As coach Bruce Arians is fond of saying, it’s a short elevator ride from the penthouse to the outhouse.
The Cardinals’ latest addition knows the feeling.
Linebacker Donald Butler played so well early in his career that the Chargers signed him to a seven-year, $51.8 million contract extension in 2014. It devolved quickly, as Butler’s numbers dropped precipitously the past two years and so did his playing time. The Chargers cut him in March, and it took until Wednesday for Butler to latch on with the Cardinals.
While Butler, 27, enters without any promises of even a roster spot, he plays a position that lacks depth, and joins a team that has made a habit out of turning late signees into productive pieces.