The Cleveland Browns have fired director of player development Jerry Butler, and at least one player Butler helped develop isn’t happy about it.
Browns cornerback Eric Wright posted about his admiration for Butler on Twitter.
“We all understand that things change and business isn’t always fair but the Browns fired one of the best guys in that building in Jerry Butler,” Wright tweeted.
The Browns’ web site still lists Butler as director of player development, but Zac Jackson of Fox Sports Ohio reports that two sources confirmed the Browns have, in fact, fired Butler.
After a standout career at Clemson, the Buffalo Bills made Butler the fifth overall pick in the 1979 NFL draft. He was rookie of the year in 1979 and a Pro Bowler in 1980, and after retiring as a player in 1987 he moved to the Bills’ front office. In 1999 Butler became the Browns’ receivers coach, and in 2001 he moved into the director of player development role.
And now he’s out, in a move that comes as a surprise.