Malcolm Butler Mega Thread

[captain stone]

Donta Hightower agrees.

It might've taken 13 years, but they hate their coach (as do I).

 

[pwes]

So nobody wants to hold Malcolm Butler accountable for his own actions?

I really wish we knew what the hell he did but I have to assume it was something. I'm just baffled otherwise.

BB deserves his criticism unless/until we really know what Butler did and that is the only question that matters right now.

I kind of respect that BB made whatever decision he felt was right and will stick by it without throwing the player under the bus but god is it frustrating. And without knowing why makes it impossible to defend.

Except Bill is saying he didn't do anything. So how can you hold a player accountable for something everyone is saying did nothing wrong? According to them it was just a "coaching decision and packages" that kept him out of the game.

You trust Bill enough to think he made a correct decision to bench Butler but don't trust the own words out of his mouth?

I don't understand why people just assume Malcolm did something egregious to deserve this when everyone is saying he didn't. I can buy the excuse he looked bad in warmups and that's why they changed it up. But I'm not liking this slippery slope people are going down calling him a rule breaker missing curfew or cursing out the coaches or showing up to practice and the game drunk (wtf). People are trying to push blame on Malcolm instead of just saying Bill just ****ed up.

At least wait for something credible before assigning blame to him.

 

[Foxypats]

This is one of the stupidiest and mind numbing decisions Belichick has ever made. Sometimes he lets his ego get in the way of what is best for the team !

 

[The Brandon Five]

Patricia was given genius status when he turned this defense around this season. Last 12 games gave up under 14 points a game. Tennessee playoff game, 8 sacks and only 14 points. Jacksonville game, gave up 6 points in the 2nd half to keep the Jags close enough for the Pats to come back. Where was that defense ? Same players.

Well, minus one key player.

 

[letekro]

Its just weird, last game of the year you need all the positive energy you can get, the superbowl was not the time to start petty discipline. Not having Butler was a huge factor and bad karma. The eagles were united, the patriots were not. Belichick is a great coach but he sometimes hinders the team with weird decisions, overtime people will get tired of his act.

There is zero evidence it was “discipline.” Less than zero that it was “petty”

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Ertz turned DMac around on this play..


DMac had responsibility on both Clement and Ertz as possible targets on that play. If Ertz breaks to the outside behind Clement DMac has to cover that. You see the little wiggle Ertz does freezes DMac for a fraction of a second which was just the window they needed..

It was just another well designed route to occupy the safety. Also required a hell of a throw into double coverage with not an inch to spare for the receiver to make the catch (or not depending on how you stand on the review).

Based on the review it should’ve been overturned but the nfl didn’t want another catch conspiracy on their hands.

As for the play, Dmac had the biggest responsibility on determining how to play it. Freezing was the worst thing he could’ve done.

 

[Huckleberry1]

BB admitted as much after the game. “This one’s on me,” he said. Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

It’s called taking responsibility, it’s the only way to get better at anything, and I have nothing but respect for it.

 

[signbabybrady]

Except Bill is saying he didn't do anything. So how can you hold a player accountable for something everyone is saying did nothing wrong? According to them it was just a "coaching decision and packages" that kept him out of the game.

You trust Bill enough to think he made a correct decision to bench Butler but don't trust the own words out of his mouth?

I don't understand why people just assume Malcolm did something egregious to deserve this when everyone is saying he didn't. I can buy the excuse he looked bad in warmups and that's why they changed it up. But I'm not liking this slippery slope people are going down calling him a rule breaker missing curfew or cursing out the coaches or showing up to practice and the game drunk (wtf). People are trying to push blame on Malcolm instead of just saying Bill just ****ed up.

At least wait for something credible before assigning blame to him.

Fair enough Malcolm deserves some benefit of the doubt too.

I'm just baffled and I assume something caused this and I wouldn't put it past BB to punish someone while simultaneously not throwing them under the bus for it.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Some of you keep mixing up the huge ramifications.
- Chung an elite in the box safety had to play slot
- McCourty an elite FS had to defend Ertz
- Rowe a decent slot corner had to play outside
- No Chung in the box led to horrible run defense as well.

Basically made every player in the secondary play their unideal position. Also demoralizing to know your talented 2-ring heart and soul teammate was benched for no reason



.

 

[sb1]

It’s kind of cool he still called the Pats “us”.

 

[gitgronked82]

i think the bigger story is that hightower liked the post

 

[SalemPats]

The players around him on defense are mediocre because of the sustained excellence of the team. We have been consistently drafting (take or give a year or two) around the late 20s/early 30s for 15 years now ? And yet the teams are more often than not up among the top in scoring defense, ST and offense.

The reason Brady had players around him that put a light on his greatness like Moss, Welker, Gronk or Edelman is because they were acquired or drafted by BB and Caserio. When Brady gets all the presnap reads and sometimes easy throws it is because of the routes designed meticulously by the coaching staff.

No one is saying BB is bad coach, talent evaluator, we are saying he screwed up here. Let's also be honest, we don't have sustained excellence without Brady

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

This move by BB will be one of his biggest blunders. Offense had a chance but once again you can't keep playing from behind. It finally caught up to them.

 

[Bobsyouruncle]

The players around him on defense are mediocre because of the sustained excellence of the team. We have been consistently drafting (take or give a year or two) around the late 20s/early 30s for 15 years now ? And yet the teams are more often than not up among the top in scoring defense, ST and offense.

The reason Brady had players around him that put a light on his greatness like Moss, Welker, Gronk or Edelman is because they were acquired or drafted by BB and Caserio. When Brady gets all the presnap reads and sometimes easy throws it is because of the routes designed meticulously by the coaching staff.

They always have a good offense because of Brady. I don't see how anyone can believe Brady has been surrounded by offensive talent. Outside of Moss for two years he's had mid level WR talent, and made them look far better here than anywhere else.

BBs the defensive guru, but his defense have given up leads in the 4th in nearly every Super Bowl.

Brady gives them leads in the 4th in every SB.

 

[luuked]

As for the play, Dmac had the biggest responsibility on determining how to play it. Freezing was the worst thing he could’ve done.

I guess. I dont know. After looking through so much footage from yesterday I feel like Ertz almost deserved the SB MVP. He was a key aspect of the majority of third/fourth down conversions in terms of route design and receptions. So I can see why DMac would cheat a bit towards Ertz breaking to the sideline against Richards with inside leverage.

To me this is one of those tip of your hat plays. It required a perfect throw into a very small window by Foles to a third string RB and even then had to survive a review from upstairs because it was so close. Those are not plays that I get upset about. If anything one could argue that this was another play that showed our problem with pass rush because Foles had all day on that snap.

 

[slash83]

Well deserved

 

[letekro]

Some of you keep mixing up the huge ramifications.
- Chung an elite in the box safety had to play slot
- McCourty an elite FS had to defend Ertz
- Rowe a decent slot corner had to play outside
- No Chung in the box led to horrible run defense as well.

Basically made every player in the secondary play their unideal position. Also demoralizing to know your talented 2-ring heart and soul teammate was benched for no reason



.

Is it possible that the Patriots wanted to be bigger in the back end in nickel and dime because of Ajayi and Blount? Would that solve the riddle?

 

[luuked]

No one is saying BB is bad coach, talent evaluator, we are saying he screwed up here. Let's also be honest, we don't have sustained excellence without Brady

And he might not have the same excellence without BB. He might be just another Rivers or Brees without a coach that creates an environment that brings the best out of him. This entire argument is circular and pointless. They make each other greater..

 

[sambam94]

media should be asking why he was benched until they are blue in the face...coaches decision is just not good enough

 

[Bella*chick]

It’s kind of cool he still called the Pats “us”.

I noticed that too.