The time is now for Texans' new swing tackle Rashad Butler

May 22, 9:36 PMHouston Texans ExaminerAlan Burge

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Butler                                  (NFLPA)

The first thing that came to mind while reading about Ephraim Salaam signing with the Lions was, "I hope Butler is ready."

Not that there was much of a chance that Salaam would return to the Texans anyway, but this drove home the fact that Rashad Butler is now a 'heartbeat away.'

Salaam is entering his 12th season and will be 33 years old next month.  He was a starter his entire career, until last season when he played behind rookie first round pick Duane Brown. 

But even though Salaam didn't start a game for the Texans in 2008, he got plenty of reps relieving Brown whose head was left spinning more than once during his rookie season.

Those days are over as Salaam was released in February in favor of Butler, who has no career starts and only eight game appearances in three seasons.  Brown will be expected to play full time in 2009 and Butler is the primary backup.

Butler is an interesting case.

He was a 3rd round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2006 but was released during training camp in 2007 because he couldn't make weight.  But it wasn't because he was too heavy - he was too light - dropping as low as 270 lbs which is far too light to play tackle in the NFL. 

Butler's weight issue was due to a digestive condition called ulcerative colitis which wasn't being properly treated until he arrived in Houston. 

Butler is listed at 6-4, 293 on the Texans and NFLPA websites, but nfl.com lists him at 309.  That's a large discrepancy so I'll try to find out what's right.  The low 290's is a little light by NFL standards for offensive tackles although Alex Gibbs would prefer an agile 300 pounder over a 330 lb. mauler any day. 

Whatever he weighs, he's clearly the #3 tackle for now since the only other tackles on the roster are Cliff Washburn, and two undrafted free agents.

At any rate, the Texans lost  experienced depth at tackle with Salaam's departure.  So ready or not, Butler's time is now.