Leroy Butler: “Instead of wasting one year in Minnesota, I would rather retire”
October 5, 2009 – 8:45 am by Jimmy Shapiro
This post was written by Zach Krantz of WQAM in Miami. Leroy Butler is an innovator in Green Bay; you’re asking what he is famous for besides playing with the Packers for 12 years? Butler is credited with inventing the Lambeau Leap. On December 26, 1993, Butler returned a ball on a lateral from Reggie White for a touchdown and then made a spontaneous leap into the arms of fans in the south bleachers. The move was later popularized by wide receiver Robert Brooks, who carried it a step further by leaping completely into the stands.
Butler was a Packer for life and played with Brett Favre. I can only imagine that he won’t be rooting for his former teammate when the Packers travel to Minnesota for Monday Night Football tonight.
Leroy Butler joined The Jim Rome Show and talked about Favre’s comeback with the Vikings, his thoughts on playing with the Vikings, the rivalry with the Vikings and if he thinks Favre cares what the Wisconsin’s fans think of him.
On the rivalry between the Viking and the Packers:
“I hated going to the Metrodome, hearing those loud speakers right behind the bench. I hated some clown riding around on a motorcycle blowing a horn. I hated the fans screaming. It was just a tough place to play. That’s the one team when you think about all your game planning; I said to myself we have to beat these guys. And when we did beat them, I felt like it was a playoff atmosphere. That’s what I think it’s going to feel like Monday night, almost like a playoff atmosphere. The Packers being the youngest team in the league, I just hope the young guys don’t get caught up in the hoopla of all the media hype of it and go in there and try to get a victory.”
Asked if at the end of his career the Vikings asked him to play for them:
“It would be so tough to even do it because you got to understand the legacy of the Green Bay Packers. What I would do Jim is go back to the Green Bay Packers and say look; I got one more year and I got an offer from a team I really don’t want to play for. IF the Packers tell me you know what we really can’t use you for that year then I would say at that point I would look at my finances, look at my family, and I would say you know what instead of wasting one year in Minnesota, I would rather retire. Then wasting one year and having my football cards in a purple jersey, I ‘d rather just retire.”
Asked if Brett Favre and the Packers have any kind of relationship left:
“I will be honest with you; I really think Brett doesn’t even care. I think Brett wants to choose his legacy; his legacy is quote, it’s my legacy and not theirs, I choose when I retire, not a team. He really feels like when he retires, everyone will sit back, and they will welcome him back. He still played 16 years, so you can’t erase that. Just because he is on the other side, doesn’t mean anything. Brett only cares about what he can do on the field; off the field he still loves the people in Green Bay. He is a focused guy that right now wants to beat the Green Bay Packers more than anything, but as far as what he thinks we think in Wisconsin, he can care less.”
Listen to Leroy Butler on The Jim Rome Show
Tags: Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers, Lambeau Leap, Leroy Butler, Minnesota Vikings, The Jim Rome Show
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