Raiders linemen with ‘soldier spirit’ know that iron sharpens iron

The Las Vegas Raiders in coach Klint Kubiak’s first year have established a culture that prioritizes effort, yes, but that standard is ultimately set by the players who come from far and wide to form a cohesive team.

Two Raiders players especially hold themselves to this ethos. Both undrafted. Both grew up in U.S. military families that have experienced deployments to the Middle East. Both applied the lessons they learned to reach the NFL.

Defensive tackle Adam Butler and center Will Putnam haven’t really spoken with each other about their common background. But they know it and respect it.

And directly on opposite sides of the ball, the two 6-foot-4-inch, 301-pound players build each other up by battling daily on the practice field in Henderson.

‘I’ll never quit’

Butler, a Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots and nine-year NFL veteran, grew up in Texas and once considered giving up on football.

But his father, Clarence, who served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and is a retired Chief Master Sergeant, wouldn’t have it.

“He just reinforced that mindset: Just our family, we don’t quit,” Butler said. “We don’t give up. This is who we are.”

Butler, now 32, went on to be recruited to Vanderbilt as an offensive lineman. He too played center on the scout team while redshirting. He later switched to defensive tackle, but not before his attitude generated some excitement for his defensive coordinator.

At a ribs-eating contest between schools as part of bowl game festivities, Butler vehemently protested the fairness of the result. He pointed out to the contest judge how the winning team still had rib meat on their plate while victory was determined based upon a count of bones.

Butler emerged as a top defender and made the Patriots roster out of training camp as an undrafted rookie.

He said his father’s military background impacted his own career. His social media account handles, after all, are “il_never_quit.”

”Just the mindset not to give up, to go the extra mile,” Butler said. “You know, when things get tough, don’t quit. That’s what I’m all about.

“That’s what I live by. Just regardless of what happens, keep fighting. That’s that soldier spirit that’s sort of passed down.”

Butler, who told Raider Nation Radio a cousin of his in the U.S. Army is currently deployed in the Middle East, is in his fourth season with the Raiders.

A heads-up play this season helped Las Vegas earn a victory. With the Raiders clinging to a one-point lead in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints, teammate Hezekiah Masses intercepted a pass and fumbled on the return. Butler, in the right place at the right time, fell on the football. Three plays later, the Raiders extended their lead with a touchdown.

Butler, who does the dirty work of absorbing a high volume of double teams on the defensive line, also offers praise to someone unsung — Putnam on the practice squad.

“Every day we’re out there to try to get each other better,” Butler said. “I know that sounds cliche, but it’s the truth. Will is a high-effort guy, and he’s going to look to finish the play, which is good. And every day we go out there, we try to get better in what we do.

“Think about it like boxers when they have a sparring partner. That respect is still there. If somebody hits you the wrong way, you may jaw back at them or whatever. The respect is always there for each other and for the game.”

‘Values we hold close’

Putnam has yo-yoed between the practice squad and active roster in his three years with the Raiders. After making the roster and playing in 15 games last year, he has only practiced this season without appearing in any regular-season contests.

“I’ll say one thing about football and the NFL: It’s never easy, right?” Putnam said, adding that he’s grateful for the role but never satisfied.

A constant for Putnam, who was born in Michigan and moved to Virginia, Hawaii, Illinois and Florida while growing up before playing college football at Clemson, has been an ability to adapt. He moved often due to his father, Neil, a colonel who served 30 years in the U.S. Army, including 24 with the Green Berets, relocating for work.

Football was Putnam’s route to meeting new friends in school and connecting with a community.

And with family, he learned about selflessness and toughness.

“People that have served, people that have put others before themselves, that’s something that was really taught to us when we were young is values that we hold close as Putnams and on my mom’s side,” Putnam said.

“I think that’s really important for your country, for the community, for your family, for football for your team in being a great teammate.”

Putnam’s paternal grandfather was the head football coach at Lafayette College. His maternal grandfather served in the Army in World War II in the Philippines.

And when Putnam was 1, the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center killed an uncle, former Duke football player Rob Lenoir. Putnam’s father eventually deployed to Afghanistan.

Twenty-five years later, Putnam understands how many lives the attacks impacted and takes pride in his family’s history of service. “Someone that’s willing to go fight for what they believe it and put everything on the line, I think that’s very respectable,” he said.

Putnam, a center who behind the scenes has worked with new Raiders starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza, learned one offseason when players got up to tell their stories that Butler — “AB” — came from a military family as well.

“He’s a great player, and he makes me better every single day,” Putnam said of Butler. “And hopefully in turn with how much he makes me better, hopefully I can do the same for him and get him prepared for game day. And that’s something I don’t take lightly.

“I think by you trying to make your teammates get better, they try to make you better, and it gives us the best chance to win on Sunday, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Contact Diamond Leung at [email protected]. Follow @diamond83 on X.