ɹˈʌðɚfɚd wʌz ʌndɹˈæftᵻd əpˌɑːn ˈɛntɚɹɪŋ ðɪ ˌɛnˌɛfˈɛl, bˌʌt wʌz sˈaɪnd tə ðə kˌæɹəlˈaɪnə pˈænθɚz, wˌɛɹ hiː spˈɛnt ðə tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹ sˈiːzən ɔnðə pɹˈæktɪs skwˈɑːd.
Rutherford was undrafted upon entering the NFL, but was signed to the Carolina Panthers, where he spent the 2004 season on the practice squad.