The son of a friend of mine signed as an UDFA with the Packers in 2021. Think he was active roster for 4 or 5 games that year. Cut after the season, and he's been on 3 different teams practices squads since, with one game on active roster each year. I think it's $13k a week for practice squad, but numbers might have changed. He's on the Jets roster now (5th team since '21).
Hakeem Butler signs with Broncos
- Thread starter Jar_Lar
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My friend did it for the money but also he is a fan. So he got to keep meeting his idols in the locker room and take part in all of that. So he was just stoked the whole time.
this is, what, is 3rd year in a row getting signed after his UFL stint?
You'd think he'd stick at some point. Wonder what goes on.
You'd think he'd stick at some point. Wonder what goes on.
You very well may be right but it's weird how someone can be player of the year in a lower league but can't even be a backup in the big league.
In baseball terms, he's a great Triple A player.
Loved when Cyclones played him at the slot receiver position.... seeing some poor LB trot out to cover him and get an "oh $h1t" look on his face that he was covering a freak like Hakeem Butler. Hope he lands and sticks in the NFL.
Is it really lots? Of the last 15 heisman winners, only 3 are no longer in the NFL (RGIII, Johnny Football, & sCam Newton). And 2 of those played 8+ years in the league.
I suppose I'm thinking of maybe being stars in the league...wrong convo.
Either way HB was, what, a 4th round pick? That's for reasons and certainly not a guarantee.
Knew a guy that did this for four years. He had the expectation he’d make it but never did. Got to the last cut a couple times. That was in the 00s and I feel like depending on how many cuts he survived he made around 80k per year. Played in some preseason games.
Luckily his company let him do it and kept hiring him back.
Closer to what we to call a AAAA player. Almost too good for AAA, but fringe guy at the top level.
Do NFL teams bring guys in to be preseason practice bodies, knowing they aren't making the team (unless they surprise)? Maybe the Broncos know they will face one or more big WRs this season, with HB's sheer athletic ability, and want to use him to prepare their CBs for it, or see which young CBs are up to it.
They have around 90 roster spots available for training camp. Only 53 make the active and another 16 or so end up on the practice squad, but somebody needs to take reps against the 1's and snaps in the preseason games when the starters sit. This is probably Hakeem's last "let's take a flyer on him" season if he doesn't stick on the roster.
The natural ability has always been there, but tapping into it and make it work on the field hasn’t happened for Hakeem yet obviously. I don’t think you could find a better coach than Sean Payton to try and finally deliver on that talent/promise. If he doesn’t make it in Denver this go around, he probably never will at the NFL level. Really hope it clicks!
If he’s used right as we all know he’s a fantastic weapon. Ask him to catch slants you’re wasting your time. He’s the king of the 50/50 ball and that will translate.
Ask Hunkie Cooper who was arguably the best Arena Football player ever.
It just goes to show you how good you have to be in every aspect of the position to play at that level. Everyone is an athletic freak to an extent at that level. You cant just run by guys at the line of scrimmage at that level. You have to be great at running routes and fooling the DB.
Not if you cant free yourself up when you get jammed at the LOS and be versatile at the routes you run.
