The NFL Network is reporting that the Patriots sent Butler home. They can't even get the most basic details right.
As far as the supposed "punishment" goes the coach decides who partake in drills, not the thought police.
Ya well that's how the mediots are gonna go with this one, that he got sent home. Even though Malcolm was on record telling a group of reporters
“Today wasn’t my first day, I’ve been here all week, so focus on everything, getting better, footwork, communication with the teammates, everything. Everything to win.”
When asked what he’s been working on while not on the practice field
“Film room, weights, same thing that football requires,” Butler said. “I got out here today, don’t feel like I missed a step, so feel pretty confident.”
By the way this is the rule NFLPA is trying to get the Pats on
“No Club official may indicate to a player that the Club’s offseason workout program or classroom instruction is not voluntary (or that a player’s failure to participate in a workout program or classroom instruction will result in the player’s failure to make the Club or result in any other adverse consequences affecting his working conditions). Contact work (e.g., “live” blocking, tackling, pass rushing, bump-and-run) is expressly prohibited in all offseason workouts. All Clubs, coaches and other Club officials shall follow all of the rules regarding offseason workouts set forth in AppendixG hereto.”
So he wasn't cut and according to him being off the field didn't "result in adverse consequences affecting his working conditions", because he said he didn't feel like he missed a step.
But go ahead and keep the double standard up, you got a guy who has basically said he was ok with the what happened and then you got the Titans cutting a guy on the first day of voluntary camp after he made it known he wasn't coming.
Per that CBA rule not coming to voluntary camp shouldn't affect you making the club and i'm sure someone will respond they were gonna cut him anyways, well do that days before the workouts or days after the workouts, not the first day. But i'm sure the NFLPA will be mum on that one when they should at least be filing a complaint. IMO (ya ya homer blah blah) Shonn Greene being cut on the first day of workouts after he made it known he wasn't showing up is more of a violation of this rule than Belichick having a player who was voluntarily there participate in everything but on-field drills for a handful of practices.
But ya go ahead and set the precedent for how coaches run OTAs when players are present rather than a team cutting a guy on the first day of camp after he didn't show up. So then players will just throw the voluntary card out when they don't want to do something at workouts or break teams rules and the coach has no recourse. But it is perfectly fine if you cut a guy who didn't show up on the first day of camp when it specifically states a player not going to voluntary workouts can't be cut because he didn't show up.
