Cardinals pursue Steelers assistant Butler for DC position

[TopGun]

I know this is old news, but going by the latest update, I have great vibes that Butler is going to take the DC position for the Cardinals!!! Fingers crossed...

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...sue-steelers-assistant-butler-for-dc-position

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Wow, this was unexpected.....

 

[Hypothesis]

I don't think Pittsburgh would block him from interviewing with us, and I think Butler will agree to become our new DC, but I doubt Ken has submitted a request to interview him just yet.

 

[Shzm13]

He should just take a plane to AZ instead of Pittsburgh so he can sign as our DC already, damnit. The suspense is getting annoying.

 

[THESMEL]

tough sale

Well Dick said if He coaces it will be in Pittsburg.

My understanding is Butler has an Ironclad new contract that promises him the steelers Defense when Dick Retires. The Steelers have refused to let Butler talk to Cards last year and I expect nothing different this year.

I think there are Butlers equals available. but the Packers and the Steelers both have premier 3-4 defenses in what Whiz has dreamed of, but not committed too! our drafts suck at 3-4 OLB's, We need to get one of the 2 top CB's with this 5th pick if we stick with the 3-4.

I'm in on a 4-3 DC with this personnel. but we have the NT and WILB in place for the 3-4 and hopefully DRC gets consistant. Obrien, Davis? May not be starters in a premium 3-4. we just lack the most important 3-4 players after 5 years under Whiz?

I don't think Pittsburgh would block him from interviewing with us, and I think Butler will agree to become our new DC, but I doubt Ken has submitted a request to interview him just yet.

 

[Sandan]

My understanding is Butler has an Ironclad new contract that promises him the steelers Defense when Dick Retires.

According to Butler this is not correct

 

[Hypothesis]

Well Dick said if He coaces it will be in Pittsburg.

My understanding is Butler has an Ironclad new contract that promises him the steelers Defense when Dick Retires. The Steelers have refused to let Butler talk to Cards last year and I expect nothing different this year.

I think there are Butlers equals available. but the Packers and the Steelers both have premier 3-4 defenses in what Whiz has dreamed of, but not committed too! our drafts suck at 3-4 OLB's, We need to get one of the 2 top CB's with this 5th pick if we stick with the 3-4.

I'm in on a 4-3 DC with this personnel. but we have the NT and WILB in place for the 3-4 and hopefully DRC gets consistant. Obrien, Davis? May not be starters in a premium 3-4. we just lack the most important 3-4 players after 5 years under Whiz?

Butler came out and personally said that there is no such clause in his contract. I have no idea where that idea came from.

I don't foresee the Steelers denying him permission to interview honestly. They didn't deny the Dolphins last year when they asked.

I'd prefer to grab a premier OLB pass rushers in this draft than either Patrick or Prince. There will be solid cb's to be had in rounds 2 and 3, while there won't be as talented a group of pass rushers after the first 20 or so picks. Don't forget that there's probably going to be some pretty decent cb's to be had via FA while not too many quality OLB's. (Yes I believe fully that there will be FA this year).

What available DC's do you see out there that are Butler's equal?

 

[Brighteyes]

Thesmel, I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, but the Cardinals do have permission to talk to Butler.

If LeBeau is indeed returning, then Butler may not want to wait for 'some day'. Most guys like him have an eye on the head coach job, so waiting around for the Steeler DC may not make much sense. And if he does take it over in 2 or 3 years, he's not only lost the time, but his only direction is down. I mean, if he does fantastic the next year, few will credit him. He inherited a LeBeau defense.

Now if he made the Cardinals defense look good -- well, instant credibility.

 

[Hypothesis]

Thesmel, I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, but the Cardinals do have permission to talk to Butler.

If LeBeau is indeed returning, then Butler may not want to wait for 'some day'. Most guys like him have an eye on the head coach job, so waiting around for the Steeler DC may not make much sense. And if he does take it over in 2 or 3 years, he's not only lost the time, but his only direction is down. I mean, if he does fantastic the next year, few will credit him. He inherited a LeBeau defense.

Now if he made the Cardinals defense look good -- well, instant credibility.

I don't think that's the case just yet. I don't think that Whis has submitted his inquiry to speak to Butler as of yet.

 

[azsportsfan01]

Also I don't think the Steelers have ever denied permission to interview Butler. The year we hired Davis, Butler turned us down because he was having surgery.

 

[earthsci]

Also I don't think the Steelers have ever denied permission to interview Butler. The year we hired Davis, Butler turned us down because he was having surgery.

They did in 2007. The Steelers were going through a coaching change too so they didn't want to lose all of their assistants. They had just lost Whiz and Grimm.

 

[TopGun]

Butler came out and personally said that there is no such clause in his contract. I have no idea where that idea came from.

I don't foresee the Steelers denying him permission to interview honestly. They didn't deny the Dolphins last year when they asked.

That is my thinking exactly, and the reason I am jumping on the Butler bandwagon as our next DC.

Get your seats now while they are still available. And just to make sure you know, just because I am a Cardinals fan does not make me delusional!!

ALL ABOARD......

 

[THESMEL]

i heard it on ktar

I heard that on KTAR last week. Could be wrong but they usaully do their research, i haven't seen it in print. maybe on cbs rapid reports last week? let me check.

They Said The Cardinals were denied access to Butler last year and The Steelers signed him to an Ironclad deal for good money and that He gets the Steelers Defense when Dick retires written in the contract.

Also I don't think the Steelers have ever denied permission to interview Butler. The year we hired Davis, Butler turned us down because he was having surgery.

 

[TopGun]

They did in 2007. The Steelers were going through a coaching change too so they didn't want to lose all of their assistants. They had just lost Whiz and Grimm.

Here is the link for the Dolphins DC job, that Butler turned down.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10015/1028525-100.stm

 

[THESMEL]

Sorry guys it was right before the 2nd rapid report but my work Computer won't let me click link on previous? Cbs is often wrong but at least it don't takr 6 years to load up like the Cards, ESPN and Fox sites.

To many college degrees not enough hillbilly, tricky ads and stupid memory eating backgrounds suck.

Feb. 07, 2011 10:38 a.m. - Coach Ken Whisenhunt will seek permission to speak to DC candidates from the Packers and Steelers' staff Monday night or Tuesday morning. Whisenhunt wanted to give the teams a little time to absorb Sunday's Super Bowl but admitted "I can't give them a whole week." Cardinals RapidReports
Tags: Ken Whisenhunt




Feb. 03, 2011 11:39 a.m. - An NFL source who requested anonymity said the Steelers would likely grant LBs coach Keith Butler permission to talk to the Cards about their DC position if coach Ken Whisenhunt asks after the Super Bowl. Whisenhunt was expected to arrive in Dallas on Thursday. Steelers RapidReports

THIS SAYS OPPOSITE BUT I CAN"T FIND DATE AND YEAR?


http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/13731458/keith-butler-is-steelers-coordinatorinwaiting

LATROBE, Pa. (AP) -Loyalty often vanishes in pro sports the first time a substantial contract is offered. Keith Butler proves it still exists in the NFL.
Butler, the Pittsburgh Steelers' linebackers coach since 2003, was offered the job as the Miami Dolphins' defensive coordinator in January. Many NFL assistants would jump at such a promotion, not knowing if they would get another such opportunity. Butler turned it down for multiple reasons.
He didn't like the thought of coaching the 3-4 defense without linebackers like those in Pittsburgh. He wanted to keep working for coach Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. He felt the Steelers were better equipped to win a Super Bowl.
There also were concerns about being employed by a new ownership group in Miami that included several entertainers who own small shares, as opposed to the stability of working for the Rooney family in Pittsburgh.
So Butler chose to stay with Pittsburgh, for less money and with no guarantee he would someday succeed the 72-year-old LeBeau, one of pro football's top defensive minds.
"Everybody wants to go to the top, everybody wants to be a head coach, everybody wants to be a defensive coordinator. And I'm no different," Butler said Monday. "In my mind, Dick LeBeau should retire when Dick LeBeau wants to retire. I'm in no hurry to be selfish and jump in front of him. I want that guy to coach as long as he wants to coach because he deserves it."

 

[earthsci]

I heard that on KTAR last week. Could be wrong but they usaully do their research, i haven't seen it in print. maybe on cbs rapid reports last week? let me check.

They Said The Cardinals were denied access to Butler last year and The Steelers signed him to an Ironclad deal for good money and that He gets the Steelers Defense when Dick retires written in the contract.

Nope. They denied permission in 2007. After Clancy got fired they allowed him to interview but he nixed it because he was just having knee surgery. We haven't asked him to interview since then. We had our DC, however bad he was.

 

[Hypothesis]

I heard that on KTAR last week. Could be wrong but they usaully do their research, i haven't seen it in print. maybe on cbs rapid reports last week? let me check.

They Said The Cardinals were denied access to Butler last year and The Steelers signed him to an Ironclad deal for good money and that He gets the Steelers Defense when Dick retires written in the contract.

We didn't inquire about Keith Butler last year. As far as the iron clad deal...they did redo his contract, extending it until after the 2011 season and added a very considerable amount for a position coach, but the clause that people were talking about never existed.

 

[Hypothesis]

Nope. They denied permission in 2007. After Clancy got fired they allowed him to interview but he nixed it because he was just having knee surgery. We haven't asked him to interview since then. We had our DC, however bad he was.

I believe it was hip surgery..

 

[THESMEL]

This is clarification, I was wrong for listening to the tirdtumblers on AZ Radio and the rapid reports now missing. I was wrong and Keith clarified the rumor it with class.



http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/14640969/steelers-practice-report-clock-running-on-pouncey



Whisenhunt, a former Steelers assistant, was expected to arrive in Dallas on Thursday.
Butler has one year remaining on his Pittsburgh contract. He said he makes more money than a position coach normally would, calling the money "a commitment" from the Rooney family that owns the Steelers. Butler also clarified earlier this week that he does not have language in his contract identifying him as Pittsburgh's defensive coordinator in waiting.
Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau's contract expires after this season. It's unknown whether the Steelers will re-sign him, but it's hard to imagine the Steelers letting LeBeau walk after a Super Bowl berth.
Butler and Whisenhunt are close friends and frequent golfing buddies, a reality that may place Butler at the top of Whisenhunt's wish list and sway Butler to take the job.

 

[Dayman]

I think he'll take the position if the money is right. Butler will turn 55 in May, and while being the DC for the Steelers might have been his plan, waiting another 4-5 years for Lebeau to retire would put him into his 60s before he's offered the position. I don't know what he makes as a position coach, although he's said his salary is abnormally high, but I have to think he would be leaving a decent amount of money on the table by turning us down. And there's no way the Rooneys run Lebeau out of there. That's not their style.

Whis' patience might pay off nicely on this one. I'd love to have Butler as a DC.

 

[Hypothesis]

I think he'll take the position if the money is right. Butler will turn 55 in May, and while being the DC for the Steelers might have been his plan, waiting another 4-5 years for Lebeau to retire would put him into his 60s before he's offered the position. I don't know what he makes as a position coach, although he's said his salary is abnormally high, but I have to think he would be leaving a decent amount of money on the table by turning us down. And there's no way the Rooneys run Lebeau out of there. That's not their style.

Whis' patience might pay off nicely on this one. I'd love to have Butler as a DC.

Being that they are close friends, I'd have to assume they've spoken about it. They'll never admit to it, as it would be in violation of league rules, but I don't think Whis would have waited this long if he didn't have a good feeling about getting the guy he wants.

 

[NJCardFan]

I don't see LeBeau coaching another 4 or 5 years. He's 73 right now and I don't see him pushing 80 and coaching in the NFL.

 

[john h]

I don't think Pittsburgh would block him from interviewing with us, and I think Butler will agree to become our new DC, but I doubt Ken has submitted a request to interview him just yet.

If not then why has he been waiting around and doing little? Makes sense that he was waiting to interview Butler to me. The Steelers will not prevent the interview or signing. It is almost an unwritten law that coaches who are offered jobs of greater responsibility are released to pursue their careers elsewhere. If not you would have trouble ever getting a new coach from within the league. Butler may not take the job because of money or other issues but he would not interview if the Steelers would not let him. I suspect their have already been conversations between Butlers agents and by now with Butler himself over the phone. If we sign him we will sure have the face of the Steelers written all over our staff.

 

[PDXChris]

Cards ask for permission
Posted by Darren Urban on February 8, 2011 – 12:00 pm

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting (in Ed Bouchette’s chat) that the Cards have asked the Steelers for permission to interview Keith Butler for the vacant defensive coordinator position. The report also says the Steelers have yet to give an answer. Given that Whisenhunt and Butler have known each other for so long, I’d think the interview would be more about specifics — like Butler’s contract desires, for instance — than defensive substance.

More at link.
http://blog.azcardinals.com/2011/02/08/cards-ask-for-permission/

Worries me that they have not given an answer, but maybe there are waiting on an answer from Dick LeBeau.

 

[Shane]

More at link.
http://blog.azcardinals.com/2011/02/08/cards-ask-for-permission/

Worries me that they have not given an answer, but maybe there are waiting on an answer from Dick LeBeau.

Why does it worry you? The Cardinals likely just asked this AM. Considering what Whiz stated about waiting a day or to after the SB to ask.