Bears To Release Former Steelers Punter Drew Butler

The Chicago Bears are set to cut punter Drew Butler, according to the Chicago Tribune. The cut could come as soon as today according to a team source. Butler was signed to a futures contract in December, but the Bears drafted former Miami punter Pat O’Donnell in the 6th round of this year’s draft. The team was carrying 3 punters on their roster, so someone had to go.

Butler was All-American, an All-Southeastern Conference selection and a Ray Guy Award winner at the University of Georgia. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Steelers after the 2012 draft. He kicked a total of 77 punts for the Steelers that year, 6 of which were touchbacks, and 26 were inside the 20.

Butler, the son of former Bears kicker Kevin Butler, was waived by the Steelers last September. He won the position battle in camp last year, beating out veteran Brian Moorman, but the team signed former Patriots punter Zoltan Mesko in the end.