We have long made the case that former Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Butler has been salty that he hasn’t gotten real consideration. Well, he’s finally getting closer.
Butler was named one of 25 (actually 27, because of ties) semifinalists on Tuesday. This is the first time Butler has made it to the semifinal round.
Butler has always been a part of the list of initial nominees for the Hall. The real question now is if he can make the next cut.
The finalists for the Hall will be announced in January. That round will trim the list to 15. The Hall of Fame class of 2018 — which will include four to eight inductees — is announced the day before the Super Bowl.
The committee hasn’t ever given much credit to safeties and Butler will have some competition at the position. Steve Atwater, John Lynch and Brian Dawkins are also semifinalists.
How any of those three guys is even in the same league as LeRoy Butler, I’m not sure, but they’ve all made it further than he has in the past.
If one of those guys gets in, it may well pave the way for the rest.