Yesterday here at Inside The Star, I began a series of articles that will break down Dallas Cowboys’ players that will be playing in their contract year come 2016.
I kicked off the series by taking a look at the often disappointing Terrance Williams and discussed the possibility of Brice Butler taking his spot as the second outside WR during training camp. You can read my analysis of Williams here.
However, what will make this camp battle so intriguing is that Butler’s contract is also expiring at the end of the 2016 season. It is tough to see a scenario in which Butler and Williams both return in 2017.
Let’s break down the play of Brice Butler to find out what he must do to bring in an extension for 2017:
Brice Butler
Butler appeared in seven games for the Cowboys this season, but none with four quarters of Tony Romo as his quarterback. Playing with the likes of Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel in weeks 2 through 5, he recorded three catches for 108 yards.
Then, when Kellen Moore started against the Bills and Redskins, Butler came onto the scene to finish his season with 8 catches for 134 yards in his final two games. The two had plenty of chemistry together, from working in practice on the same unit, and it showed on the field.
Personally, all season, I waited anxiously to see how Butler would fair with Tony Romo throwing to him. We never got to see the two play together, but Romo has shown his ability to quickly develop chemistry with receivers like Butler.
Brice Butler is similar to Terrance Williams in that he can take the top off of a defense. However, what he does better than Williams is consistently run good routes and get the ball in his hands.
Butler’s future may rest on the health of Romo, as the two hope to develop something special in 2016. If Butler can make a name for himself across from Dez Bryant, it will not only open up space over the middle for guys like Cole Beasley and on the ground for Darren McFadden, but it may earn him a long-term spot on the Cowboys.
Stay posted right here to Inside The Star as I continue to run through contract-year Cowboys for the 2016 season.
– Let’s break down the play of Brice Butler to find out what he must do to bring in an extension for 2017: Butler’s future may rest on the health of Romo, as the two hope to develop something special in 2016. – Stay healthy. At some point teams will have to stop paying high contracts to injury prone players.