Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Dallas Cowboys waste no time rewarding heroic performance from player with much deserved honor ahead of Thanksgiving
Say what you want about Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, one of the things he does that I thoroughly appreciate is the fact that he presents a different set of captains on a weekly basis.
If you've been around competitive athletes at any level, you know it's exact kind of things that motivates players.
That's why I thought it was particularly special when McCarthy announced Monday cornerback Josh Butler, a former UFL player who was on the practice squad just a few weeks ago, is being made a captain for the Cowboys' upcoming Thanksgiving matchup.
"Josh Butler had a hell of a day, it was his birthday, he won a game ball for yesterday's game, and he's a captain this week," McCarthy told reporters. "That's a trifecta."
Butler, who was filling in for an injured Trevon Diggs during the team's win over the Washington Commanders, was lights out in coverage with three pass deflections and a team high 12 tackles, 10 of which were solo. He also recorded a sack.
Ironically, Butler might have a more limited role on Thursday. After all, Trevon Diggs returned to practice on Monday and if he's healthy and ready to go, it'll likely be a heavy dose of him, DaRon Bland, and Jourdan Lewis at cornerback.
Even still, you've got to admire Butler's journey from the UFL to the NFL.
"There's a negative side and a positive side," Butler told the media on Monday. "You can definitely go down the negative road and let it finish you off, or you can always stay on that positive side. (...) Just don't give up on your dreams."
Butler, born in Dallas and a Cowboys fan growing up, has surely bought himself more time on the 53-man roster with his standout performance on Sunday and will continue to battle every time he gets the chance.
In a year in which there haven't been a whole lot of bright spots for the Cowboys, it's always terrific to have this kind of stories pop up. Cowboys Nation is rooting for Butler.
