Following the New England Patriots' loss in Super Bowl LII to the Philadelphia Eagles, head coach Bill Belichick's decision to not play former Pro Bowl cornerback Malcolm Butler is at the forefront of the national conversation.
It appears that there is finally some clarity on the situation, as Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network is reporting that there were various issues that led to the Belichick choosing to not play the 27-year-old on defense on Sunday night.
My understanding is the benching of #Patriots CB Malcolm Butler happened because of a perfect storm of issues: Sickness, a rough week of practice, and a minor rule violation believed to be related to curfew. A complicated matter. pic.twitter.com/TmUJgkHpsZ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 5, 2018
The health concerns were known heading into the Super Bowl, as he had been battling an illness early last week that led to him being hospitalized. He was able to return to practice over the next few days, but that apparently contributed to his struggles on the practice field in preparation for the Eagles.
Meanwhile, the curfew violation only added to what was already beginning to be a tough week for Butler prior to the Super Bowl. On top of that, his pushback toward the coaching staff's decision probably didn't help his prospects. All of this verifies the complexity of the decision that Belichick hinted at following the loss.
At the same time, the decision reportedly frustrated some of the players and coaches, especially given how close it came to the beginning of the game itself. This appears to have created some unnecessary tension that could have contributed to the team's porous play on that side of the ball.
Source: Benching Butler not a discipline issue. Belichick made the call a few hours before game. Many coaches and players were shocked. Some players and coaches “furious” with Belichick, this is a move that divided the locker room.
— Kirk Minihane (@kirkmin) February 6, 2018
Butler's absence from the secondary played a part in the Patriots' struggles against the pass, as Super Bowl MVP quarterback Nick Foles complete 28-of-43 passes for 373 yards and three touchdown passes, in addition to a receiving touchdown. Much of these difficulties came away from veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who held a 17.6 passer rating on throws made in his direction on Sunday night.
This may have been the final straw for Butler in New England, as he is likely to leave the team in free agency this upcoming offseason. However, the type of offers he receives on the open market may be impacted by the actions that caused him to benched in the Super Bowl. It will be interesting to see what unfolds for the young corner over the next few weeks.
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