In West Palm Beach, on February 10 th 1983, a baby was born. Nobody would guess that this baby would turn into 6'5, 295 pound NFL offensive tackle Rashad Butler. Butler gained interest in the game of football at the age of 9 years old. "I was always around it, my father was a coach," Butler said. Rashad Butler started out playing Pop Warner football when he was twelve years old. "It (the league) went by ages, and I played 10-12 year old division, the first team I played for was the Steelers we went 9-1 and went to the Super Bowl. Next year I was the Raiders and we won one game that year, I went from like 9-1 to 1-9." Rashad stated. Butler started his football career on the offensive line, playing center, guard and tackle for his Pop Warner team.
Rashad has lived in Palm Beach County for pretty much his entire life, and has lived with his parents and his older sister. His father has always played a big role in his son's football career. "My dad played football in high school and college but never made it to the pros, so he pretty much became my coach, pretty much on the high school level," said Butler of his father. His mother was a school teacher for her entire career and is now a principal. His older sister followed in her mother's footsteps and became a school teacher. She had a baby recently.
Butler attended high school at Dwyer and played football all four years. Rashad remembers one game above the rest that he played in a Panthers uniform, a 2000 state semifinals game against a team named Tate, played in Dwyer's Blum Stadium. "We started out kind of shaky, we were actually down by like 10 points going into the fourth quarter, and we were able to rally and win and go on to states." Butler reminisced.
Butler was one of the most sought after recruits in the state of Florida. Schools such as Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, USC, Central Florida, and Miami were all examining Butler's game, trying to woo him to their respective schools. After the recruiting process Butler chose the University of Miami.
Butler's freshman year he received no playing time. "First game I started was 2003, against the Florida Gators at home. That year I actually started 3 games, and the following year that's when I started and played the whole season" Butler said. After receiving the starting job, playing in the NFL looked more and more like a reality for Rashad. "I want to say, high school, when I got the chance to get a scholarship to the University of Miami, I got there and finally realized that I can make something out of this, I really can. That's really when I realized this could really happen for me." The first step in any NFL prospects path to the draft, is the college all star games. Butler was invited to play in the East-West Shrine game.
"It was great, I got to play with some players that definitely made an impact on my first two years in the league, I played with Marques Colston, he played for the Saints and had an unbelievable rookie year last year, I played with Greg Jennings who had a great year last year and this year for the Green Bay Packers. Those are the only two I know of that stepped out; the good thing about All Star games in college is that you get to meet the guys you hear about on Sportscenter and ESPN, and interact with them and see what they're really like. That's the best part about that experience for me." Houston Nutt and the rest of his Arkansas Razorbacks coaching staff coached up Butler's squad, and gave Rashad a different outlook on his game.
"At that time my biggest weakness was run blocking, but I mean it's really coming along and I don't think it's really too much of a weakness right now." Scouts were worried that because he wasn't very large (6'5, 295) would hold him back from being a dominant run blocker at the next level. That became a challenge for Butler, who was a dominant pass blocker. That comes from great footwork, which at that time both of Miami's bookend offensive tackles possessed. "I was always good on my feet, I think it comes from playing every sport growing up. I played basketball; baseball, my first love, and then of course football, and I think that really helped add to my game."
The next, and most important step for an NFL prospect, is the NFL scouting combine, held in Indianapolis's RCA Dome every year. "That's the worst experience somebody could ever go through in their life. I mean it's just awful, non stop on the run 24/7 right when you get there; people asking you questions, coaches want to meet, you. It's crazy, they don't feed you to good, and you know I'm glad that's over with, I don't want to deal with that no more, that's crazy." Butler really helped his draft stock in Indianapolis. At the weigh in and measurement Butler had the longest wingspan at a whopping 72 inches. Butler's freakish wingspan cost him in one aspect, the bench press. Rashad could only do 16 reps at 225 pounds. Stud running back, and former heisman trophy winner Reggie Bush did 25 reps on the bench.
The NFL Draft, held annually in late April, is the final fateful day for an NFL prospect like Rashad. "I was at home during the draft just relaxing, I really only watched the draft for the first round, and after that I was just chilling till I got that call that night from Carolina it was like "Hey man we're gonna take you with 89 th pick in the draft, third round" I was like "Alright let's do it" Rashad Butler's fate was sealed, he was going to be a Carolina Panther...for the time being.
Arriving to a veteran team, and surrounded by some of the NFL's finest on the offensive line is difficult, especially for a rookie. Jordan Gross and Mike Wahle are a couple of the most dominant linemen in the NFL, in 2005 they called Carolina home as well. "Definitely, I was lucky my locker was next to a guy that was in the league at the time, Mike Wahle, still in the league going strong, I just had the chance to ask him questions, watch him, watch how he prepare, watch how he prepares, Steve Smith is a guy I talked to every once in a while, that team itself is full of veterans."
His rookie season, Rashad received no playing time. "No playing time in Carolina, it was awful, I was disappointed, getting drafted first day you expect to possibly play a little bit, and that didn't happen," Rashad said of his rookie season. The following season when he showed up under weight to training camp, eyebrows were raised at such a light offensive lineman, resulting in the team releasing him. The former third round pick found a home relatively quick, in a Texans uniform.
Former Miami teammates in Houston, was former second round selection, left tackle Eric Winston, and wide receiver Andre Johnson.
Returning home to West Palm Beach for a trip home, Rashad visited a doctor, curious of his light weight. The doctor discovered Butler suffered from a rare intestinal disease called ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease. Approximately 1 in 10,000 Americans suffer from this disease. "When I got it, I thought it was just some virus that would pass over, with no medications. I'm glad they discovered it and got me on some permanent medication to control that."
This disease raised eyebrows once again in Houston. "They were surprised because they didn't know anything about it, from meeting with me at the combine, they didn't know what it was, and they were surprised just like me."
This season Rashad Butler is listed as the second string offensive tackle for the Houston Texans, one day soon he will be listed as the starter. "I know the day is coming pretty soon. I'll be really excited when that day comes, because I'll be starting along side one of college teammates, Eric Winston, Me and him starting at the same time, just like it was in college."
Rashad spends his off season working out with other Miami Hurricanes and now that the team is preparing for spring football, Butler has been working out with the Dwyer Panther track team. "When I need some more training I come down to Dwyer and get that in, workouts by myself, and do what I need to do to stay in shape."
"The most important thing I learned from being in the NFL is you just have to come to work everyday, because it can be over for you just like that. You just really have to come ready to do your best, and give it all, and if you don't you could be gone and out of the league at home on the couch watching your buddies making a lot of money, and doing it for themselves."