PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK: Butler continues to serve the team

Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2017, Adam Butler holds down a role in the Patriots' defensive line.

FOXBORO – Trey Flowers says he’s watched his linemate grow.

“Just how he’s able to come around, continue to grow from Year 1 to Year 2, him taking pride in his role and excelling in his role is always good for us,” the fourth-year defensive lineman answered when asked about Adam Butler, the second-year defensive tackle who occupies the spot next to him in the Patriots locker room and often in the line. “Just him getting penetration, allowing guys on the outside to flush the quarterback or we flush the quarterback back to him. So it’s just one of those deals that he got his role and has continued to work at it and take pride in it.”

Bill Belichick says he’s seen his player grow.

“I think he’s definitely improved, but most players do,” the Patriots’ veteran head coach said. “That Year 1 to Year 2 is a time when all of us, players and coaches, we all went through it. The first year you’re kind of just trying to keep your head above water and swim as fast as you can to keep up but it’s hard. The second year when you have been through it once before, you have a better idea of what you’re doing. You have a better idea of what to expect in terms of the overall schedule and the season and so forth and you have a better idea what to expect from your opponents and the other factors that come along with playing competitive games.

“All of that is valuable information. It’s valuable experience and a lot of it comes from Year 1 to Year 2. Some of it comes during the course of Year 1, but when you get a chance to start over in Year 2, you’re able to usually put those things in place, get off to a better start and just build from higher ground then the starting low point that we all started at our first time around. Yeah, he’s certainly done that.”

Over his two seasons with the Patriots, Butler has developed into a player who has a role in the team’s defensive line rotation and on special teams and one who is capable of making plays it seems few would have anticipated when he went undrafted out of Vanderbilt in 2017.

Last Sunday in Foxboro, the 6-foot-5, 300-pounder got to New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold for the sack that caused the fumble linebacker Kyle Van Noy scooped up and returned 46 yards for the third-quarter touchdown that gave the Patriots a 28-3 lead in a game they went on to win, 38-3, to wrap up their wildcard weekend bye.

“Darnold, he’s known for making plays on his feet, extending plays,” said Butler, breaking down the play. “Our cornerbacks did a great job covering, making sure he couldn’t throw it. Defensive ends did a great job containing him, making sure he couldn’t roll out. He came back in to my area, Trey got him around his feet, the pocket closed really quick and he had no choice but to (attempt to) throw it. I just stuck my hand out, got a piece of it, and we’re rolling.”

Credited with 19 tackles and two sacks while appearing in all 16 of the Patriots’ regular-season games last year and adding three stops and two more sacks in the postseason, Butler heads into the playoffs this year having appeared in all 16 of the team’s games once again this season, totaling 17 tackles, three sacks and the one forced fumble.

In addition to participating in 15 defensive plays (27 percent) against the Jets, Butler was on the field for 11 special teams snaps (44 percent).

“I think it’s good,” Butler answered when asked about his development in two years’ time. “I think there’s always room for improvement. But I just come in and I work every day to try to get better.”

Belichick says the improvement is apparent.

“He’s a smart player that can adjust quickly,” said Belichick. “He’s done a good job for us on the punt return team as well, which wasn’t a big role for him last year so he’s been able to expand his versatility and his value to the team by those added responsibilities. Yeah, he’s improved in every area.”

Gilmore, Patterson honored: While cornerback Stephon Gilmore was named a first-team Associated Press All-Pro on Friday, kickoff returner Cordarrelle Patterson was named to the second team.

Safety first: Devin McCourty may have missed the team's only two practices of the week on Wednesday and Thursday (the Patriots officially began their long bye weekend with the conclusion of practice on Thursday), with the concussion he suffered in the regular-season finale with the Jets but Patrick Chung for one doesn't sound like he's all that concerned about his fellow safety's availability for the AFC divisional round game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 13.

"It'll be fine,"said Chung. "He'll have time to heal. I'm not really worried about not having him. He's a tough dude, man. We'll go from there."