Donald Butler News

Manti Te'o's NFL life in earnest begins today in San Diego - Peter King San Diego coach Mike McCoy told me Sunday, after the rookie minicamp, that the staff expects Te'o to be an every-down linebacker.

At first it was alright to go with the old standby of 'woe is me' when discussing outside linebacker Melvin Ingram 's torn ACL on Tuesday in minicamp , but now the search for a replacement at outside linebacker is on.

Head Coach Mike McCoy watched for the first time as his entire team took part in all three phases of the game.

So the early reviews on Manti Te'o are positive in San Diego, but what would they be, really, when the players aren't in pads and it's only the rookies out there? Today, when the veterans report and the full squad begins offseason training activities, is when he and his fellow Chargers rookies really start to be measured.

The Chargers are forging a new team, and the past three days provided an opportunity for the kids to learn their ABC's and 1, 2, 3's and begin writing with crayons.

July 26, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers linebacker Jarret Johnson and linebacker Takeo Spikes and linebacker Donald Butler participate in a drill during training camp at Charger Park.

Manti Te'o worked out Friday during the first day of the Chargers' rookie minicamp.

A day before his first NFL practice, linebacker Manti Te'o has signed his rookie contract with the San Diego Chargers.

Sep 22, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers cornerback Marcus Gilchrist during the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Qualcomm Stadium.

Manti Te'o was a leader and an icon at Notre Dame . Everyone now seems to expect him to be that same thing for the San Diego Chargers in year one and the next Junior Seau .

If Manti Te'o comes up short of his potential, will new inside linebacker D.J. Smith be able to step in and contribute to the defense? There are two defensive positions that allow the most innovation, and require the most instinct to play in the NFL- strong safety and inside linebacker.

Bolt Family, as you already know, Donald Butler recently reacted publicly to the Manti Te'o selection by Tom Telesco in this yearA s NFL draft.

Nov 1, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel holds on to the ball as San Diego Chargers inside linebacker Donald Butler and cornerback Marcus Gilchrist bring him down as Chiefs tackle Branden Albert looks on during the second quarter at Qualcomm Stadium.

Yes, Chargers rookie linebacker Manti Te'o will hear some jokes in the locker room about his fake dead girlfriend.

Alabama's Eddie Lacy breaks away for a touchdown run during the first half of the BCS National Championship college football game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan.

There has been lot of attention on the San Diego Chargers ' selection of linebacker Manti Te'o , but not a lot has been written about Te'o's projected role.

Heading into this past weekend, the Chargers had several needs that they needed to address.

Apr 27, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers draft picks D.J. Fluker , Manti Teo and Keenan Allen pose for a photo with their jerseys during a press conference at Chargers Park.

Top Picks Analysis: The Chargers' offensive line was abysmal in 2012 and D.J. Fluker was the best O-Line prospect left on the board when San Diego picked at No.

The San Diego Chargers may have entered the 2013 NFL Draft with an unproven general manager and plenty of question marks, but the team has to feel good about the answers discovered over the weekend that was.