Butler's season over already

The cornerback, who was injured on the first day of training camp, will have knee surgery Monday.

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams cornerback Jerametrius Butler will undergo knee surgery Monday and miss the season, coach Mike Martz said Wednesday.

Butler sustained a torn ligament in his right knee July 28, the first day of training camp. Rams doctors recommended surgery.

Trying to determine if he could strengthen the knee and play the season, Butler went to New York on Monday to see another specialist, who agreed Butler should have an operation.

"He's going to have surgery on the knee, so obviously he's done for the year," Martz said. "It'll take about four months to recover and rehab from that thing."

Butler will have the operation Monday, performed by Dr. Riley Williams III at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

"It's tough news," Butler said. "All the doctors told me the same thing. I decided to have the surgery. I'm out for the year, but I'll rebound from this. It hurts, man."

The 5-foot-10, 181-pound Butler said the injury happened when he broke for the ball and felt his knee give out on the first day of camp. He kept playing, but then asked the trainers to look at it because it didn't feel right.

Butler can move forward or laterally, but he is unable to go backward.

"Anytime you lose a player like him it's hard; it's tough," Martz said. "He was just starting to realize his full potential. He's obviously a terrific corner. We'll move on. It just provides an opportunity for somebody else to fill in the ranks and be a good player."

Backup DeJuan Groce, a 5-10, 192-pounder drafted in the fourth round in 2003 out of Nebraska, will move into Butler's position. Last year, Groce played in 11 games, starting five. He also saw action in both postseason contests.

"It's real exciting to get an opportunity to come in and help the team," Groce said.

Travis Fisher, the other starting corner, said he will miss looking over and seeing Butler, but he said he has confidence in Groce.

"The same bond I had with Butler, I can get with the next guy, too," Fisher said. "DuJuan is consistent. He makes plays on the field. He can get it done."

Butler agreed.

"He's ready," Butler said. "He's a tremendous corner and he'll do a tremendous job. He's ready to play."

Butler, selected in fifth round of the 2001 draft, was one of nine Rams to start all 16 regular season games last season and started both postseason contests. He had career-highs with 100 tackles (78 solo) and one fumble recovery and led the Rams with five interceptions and 22 passes defended, which tied him for second in NFL.

Butler became the first back-to-back interceptions leader for the Rams since Todd Lyght accomplished the feat in 1998 and 1999, and just the second since Nolan Cromwell did it three years in a row from 1979 to 1981. Butler had four interceptions in 2003.

Besides Groce, the Rams have veterans Corey Ivy, Terry Fair, Kevin Garrett and rookie Ron Bartell competing in the secondary.

"There's plenty of candidates at corner," Martz said, though he noted Butler was an exceptional player. "We have plenty of options back there. It's not like we've got to go out and find a corner."