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Cardinals’ GM Steve Keim ‘not satisfied’ with punting situation

Dec 5, 2016, 9:50 AM | Updated: 11:15 am

Arizona Cardinals punter Drew Butler. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)...

Arizona Cardinals punter Drew Butler. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

LISTEN: Steve Keim, Cardinals general manager

The Arizona Cardinals got a much-needed win Sunday when they downed the Washington Redskins 31-23 at University of Phoenix Stadium.

While getting back in the win column can do wonders for a lot of what has been ailing an underachieving team, it’s not a cure-all.

One issue that has plagued the Cardinals all season was still present in their most recent triumph: punting.

Drew Butler averaged just 39.7 yards on three punts Sunday, mostly failing to affect field position when the Cardinals saw drives stall.

Most notably, Butler’s final punt of the day, which came with 7:26 left in the second quarter, fell short of where it needed to be. Leading 7-3, the Cardinals faced a 4th-and-15 at their own 20-yard line. Butler’s punt traveled 28 yards, out of bounds, allowing Washington to start a possession in Arizona territory at the 48-yard line. Eleven plays later, Washington got a field goal from Dustin Hopkins to pull to within a point at 7-6

Steve Keim, the team’s general manager, isn’t exactly happy with what he’s seen.

“Not satisfied at all,” Keim told Doug and Wolf Monday morning on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “Like any other position, there are expectations, and at that spot right now, we’re not living up to expectations.

“It’s a results-based business, and if you’re not getting the job done, we’ll look and see if there’s someone who can.”

Butler won the punting job in training camp, but struggled early in the season with ineffectiveness and injuries. He was actually waived in early October with an injury settlement and replaced by veteran Ryan Quigley. The punting game didn’t get much better with Quigley handling the job, and Butler was brought back in mid-November.

Butler’s 41.3 gross average and 35.4 net average rank dead last among NFL punters.

“You’re in some critical situations, and it’s not like you have a backup punter you can put in if a guy is having a rough day,” Keim said. “We’ll certainly talk about that today and see where it goes moving forward.”

Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) celebrates his touchdown against the Washington Redskins with tackle D.J. Humphries during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians greets Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden prior to an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) scores a touchdown as Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) and safety Duke Ihenacho (29) defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs as Washington Redskins inside linebacker Will Compton (51) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws as Washington Redskins inside linebacker Will Compton (51) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Kevin Minter (51) sacks Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is hit by Washington Redskins inside linebacker Su'a Cravens (36) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Kevin Minter (51) celebrates his sack against the Washington Redskins during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Washington Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins (3) celebrates his field goal with punter Tress Way (5) holds during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins (3) kicks a field goal as punter Tress Way (5) holds during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marcus Cooper (41) stops Washington Redskins wide receiver Ryan Grant short of the goal line during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Washington Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins (3) celebrates his field goal against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins running back Rob Kelley (32) is hit by Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tyvon Branch (27) and free safety D.J. Swearinger (36) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins running back Chris Thompson (25) eludes the reach of Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro (7) watches his field goal split the uprights as Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) looks on during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman (24) celebrates his defensive stop in the end zone with teammate free safety Will Blackmon (41) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman (24) breaks up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) dives for yardage as Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) escapes the reach of Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins running back Rob Kelley (32) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs as Washington Redskins inside linebacker Su'a Cravens (36) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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