A little more detail has been revealed about why Bill Belichick decided to bench defensive back Malcolm Butler right before the Super Bowl started.
Malcolm Butler was suffering from flu-like symptoms the week of the Super Bowl. As a result, Butler did not fly with the team to Minnesota for the game. It is rumored that Butler requested the team to send a private jet to come pick him up in Boston and take him to Minneapolis for the game.
Patriots insiders are saying, Malcolm Butler was not having a good week a practice. This would support Belichick when he says he benched Butler for football reasons.
It is also reported that Malcolm Butler violated the team’s curfew rule at some point during the two weeks leading to the Super Bowl.
So it sounds like Butler was benched for a disciplinary reason as well as football reasons. What is not explained is Eric Rowe was getting smoked pretty much all game why wasn’t Malcolm Butler inserted into the game at some point? Belichick is always being lionized for how well he makes in-game adjustments, I think he deserves the criticism for not making an adjustment in this game.
This whole situation sounds like Belichick was being stern and stubborn as he is rumored to be as a head coach. Malcolm Butler seems to be a victim a chain of unfortunate incidents.
One thing I will say is the chances of Butler returning to Patriots next season is slim to none.
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