He turned in a respectable performance, notching five solo tackles and defending a pair of Brees passes.īutler would also open the game on the field at Atlanta on October 9 and again against Washington at home on the 23rd of that month, when the team opened in its Nickel Defense. In the Week 5 matchup that saw the Panthers drop a heart-breaker to the eventual Division Champs (who boasted arguably the most prolific offense in league history with Quarterback Drew Brees eclipsing Dan Marino's record for passing yardage in a season and Running Back/Punt Returner Darren Sproles setting the all-time mark for All-Purpose Yardage) Butler got the starting nod as the Nickel position, which the Panthers opened in for the first of three occasions throughout the season. Perhaps the highlight of Butler's season came early on when the division-rival New Orleans Saints paid their annual visit to Charlotte (more after the jump.) His absence against the Minnesota Vikings on October 30, the week prior to the team's bye, was due to a family emergency involving the health of his infant daughter (she's okay now). Butler was inactive for a pair of games earlier, and missed another due to injury. He also started opposite Gamble after CB Captain Munnerlyn was placed on injured reserve late in the season. He spelled starting CB Chris Gamble for a game after he went down with a concussion the week before an October matchup with the Chicago Bears. Though he started with the Panthers as a back-up, Butler would eventually see time as a starter in the base defense. Two of these tackles came on Special Teams. The third year defensive back from the University of Connecticut may have failed to tally an interception or forced fumble, but he played an important role as the team's starting nickelbackĢ011 Season Stats: 33 total tackles (28 solo) and seven (7) defended passes in 13 games (6 starts) in which he appeared. A former second round pick of the New England Patriots, Cornerback Darius Butler landed in Charlotte on waivers prior to the Panthers 2011 season and added much-needed depth in the team's thin secondary while filling an emergency role as a backup kick returner.
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