LeRoy Butler is one of the best Green Bay Packers of our generation. Butler does not get the accolades as others do. Why is that? I’m not sure. The safety position is not valued to people like other positions are on defense. In a way, it is a disregarded position despite being important. People look to linebackers, defensive linemen and cornerbacks before thinking about safeties. Maybe that’s part of the reason why Butler hasn’t received the respect from the NFL media. With the NFL celebrating its 100th year, they’ve added more finalists which led to Butler being a finalist.

Butler is a 90’s NFL legend, and it makes sense that he gets a nod to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Butler is a four-time Pro Bowler (Those mattered a bit more back in the day, four-time first-team All-Pro and a Super Bowl champion. The stats do not stop there. He has the third-most interceptions in Packers history and the only player in NFL history with three interceptions and three sacks in eight straight seasons. The Packers legend is also part of the 90’s All-Decade team.

Now, this does not mean Butler is going to make it to the Hall of Fame. There is heavy competition with the safety position. Former Pittsburgh Steelers’ safety Troy Polamalu and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety John Lynch are both semifinalists as well. Now, Polamalu is a lock. He is really good and had an illustrious career. No one will debate that Polamalu’s candidacy. Lynch versus Butler is another story. Lynch does not have a Hall of Fame-worthy career. He is there based on ESPN highlights and being a good guy throughout the media. He is extremely well-liked. But the stats do not back him up.

If you look at the stats, it isn’t close. The former Bucs safety made nine Pro Bowls which are important, but he only made two All-Pro teams in his career. Lynch never found himself in the top 10 when it came to interceptions. And even if he was more a ‘fumbles guy’, Lynch never came close to the top 10 in forced fumbles or fumble recoveries. If Lynch gets in over Butler, every NFL fan should riot.

Congrats to LeRoy!

Charlie.