MINNEAPOLIS – The Patriots defense looked like a team that could’ve certainly used Malcolm Butler in Super Bowl LII. That’s what made coach Bill Belichick’s decision to not play the former Pro Bowl cornerback shocking on Sunday night.
After starting for the last three seasons, Butler didn’t play a single defensive snap in the Patriots 41-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Butler watched helplessly on the sideline as the Patriots’ secondary gave [...]
MINNEAPOLIS – The Patriots defense looked like a team that could’ve certainly used Malcolm Butler in Super Bowl LII. That’s what made coach Bill Belichick’s decision to not play the former Pro Bowl cornerback shocking on Sunday night.
After starting for the last three seasons, Butler didn’t play a single defensive snap in the Patriots 41-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Butler watched helplessly on the sideline as the Patriots’ secondary gave up a whopping 373 passing yards to Nick Foles.
After the game, Butler declined to talk to a group of reporters, but talked to ESPN and didn’t hold back.
"They gave up on me,” Butler said. “[Expletive]. It is what it is."
After the game, Belichick didn’t have many answers. When asked if Butler didn’t play due to disciplinary reasons, the Patriots coach said, “no.” When asked if Butler, who joined the team late this week due to having the flu, didn’t play due to his illness, Belichick replied, “No. He’s healthy.”
“We put the players out there and the game plan out there that we felt would be the best tonight, like we always do,” Belichick said when asked why Eric Rowe got the start over Butler.
This season, Butler started 15 out of 16 regular season games. He finished with 12 deflections and two interceptions. This week, after flying to Minnesota on Tuesday, Butler seemed genuinely happy to play in his third Super Bowl in four NFL seasons.
On Sunday night, it looked as if the Patriots could’ve used him. Foles picked on Rowe early, beating the cornerback for a 34-yard touchdown in the first quarter. After the game, Rowe said he didn’t know he’d be starting Super Bowl LII “until, basically, kickoff.”
"I don't know what it was,” Butler told ESPN. “I guess I wasn't playing good or they didn't feel comfortable. I don't know. But I could have changed that game."
On the sideline, Butler looked emotional. He could be seen running in place, cheering on his teammates and doing jumping jacks to try and stay ready. Duron Harmon tried to encourage him in the event the coaching staff would put him in the game. Ultimately, it never happened despite the Eagles marching up and down the field on the Patriots’ defense.
“Everybody wants to play in this game,” Harmon said. “Everybody works hard to play in this game and I’m pretty sure he’s a little upset he didn’t get to play. Coach Belichick, he makes all personnel decisions and he might’ve felt that was best.
“He did a good job of staying on his team the whole time, cheering his teammates on. A lot of respect to Malcolm for being a great teammate today.”
“He put in just as much work as anybody that’s on the team. I know it cuts deep for him,” Rowe added.
Players were dismissive after the game when asked if they knew the reason why Butler didn’t play.
“I’m not a coach. I’m a player. I just play,” Kyle Van Noy said.
“No. I have no idea,” Rowe added.
“Got to ask coach. Coach makes all personnel decisions. I’m just here to play football,” Harmon said.
Said Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia: “We just played all the guys we could to try to help us win, whatever packages we had, whatever situations. We were trying to move some things around.”
Butler, of course, became known after intercepting Russell Wilson in Super Bowl XLIX. Last year, he was named to the second-team All Pro en route to winning a second Super Bowl title. This year, however, was different.
Butler started in the offseason as a restricted free agent. Instead of getting a big deal from the Patriots, the team signed Stephon Gilmore to a $65 million deal instead. Gilmore was reportedly nearly traded to the New Orleans Saints, but the deal never materialized when they drafted cornerback and Defensive Rookie of the Year Marshon Lattimore.
This year, Butler’s play was clearly down. But on Sunday, it was a shocker to see him sit while Rowe, Johnson Bademosi and Jordan Richards all played in the secondary. An unrestricted free agent this March, it looks like Butler’s time with the Patriots has come to an end.
When asked about what’s next, Butler said he wasn’t Miss Clea, so he couldn’t tell the future.
In the end, Belichick’s decision was certainly a shocker for everyone.
"It was a coach's decision,” Butler told ESPN. “I was just doing my job and supporting my teammates. I have nothing but great things to say about the organization. They gave me an opportunity. That's about it."