RamsFanCK's Ram Notebook

Saturday, June 10, 2006 - For a player who struggled with an injury all last season, and saw no action on the football field, Jerametrius Butler was happy to be in pads again in the teams OTA’s (Organized Team Activities). But in their minicamp this weekend Butler was hindered by a slight hamstring tear.

During last season’s training camp Butler tore a ligament in his knee and underwent knee surgery. After a long and grueling period of rehab Butler finally felt his knee was ready to go, little did he know that was the least of his worries.

"The knee's perfect," Butler said. "Same blazing speed, same vertical. Same everything.”

Although the knee was in “perfect” condition Butler’s legs would surface as a problem soon again. In his second week of OTA’s Butler slightly tore his hamstring before the Memorial day weekend.

"Another injury," Butler said. "I really wanted to get out there and show the guys that I'm capable of playing the way I used to in the past - and even better. So it's another setback."

But how did this set back occur, "I was breaking on a pass," Butler said. "Actually, I was covering Kevin Curtis. I think he pushed off. He kind of did it."

Just kidding. After a short pause, Butler playfully added: "No. I'm just playing. It's a freak accident. ... It's frustrating because I want to get out there. I want to be out there making plays. It's hard sitting out there watching Torry (Holt) and Isaac (Bruce) making catches, talking noise. I want to be out there competing against them, getting better. But I've got to wait."

The waiting decision came after he tested his leg in some individual drill work at the start of minicamp.

"I was testing it, but I'm not 'full-go,'" Butler said. "I can't stretch it out all the way."

Coming in to the 2005 season, Butler seemed ready to take his seat at the table of elite NFL cornerbacks. In ‘03, his first year as a starter, he made a total of four interceptions which was tied for the team best. In 2004 he picked off five passes to account for all but one of the teams interceptions on the season.

Now, coming in to 2006 his status as a starter seems to be uncertain. "You've always got to prove yourself," Butler said. "Tye Hill's a young guy. Fakhir, he was in the system in New Orleans. And everybody else that was here, like me, Travis (Fisher), DeJuan (Groce), Ron Bartell, we've got to learn the system. Pick it up real quick."

Tye Hill, the young guy, was the Rams first round draft pick in April, out of the University of Clemson, Hill has a knack for making plays.

In March the Rams put $12 million-plus in to a free agent corner named Fakhir Brown. Brown played for Jim Haslett, the Rams defensive coordinator , in New Orleans. Brown is also recovering from a season ending injury.

Butler will have a 5 and ½ week rest before the start of training camp and his main goal, as of now, is to be healthy for it.

"They don't want to risk having me go into training camp with a sore hamstring," Butler said. "Because by then, the season's right around the corner. They're trying to help me out a little by giving it rest."

The rest will hopefully translate into Butler performing the way he did before the knee injury last season and be a big contributor on the defensive side of the ball. But until then Butler said he will listen to his body.

"I'll listen to my body," Butler said. "My body will let me know when I'm ready to go."

*-quotes from stlouisrams.com and STLToday

E-Mial Cody Kittle at RamsFanCK@hotmail.com