornerback Allen Rossum (2000-01) and center Jeff Saturday (2012).

 

Butler named a finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame

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LeRoy Butler

Former Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler was named one of 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020.  As many as five of those players will be voted into the Hall on Super Bowl weekend in Miami.

This is the first year that Butler has advanced to the final 15 after being named a semifinalist (final 25) the previous two years.

Butler played his entire career with the Packers, from 1990 through 2001.  He is one of seven first-time finalists this year and one of four safeties among the 15.

Joining Butler are safeties Troy Polamalu, Steve Atwater and John Lynch.

Butler played on Packers teams in the 1990’s that won a Super Bowl and played in another.  He was [Read more…]

Butler falls short of Hall of Fame cut

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LeRoy Butler

Former Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler missed the cut to 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019.

Butler was among 25 semifinalists for the second straight year but didn’t make the cut to 15 finalists.  Three former NFL safeties did make the cut, Ed Reed, John Lynch and Steve Atwater.

Butler finished his career with 38 interceptions and 20.5 sacks in 12 NFL seasons.

Also making the cut to 15 were Tony Gonzalez, Champ Bailey, Isaac Bruce, Tony Boselli, Alan Faneca, Don Coryell, Tom Flores, Steve Hutchinson, Edgerrin James, Ty Law, Kevin Mawae and Richard Seymour.

Also being considered for induction are senior committee nominee Johnny Robinson as well as contributors finalists Gil Brandt who is the former personnel director for the Dallas Cowboys and Bronco’s owner Pat Bowlen.

As many as eight new members can be elected with the winners to be announced Super Bowl weekend.  Induction takes place Aug. 3 in Canton, Ohio.

Butler inches closer to Hall of Fame

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Leroy Butler – Photo courtesy of Mike Clemens

Former Green Bay Packers great Leroy Butler, is a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Butler was one of 27 semifinalists announced on Tuesday by the Hall of Fame that will be considered for induction into the Class of 2018.  The list was trimmed for 108 to 27.

The former Packers safety is one of four safeties on the list, including Brian Dawkins, John Lynch and Steve Atwater.

The four-time Pro Bowl selection played 12 seasons in the NFL, all with the Packers.  He finished his career as the first defensive back in NFL history to record 20 interceptions (38) and 20 sacks (20 1/2).

Butler helped the Packers win the 1996 Super Bowl and was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2007.  He’s known as the inventor of the “Lambeau Leap” in 1993 after capping off a defensive touchdown with a leap into the Lambeau Field stands.

More Packers joining Hall of Fame discussion

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Former Packers Head Coach Mike Holmgren

Former Packers Head Coach Mike Holmgren

Former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Holmgren, safety Leroy Butler and receiver Sterling Sharpe were among the 94 players and coaches nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2017.

Holmgren served as the Packers head coach from 1992 to 1998 and never had a losing season.  He led the team to a pair of Super Bowls, winning one of them.

Butler played his entire career with the Packers, from 1990-2001 after being drafted in the second round of the 1990 draft.  He played in 181 career games and has a Super Bowl ring.  Butler was named to the 90’s All Decade Team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and entered the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 2007.

Butler was also credited with inventing the Lambeau Leap. [Read more…]

Packers release details for 11th annual “Tailgate Tour”

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Packers Tailgate TourThe 11th annual Green Bay Packers Tailgate Tour gets underway June 17th and runs through the 21st.  The team announced the details of the tour on Tuesday.

The tour will make stops in Ripon (June 17), Fort Atkinson (June 18), Dodgeville (June 19), Black River Falls (June 20) and Shawano (June 21), with tailgate parties held in each city to support a local non-profit organization.

Joining Packers President/CEO mark Murphy on the trip are players Jared Abbrederis, Sam Barrington and Jayrone Elliott, along with Packers alumni Leroy Butler, Robert Brooks and Sean Jones.

Tickets for the tailgate parties go on sale on April 1.  More information can be found at Packers.com.

Packers honor the Lambeau Leap (Audio)

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It was 21 years ago that Leroy Butler took a lateral from Reggie White and raced down the field for a defensive touchdown.  Butler didn’t stop in

Leroy Butler takes one more Lambeau Leap

Leroy Butler takes one more Lambeau Leap

the end zone either.  He ran all the way to the stadium wall and jumped into the waiting arms of the fans seated in the front row.  And the Lambeau Leap was born.

The Green Bay Packers commissioned a team of sculptors from the Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt-Amrany in Highwood, Ill., to design a bronze statue commemorating the Lambeau Leap.  It was unveiled at a ceremony at Lambeau Field this afternoon.

Butler wasn’t a part of the statue, but he recreated a version of the leap at today’s ceremony for old-time sake.

At the time, it was simply a spontaneous celebration.  Little did Butler know that the practice would become one of the most popular celebrations in professional football.

AUDIO: Leroy Butler’s Press Conference 4:00

 

 

Butler’s church speech cancelled

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Former Green Bay Packers pro bowl safety LeRoy Butler was set to speak at a Wisconsin

Leroy Butler

Leroy Butler

church, but that appearance was cancelled.  Also gone is the $8,500 appearance fee, all because Butler congratulated NBA player Jason Collins for coming out and announcing that he’s gay.

Butler made his thoughts known via Twitter.  The Pastor at the church cited the moral clause in the contract for the cancellation.

The church did say Butler could get the speaking engagement back if he removed the tweet, apologize and ask for God’s forgiveness.

Butler said only God can judge and declined the church’s offer.