In addition to adding depth to the secondary (veteran free-agent pickups Bodden and Springs are projected to start; 2008 draft picks Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite have outperformed him in camp), Butler could contribute to the Patriots in the return game. He averaged 25.6 yards per kick return during his career at UConn, including a 90-yarder for a touchdown against South Florida in 2005 when he became the first Husky to score both a defensive and a special teams TD in the same season.
“I just want to find a seam and get to the end zone,” Butler said in explaining the approach he carries onto the field in the return game. “Trust my guys to do their job and they trust me to do mine.”