Malcolm Butler Mega Thread

[IllegalContact]

If you can't fathom that Rowe could have made erroneous assumptions despite the game plan that is why he was "genuinely surprised", that's on you. And there's nothing I can do to help you. I'm going to take McCourty's word over Rowe since McCourty is a captain as well as a guy who helps make the adjustments in the secondary.

I've already stated that I was disappointed that Butler wasn't out there. I've also stated that I have no idea what would have happened if he'd played. It changes the entirety of the game. No clue what the outcome would have been . None.

so let me get this straight.....the guy you want to believe is the one you think is not lying.....got it

 

[TomPatriot]

I am still wondering in which packages Rowe and Bademosi are better players than Butler. Fedex standard, next day delivery?

 

[zipster9]

The SB is over.

The problem still exists - Secondary with Roberts, Bademosi and Rowe.

Butler is heading into FA.

New DC is now, Schiano (more likely than Flores).

Now what? How do you improve the Secondary AND the DL for 2018?

 

[IllegalContact]

When Butler leaves in free agency, he will be the recipient of the new England smear campaign that happens at times to players leaving the region. I'm looking forward to all the convenient BS "leaks" as to why Butler didn't get the start.

people know him too well........if they want to smear him, in the long run, it will only hurt them in the eyes of free agents

 

[moosekill]

If, and it is a big if, but ifButler
a. missed the team plane
b. practiced like **** all week
c. was out partying after curfew Saturday night
d. was benched for the game for breaking team rules
e. The Patriots lost the game because he wasn't out there

I would say it was pretty much all on Butler, not on BB.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

What I don't get is... If BB knew AHEAD OF TIME that he's not planning on playing Butler, why even have him dressed for the game?

Injury depth.

 

[XLIX]

There is just so much that doesn't make sense. Belichick says it wasn't disciplinary, but Butler showed some very raw emotion prior to the game. How does a guy play 97% of snaps until the Super Bowl, and then play 0? 3 years ago, Belichick put Butler in for Arrington. Well, the secondary was playing worse this year than Arrington was back then.

 

[IllegalContact]

My final thought

did they really gameplan to have agholor covered with safeties? if they did not, how could they possibly expect to be successful trying to cover a guy who can run a 4.3 with safeties

somebody needs to explain this.......

 

[n6249c]

Right...im not a fan. Why am I taking this loss like someone died? posting dumb stuff in a thread doesn't mean I am less of a fan.

So I ask you, did benching Butler give them a better shot to win?

Belichick asserts that it did. If you disagree please justify your position including an explanation of why Belichick's reasoning is incorrect.

 

[qbno12]

Not sure how credible this guy is



Another one

 

[Patriot Missile]

If, and it is a big if, but ifButler
a. missed the team plane
b. practiced like **** all week
c. was out partying after curfew Saturday night
d. was benched for the game for breaking team rules
e. The Patriots lost the game because he wasn't out there

I would say it was pretty much all on Butler, not on BB.

If that is true, then yes, Butler would have let the team down all by himself. Actually, that would be easier to comprehend than non disciplinary issues.

 

[TomPatriot]

See, why are you saying this. It seems to be a way of saying he shouldn't have played for quality reasons. That's not true, so it just clutters things.

You'r right but so is Luuked. His coverage skills regressed a bit this year and he was out of place a few times. Not sure why, though.

 

[jam757]

Maybe Belichick is Bettor X in Vegas?

 

[bormio]

Stuff like this lingers. Seattle was still fighting about Carroll’s decision over a year later. They have not been right since. You can turn the page on ‘07 and ‘11 - this I am not so sure.

 

[wpdougie2180]

The partying & missing team flight for nefarious reasons doesn't jive with this report



What does jive is exactly what BB said. He didn't think Butler could help the team. He benched Butler vs KC too. Eagles run a very similar system on offense. That truly makes it worse IMO. They learned nothing from that KC game. Butler started 17 of 19 games Guess which 2 he didn't start.

"After he played 98.8 percent of the defensive snaps in 2015, and then 96.7 percent of the defensive snaps in 2016, it was eye-opening to see Butler utilized only in the team’s three-cornerback nickel package. The Patriots opened the game with Stephon Gilmore and Eric Rowe as their top cornerbacks."

Malcolm Butler on reduced role: I haven't been performing; no excuses

 

[aluminum seats]

You'r right but so is Luuked. His coverage skills regressed a bit this year and he was out of place a few times. Not sure why, though.

Totally irrelevant to this conversation though.

Yesterday's coaching was a fireable offense.

 

[dannydyn]

If that is true, then yes, Butler would have let the team down all by himself. Actually, that would be easier to comprehend than non disciplinary issues.

Sorry, I disagree. By not letting him play, you're not punishing him, as much you're screwing the other players, the organization, and the entire fcking fan base!

 

[Absurdly Metro]

If, and it is a big if, but ifButler
a. missed the team plane
b. practiced like **** all week
c. was out partying after curfew Saturday night
d. was benched for the game for breaking team rules
e. The Patriots lost the game because he wasn't out there

I would say it was pretty much all on Butler, not on BB.

Belichick said it was a football decision and was not disciplinary.

 

[Keyser Söze]

Having Richards coverings guys over Butler is inexcusable. Even with Butler not having a great season. Richards has never made a decent play, whenever he’s on the field you know we’re about to get burned

 

[TB_Helmet]

I didnt like the fact that Butler was on the bench but until we hear the whole truth I will refer to BB on this.

But I can't imagine what 'whole truth' could come out that would make me take BB's side. If Butler was late for something, if he was caught with weed, if he got in an argument with a coach...none of these things is worth benching the whole game, especially when you saw how bad the defense was playing. He didn't get arrested so it's an internal discipline thing. If it comes out he punched a coach, sure. But short of that, there's nothing that can make me take BB's side. And the more realistic scenario is that BB was trying to send a message.

We were missing a player like Hightower or Nink who could just make that one play. Instead the Eagles made it when they stripped Brady.

*****ing about Butler is just a shiny thing to complain about right now but the plays were there even without Butler that is reality. What would have happened with him on the field is all imaginary.

Don't these two paragraphs contradict themselves? Having Hightower is also an imaginary situation. I agree with your first paragraph and not your second. We were missing a Hightower, a Nink, and a Butler.