Cory's Corner: Perseverance Gets LeRoy Butler Into HOF

I was there on Dec. 26, 1993. 

It was the day after Christmas and my cousin asked me if I wanted to go to the Raiders-Packers game. It was a spur of the moment thing and I said sure. My mom must have put five pairs of gloves and hats into a bag as she drove me to my cousin’s place. 

The Green Bay Packers blew out the Los Angeles Raiders 28-0, but that’s not what I remember from that game. And even though the old guy that sat behind me had the longest icicles that stretched from his mustache, that isn’t what is burned into memory from that bone-chilling day, which saw the wind chill sink to 22-degrees below zero.

I didn’t know it at the time, but the Packers clinched a playoff spot for the first time in 11 years, starting a streak of six-straight postseason appearances and a Super Bowl title.

But that didn’t stick out to me either. It was in the fourth quarter and Raiders backup quarterback Vince Evans was in for Jeff Hostetler after getting concussed earlier in the game. Evans was flushed to the right and tossed a pass in the flat to running back Randy Jordan. LeRoy Butler greeted him immediately with one of his patented strong hits and then the ball came out. Reggie White of all people, ended up with it and after about 10 yards he flipped it to Butler who raced down the left sideline for a touchdown. 

But Butler didn’t put the brakes on or downshift. It actually looked like he was speeding up as he entered the end zone. He dropped the ball and sailed into the arms of the Lambeau faithful. 

The 54,482 fans that were at that game were stunned for a couple reasons. First, was that even a fumble and second, what did Butler just do? There was no instant replay, so the play stood, but I remember Raiders coach Art Shell looking absolutely stunned on the sideline as his team fell into a deeper hole. 

It’s perfect that Butler started that play because Butler was the epitome of heart and desire. On that play alone, he made the hit and scored the touchdown and the reason is because he never gave up. 

And that’s how Butler played. He wasn’t the most talented player on a defense that had arguably the best defensive player of all-time playing on the defensive line. But he was the engine that made it all work. That unit fed off his energy and lit a fuse for a defense that finished top 10 in points allowed from 1993-98. 

I don’t why it took so long for Butler to get the rightful Canton invitation. He has always been cordial with the media, he’s genuine and funny — which is why he has been a successful media personality in retirement. 

The Lambeau Leap is now a Packers tradition because one guy didn’t give up on a play. Seems so simple, but perseverance got him fitted for a gold jacket and it’s that perseverance that football fans will remember each time they see his bust.