New England Patriots’ cornerback Malcolm Butler sat and watched Sunday night at Super Bowl 52. Eric Rowe trotted out into the spot on the field that he had manned for 97.8 percent of the defensive snaps played by the Matt Patricia-led unit in the regular season. Butler didn’t play a defensive snap in the Patriots’ 41-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, though he played sparingly on special teams.
An emotional Butler had to be consoled by teammates just before kickoff, presumably after learning he wouldn’t be playing in his third Super Bowl. The Patriots’ defense went on to allow Eagles’ quarterback Nick Foles to throw for 373 yards, three touchdowns and one interception that came on a tipped 50-50 ball on his way to an 88.6 QBR that earned him Super Bowl MVP honors and gave the Eagles their first Super Bowl Championship.
Butler expressed his frustration with ESPN’s Mike Reiss post-game.
“It was a coach’s decision. … I don’t know what it was,” an emotional Butler said as he walked toward the team buses with his family. “I guess I wasn’t playing good. They didn’t feel comfortable. I could have changed that game, though.”
Butler has proven to be a player that can change big games as it was Butler that intercepted Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson on the goal line of Super Bowl XLIX to give the Patriots the Lombardi Trophy.
Though he was not injured, Butler reportedly arrived a day later to Minneapolis than the rest of the team after spending some time in the hospital on Monday, though he was not listed on the team’s injury report leading up to the game.
When asked about Butler’s absence from the game at halftime by NBC Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick said the decision was based on giving the team the best chance to win.
“They gave up on me,” Butler told ESPN’s Reiss. “F— it. It is what it is.”
Tuesday Butler issued a statement thanking the Patriots’ organization. Butler also apologized for his comments after following Sunday’s game.
— Malcolm CB Butler (@Mac_BZ) February 6, 2018
Butler is an unrestricted free agent for the 2018 season and could be looking to moving elsewhere after signing a one-year deal to remain a Patriot last offseason. Though Butler expressed uncertainty about his future with the team on Sunday night, the market could be an interesting one for the 27-year-old Super Bowl XLIX hero. Butler has eight career interceptions in his four seasons in the NFL after being an undrafted free agent out of West Alabama.
Butler was shopped during the last offseason and at one point appeared to be headed to the New Orleans Saints in the Brandin Cooks’ trade before resigning with the one-year deal.
