'What's good, eBay?' Saints rookie Emmanuel Butler earns nickname; roster spot?

NEW ORLEANS — Emmanuel Butler began training camp with everyone calling him by his initials, E.B.

But once the rookie receiver started making impressive catches during practices, Teddy Bridgewater didn't think that name was good enough. So the quarterback came up with a nickname.

"What's good, eBay?" Bridgewater said to Butler.

“I looked over and I was like, ‘eBay?’" Butler said.

"He was like, ‘Yeah, we had to find you on the internet. You’re too good to not get drafted and come here as an undrafted free agent, so we had to find you cheap on the internet, at eBay.’”

From there, the nickname stuck.

"It's a good nickname," Butler said. "It's definitely one I feel like could stick around for a little bit."

On Thursday, Butler caught a 12-yard touchdown pass to put the finish on what he hoped was a good enough preseason to make the New Orleans Saints' 53-man roster. 

“I feel like I did everything I could to put myself in the best position to make this team,” the Northern Arizona product said after the Saints lost the preseason finale to the Miami Dolphins 16-13.

He knows he made mistakes, like the pass he let bounce off his hands in the first half. Soon after, he caught a third-down pass to the end zone for a touchdown.

On that play, Butler figured the ball would come his direction because the Dolphins were in man coverage. He lined up as the outside receiver and ran a fade route to the back of the end zone. Then came the beauty of a 12-yard pass from Bridgewater.

“He’s a guy that’s been showing flashes all throughout training camp,” Bridgewater said. “You talk about giving a guy an opportunity to show he can make plays in this league, that’s what I wanted to do for him. (Butler) just got a clean release (from the defender); I threw it to a spot and we were able to celebrate.”

Butler's roster status won’t be determined until after 3 p.m. Central time Saturday, the deadline for when teams must submit their cut-down from 90 players. The trimming of 37 players over the next two days will not be easy.

“A lot of tough decisions,” coach Sean Payton said.

The Saints could have as many as seven wideouts on the roster with shoo-ins Michael Thomas, Ted Ginn Jr. and Tre'Quan Smith along with Austin Carr and Keith Kirkwood.

Deonte Harris, another undrafted rookie, is also a roster favorite after he returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown Saturday against the New York Jets.

Butler made a quick impression early in training camp with several contested catches during practices. He missed the first preseason game against the Vikings with an injury. In the second game, he dropped the only pass thrown his direction.

Last week against the Jets, he caught three passes. Then came the touchdown Thursday.

Now, he has a nickname that stuck. His next hope is for a roster spot.