Malcolm Butler Mega Thread

[chumpchange]

Something in that warmup wasn’t right. I don’t buy for one second that Bill would bench a player for personal reasons or any such silliness. Right or wrong, they saw something from him in warmups which made them feel like he couldn’t help. We probably won’t know what for 20 years

Yes, but he was right there watching the defense get shredded and refused to put a substitute in? Literally anyone would have been better than the product on the field, but you don't put your #2 corner in? I think this was personal. Bill made a decision not to play him and wasn't going to change it even though his original strategy was really not working. I love Bill, but I'm in shock that he would blow a Super Bowl this way.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

YOU CANNOT PUT WHAT IS IN REALITY A SAFETY ON AN ABOVE AVERAGE RECEIVER ----enuff said....pure dumb by the greatest coach who ever lived but you have to bend the rules in a game of this magnitude - not smart

 

[HailHydra]

Patricia was the best coordinator in the entire league in 2017.

No coordinator could have done anywhere near what he did with what he had.

Ok I respect what Patricia tried to do, but there's a massive flaw in the Patriots defense. Part of it comes from the SHEER NECESSITY of having to sign players like James Harrison to come and start near the end of the season. I don't care how well he played. You cannot rely on a 39 year old player to give you serious minutes in the game in such a short time. Part of it is from Patricia. Wasn't it just months ago that the league was raving about all the pieces that the Patriots defense had? How we had a top CB duo in the league, how our defense would be excellent. Something changed, and Patricia should receive the majority of the blame.

 

[upstater1]

One thing is clear: Tom Brady is more responsible for this dynasty than BB. I am so dissapointed in Bill. Just absolutely crushing to see Butler crying. You know, seeing Butler like this hurts more than losing.

I mean, yes, I have always agreed that Brady is the key to all of this. Belichick is absolutely great, but Brady is the god.

 

[blackglass3]

Our D sucks. The line blows outside of Flowers and Brown (Guy has his moments), the LB corps is a decent Van Noy and a bunch of stiffs, and Butler may have helped tonight but he'd have blown a few plays also.

Richards sucks, Roberts is horrific, M Flowers is meh, Wise was in over his head, Lee was a PS player for a reason. I had no problem with Rowe starting, but sticking Jordan Freaking Richards and Bademisi out there killed us. Maybe J Jones would have stopped that play Bademisi whiffed who knows.

 

[Nehalem]

Something in that warmup wasn’t right. I don’t buy for one second that Bill would bench a player for personal reasons or any such silliness. Right or wrong, they saw something from him in warmups which made them feel like he couldn’t help. We probably won’t know what for 20 years

And then BB should have reconsidered after watching his defense get shredded in the 1st half.

 

[rochrist]

Belichick should not have benched Butler for this entire game. It is inexcusable for him to make a decision like that in the Super Bowl.

Belichick’s arrogance and stupidity cost us this game. Brady was unable to cover up Belichick’s mistake today as he has so many times in the past 20 years.

I’m whole heartedly disappointed in Belichick and him putting his need to send a message to a player who has helped him win 2 previous Super Bowls over the success of the team. There is nobody that can say we were better off with Rowe, Richards, etc. on the field.

I'm pretty sure we should make sure he's fired tomorrow. What a loser.

 

[JPsPats]

Patricia didn’t have the horses on D, but I’m not giving him a pass because if he was some great coordinator he could of changed up the scheme to get at least a couple stops.

Patricia gave us some good years, but he’s easily replaceable.

 

[maust]

i have no clue why Butler was benched but I find it hard to believe Belichick was doing anything other than what he thought gave the team it's best shot at winning. I can't fault a coaching staff that got us this far as many times as this one has for missed tackles and blown assignments. Do I think a mentally & physically whole Butler would have made a difference? Sure, but I have no idea why Belichick didn't think he was whole enough.

 

[NE_Zealot]

Pederson outcoached Belichick, period.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

If Butler didn't commit a serious felony, then this is beyond ridiculous. And regardless if he broke some sacred team rule or wasn't well enough to play, why TF was he active!?!?!?

It better be damn serious to throw away a super bowl. That’s unforgivable

 

[SalemPats]

I love BB and always support him. But, if this was a last second call to bench Butler and then not even put him in the game after the defense is getting killed than this is on BB.

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

I don

I don't believe that. That's what BB does. Zero info and any giving situation. I think there is another reason. Like i said wait and see.

I may believe that, if I didn't see tweets already of butler crying about the coaching staff giving up on him.

 

[VectorPrime]

Belichick did Butler dirty. It’s unforgivable

 

[Jackson 2]

This entire board right now sounds like it's originating from an insane asylum. The Eagles were better tonight. They deserved to win. Their offense would have scored at least the same number of points with Malcolm Butler or without him. I hated losing this game. Why can't some people just admit that Philly was better tonight? It's embarrassing.

 

[letekro]

Something in that warmup wasn’t right. I don’t buy for one second that Bill would bench a player for personal reasons or any such silliness. Right or wrong, they saw something from him in warmups which made them feel like he couldn’t help. We probably won’t know what for 20 years

3 Games to Ignominy will be out in a few months.

 

[Bobsyouruncle]

It was like a lot of their Super Bowls.

They play the coaches plan, they get behind.

Then they ask Brady to bail them out by passing every down when the defense knows that's all they can do.

Amazingly he usually does it.

 

[rochrist]

Maybe he does not care anymore.....I hope I'm wrong.If there's something goin on between him and Kraft I think this one proves it.

Time for you to jump off the Bandwagon I guess.

 

[FrodoBagginz]

It's hard to argue against the man that put together teams that got us to 8 Super Bowls and won 5 of them. All these tweets and info coming out on Butler has me baffled, though.

But until more info comes out , I'll trust Belichick made what he thought was the decision for the team.

 

[Big-T]

Let’s wait to find out whether this was due to Matt Patricia or whether B.B. deliberately handicapped him by taking Butler away.

Not having Butler isn't the reason why he was calling stupid inside stunts leaving the edges free for the Eagles backs to get to and pick up easy yardage. It's also not the reason he was calling for Jeffrey to have a free release off the line early or not have Gilmore shadow him all game long.

Benching Butler was a handicap, but the game plan and play calling was abysmal.