ESPN

Much like when we examined the 2010 stats of safety Brandon Meriweather after his release on Saturday, last year's advanced numbers for cornerback Darius Butler suggest a pronounced drop-off in his sophomore season.

The Patriots released Butler, a second-round pick (41st overall) in the 2009 draft, on Tuesday, the latest overhaul to a secondary that clearly didn't meet expectations last year.

Coming off a solid rookie campaign, the 2010 season started positively for Butler. He put together a strong training camp and was inserted into a starting role when Leigh Bodden went on injured reserve before the start of the year. But in Week 1, the Cincinnati Bengals blitzed Butler, throwing at him a whopping 12 times in the season-opener, according to target stats logged by Pro Football Focus. The Bengals completed 10 of those tosses for 133 yards and a touchdown.

A week later, the Jets completed 5 of 6 passes in his direction for 74 yards and another score. By Week 3, Butler wasn't just yanked from the starting lineup, he played a mere four defensive snaps that game and his playing time barely recovered (he did log one additional start later in the season, but ultimately played just 41.9 percent of New England's total defensive snaps last season).

Here's a glimpse at the statistical decline with PFF numbers:

2009: 69 targets, 39 receptions, 475 yards, 107 YAC, 2 TD, 3 INT, 69.4 QB rating
2010: 49 targets, 30 receptions, 390 yards, 112 YAC, 3 TD, 0 INT, 106.7 QB rating

As a means of comparison, here's a glimpse at last year's numbers for rookie cornerback Devin McCourty, who earned a Pro Bowl nod for his first-year efforts, and Kyle Arrington, who took over Butler's starting job:

McCourty: 104 targets, 58 receptions, 614 yards, 174 YAC, 5 TD, 7 INT, 61.1 QB rating
Arrington: 75 targets, 49 receptions, 742 yards, 195 YAC, 5 TD, 1 INT, 114.4 QB rating

Based on PFF numbers, Arrington struggled just as mightily as Butler, but the difference might have been that Arrington kept showing up on special teams, adding to his overall value. Arrington was also an undrafted free agent and didn't have the same lofty expectations as Butler.

It's worth noting that PFF numbers graded Butler as the team's second best pass coverage player. In fact, Butler graded out as the 18th best pass coverage corner in the league among cornerbacks that played at least 25 percent of their team's snaps, according to PFF's grading system. Alas, four coverage penalties, as well as a lack of support in run defense, hurt Butler's overall grade (he ranked 43rd overall there).

As we noted with Meriweather, stats are not everything when it comes to judging corners and this is merely one set of data to examine. But in the end, it's clear that Butlers' confidence dipped after early season struggles and it might never have recovered. As evidenced by the Tuesday's release, the same can likely be said for his coaches' confidence in him.

The New England Patriots have released cornerback Darius Butler, according to a league source.

Butler, a second-round pick (41st overall) in the 2009 draft, appeared in 29 games over two seasons, registering 54 tackles and 3 interceptions. After a starting five games at left corner in 2009 and registering all three of those interceptions, he started just three games in 15 appearances in 2010.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- There was no word from the New England Patriots on Monday about the severity of the apparent rib injury that cornerback Devin McCourty suffered in Chicago during New England's 36-7 romp over the Chicago Bears.

McCourty, who did not return to the field after halftime, underwent some follow-up tests Monday.

Coach Bill Belichick gave his standard injured-player response Monday regarding McCourty.

"We'll see on Wednesday," Belichick said, referring to the day the Patriots return to practice.

McCourty, whose six interceptions rank him among the league leaders, is a legitimate contender for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. If McCourty can't play Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, Darius Butler, who has had an uneven season, likely would replace him.

Butler, a second-round pick in 2009, was benched after the second game of the season when the New York Jets' Braylon Edwards beat him for a touchdown and a two-point conversion. Butler's playing time dwindled to the point where he was inactive for one game, but he has been playing more lately. He played the second half Sunday in place of McCourty.

"Darius has played a lot of football for us over the last couple of years," said Belichick. "If we didn't have confidence in him, we wouldn't put him out there."

Butler, who starred at the University of Connecticut, said Monday he was up to the challenge.

"It's business as usual for me," said Butler. "I just work to prepare myself to be a starter. I'll be ready when my number is called."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Quick-hit thoughts from the Patriots’ inactive players:

1. Defensive lineman Vince Wilfork hoped to play, as he worked out for trainers in the 10 o’clock hour, but his injured foot is not ready. This is another reason why the Patriots would benefit greatly from clinching a playoff berth today so a player like Wilfork could have three weeks of rest heading into the playoffs.

2. Defensive lineman Ty Warren is active, but will not start. The Patriots will apparently see how the game unfolds in terms of how they use Warren. Mike Wright is expected to start at left end, with rookie Ron Brace or Myron Pryor at nose tackle.

3. Running back Fred Taylor is active for the first time since Oct. 4, when he injured his right ankle. The Patriots deactivated BenJarvus Green-Ellis, so they’ll need to juggle some parts on special teams.

4. With offensive lineman Nick Kaczur (shoulder) inactive, rookie Sebastian Vollmer will start at right tackle.

5. Cornerbacks Terrence Wheatley and Darius Butler are inactive, which is partially a result of special teams considerations. Cornerback Kyle Arrington has been impressive on special teams, so he gets the nod and is bumped up the depth chart on defense because of it.

6. Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis, one of the team’s best defenders, is active. He was questionable with a groin injury.

Patriots cornerback Darius Butler, appearing on "ESPN First Take" Tuesday morning, said the night before his first NFL start (Oct. 18 against Tennessee) he joked with former University of Connecticut teammate Jasper Howard about who would be the first to get an interception.

"The last conversation we had was the night before that game," Butler said. "He hadn’t recorded an interception yet this year and I was teasing him about that, and he was teasing me about not having one also. We were going back and forth about who was going to have the first one."

Hours after that conversation, Howard was stabbed to death in an early-morning fight on the UConn campus. Butler, who learned of Howard’s death the following morning via various text messages, played against the Titans that afternoon and got that first interception, picking off Kerry Collins in the second quarter of New England’s 59-0 rout.

"It was a great moment," Butler said. "That was pretty much for him."

Here's the Butler interview, including more on Howard and his take on the Patriots' upcoming game with the Saints.

A look at snaps played by Patriots defenders in the team’s 31-14 win over the Jets (as charted in the press box, small margin for error):

ILB Gary Guyton – 51 of 51 snaps
ILB Jerod Mayo – 51 of 51
S Brandon Meriweather – 51 of 51
CB Jonathan Wilhite – 51 of 51
CB Leigh Bodden – 50 of 51
S Brandon McGowan – 50 of 51
OLB/DE Adalius Thomas – 40 of 51
NT Vince Wilfork – 39 of 51
DE Mike Wright – 37 of 51
DE Ty Warren -- 34 of 52
OLB Tully Banta-Cain – 26 of 51
OLB Pierre Woods – 19 of 51
DE Derrick Burgess – 17 of 51
DT Myron Pryor – 17 of 51
CB Darius Butler – 12 of 51
S James Sanders – 9 of 51
S Pat Chung – 5 of 51
DT Ron Brace – 1 of 51
S Randy Moss – 1 of 51

(Two false start penalties included in snaps)

ANALYSIS: The base alignment was a 3-4, with the Patriots using a 3-2-6 dime (6 defensive backs) in most passing situations and occasionally a 4-2-5 nickel (5 defensive backs). … Butler and Chung were the fifth and sixth defensive backs in the sub package. … When Chung left the game with a head injury, he was replaced by Sanders. … Mayo and Guyton played every snap at inside linebacker, keeping Junior Seau on the sidelines for the third game in a row. … Including penalties, the 51 snaps were the third fewest the defense has played in a game this season (46, vs. Falcons, 49 vs. Titans). … Banta-Cain made the most of his playing time, finishing with five tackles and two sacks in just 26 snaps. … After seeing action solely on early downs, Thomas is playing again in sub packages as he’s had more of a chance to rush the passer in recent weeks. … Woods played on defense for the first time since Oct. 18 against Tennessee, starting at outside linebacker and working in a rotation. … This was the second time this season that Moss has been called upon as a safety in a Hail Mary situation.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- On the morning of his first professional start, New England Patriots cornerback Darius Butler awoke to a swarm of calls and text messages alerting him to the horrifying news that a college teammate and close friend had died after being stabbed on campus early Sunday morning.

Jasper Howard, 20, of Miami, and another University of Connecticut student were stabbed during a fight after a fire alarm was pulled during a school-sanctioned dance at the Student Union just after 12:30 a.m., police said. Butler and Howard were cornerbacks for the Huskies last season.

Butler said they talked on the phone Saturday evening after Howard, a junior, helped UConn to a 38-25 victory over Louisville.

"I had a lot of missed calls, a lot of text messages," said a somber Butler after the Patriots' 59-0 thrashing of the Tennessee Titans. "That's how I got the news this morning, when I woke up at the [Patriots'] hotel.

"My thoughts and prayers go out to Jasper's family and friends. It hasn't really settled in. It's nothing I'm ready to talk about yet. Obviously it's tough. Jasper and I were close."

Butler, who has appeared in five games for New England this season, started at cornerback for the Patriots on Sunday. He didn't register a tackle, but came up with the first interception of his career, picking off a Kerry Collins pass in the second quarter to set up a Patriots touchdown.

Butler was asked if Howard was on his mind Sunday.

"Here and there," Butler said. "I definitely was able to focus on the game. But, obviously, something that serious is also in the back of my mind."

And Butler used Howard as inspiration to stay focused on the game.

"I know how much he loved the game," Butler said. "So I didn't let it affect my game negatively."

Butler, one of the Patriots' four second-round picks (41st overall) in April's draft, has registered four tackles and one interception through six games. After appearing primarily as a nickel corner earlier in the year, he was bumped up to a starting role Sunday.

Butler said his teammates rallied around him, which helped him carry on.

"It meant a lot that they supported me," Butler said. "It was my first interception, so it was a big one. And obviously it meant a little more to me because of the news that happened last night."

But that doesn't mean he's come to grips with the news.

"It is shocking," Butler said. "It's a tough situation, especially on a college campus. You go to school for an education and something like that happens. It's terrible."

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.

FOXBOROUGH -- For those who appreciate the nuances and finer details of football, here is some added context to the strong performance of Patriots rookie cornerback Darius Butler:

Butler was around the ball in key moments in Sunday's 27-21 win over the Ravens, including the final drive of the game, but his on-field presence in crunch time wasn't by design.

It only happened because cornerback Jonathan Wilhite had an issue with his equipment.

"I didn't expect to go in, but as a sub, you're always keeping yourself ready," Butler explained. "That's what happened. I came in and they came at me a couple of times."

Butler, a second-round draft choice out of Connecticut, was up to the task in one of the tougher assignments in sports: Being thrust into the thick of the action with little notice.

"It's real challenging, but coaches talk about it all the time 'Next man up', the next guy always has to be ready to come in," he said.

The Patriots played eight different defensive backs Sunday, and the plan with Butler was to have him play a series or two each half, resting starter Shawn Springs. Butler ended up playing 15 snaps and recorded one pass breakup.

The rotation reflects the depth and confidence that the coaching staff has in the overall secondary, which might be the deepest it has been in Bill Belichick's tenure as coach (2000-present).

Butler is happy to be a part of it, and felt good about rising up when unexpectedly called upon on that final drive.

"Making a couple plays, that was good for not only my confidence, but probably the confidence of my teammates," he said.