Malcolm Butler Mega Thread

[IllegalContact]

Until we see evidence to the contrary (pics of Butler partying, reports from someone on the team, etc.), both Belichick and Butler should be believed and the decision to keep him on the bench after halftime in favor of Bademosi and the Big Nickel is as egregious an error as he’s ever made here. It directly cost the Patriots their sixth Lombardi. I wouldn’t want anyone besides him coaching my team, but god damn was that a horrible decision. I feel bad for the players because the coaching staff and their outright refusal to go away from a game plan that clearly wasn’t working did them in.

B.B. has said nothing that is believable .... just the usual whitewash

Butlers a hero ...... you can literally say that without him, there would be one less trophy

He deserves better than this half assed ******** by B.B. ...... He may be the best coach ever, but he’s a jackass

 

[fair catch fryar]

So TB12 supports Butler, what do the BB KoolAid crowd say about that? IS Brady a malcontent to?

As far as we know, TB12 "liked" his post, wrote something "nice".....and we are somehow supposed to equate this to his unequivocal support of Butler?



People just need to step away for a while, check themselves and let this play out. I just cant anymore....

 

[Todd Bradley]

There should be a parade tomorrow.

Seems like Bill didn’t seem to want one.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

I think the honest answer is the facts we have. No misconduct, nothing else. Belichick saw Malcolm give up 8 catches and 2 TDs in the playoffs and didn't want him playing in the Superbowl. It sounds crazy but this could actually be the crazy truth.

Now I strongly disagree with this being a Butler fan but that's another story.

Last thing- WHO were those bettors betting multiple million dollar bets on the Eagles? I could see a bettor eagerly placing down huge wagers if anyone got inside info that Belichick was benching Butler or thinking of the crappy 4 safety defense as the scheme.

 

[chumpchange]

the more i think about this the more angry i get so im getting off.

Previous superbowl losses it felt like us against the world. Everyone wants to see us lose and we have to defend the wall, etc.

But this loss feels different, I'm not upset we lost. I'm disappointed in how we lost. The coaches choices in this game on the defensive end have resulted in a fracture that actually makes it feel like the dynasty could be over.

going to need a break for a while.

still zero snaps though, crazy.

I feel the same way. Other losses were us against them; this loss was the result of sabotage by our head coach because he couldn't stand to admit he was wrong. It's hard enough to win when the other team, the officials, and the crowd are all against you, but when your own Head Coach screws you over, too, how do you process and accept that?

 

[JackBauer]

Criticize away.

He trusted the other players more.

I don’t get this defense. It still impugns his judgment doesn’t it.

 

[50-yard-line]

As far as we know, TB12 "liked" his post.....and we are somehow supposed to some equate this to his unequivocal support of Butler?



People just need to step away for a while, check themselves and let this play out. I just cant anymore....

On instagram, in reply to the post:

Tom Brady: “Love you Malcolm. You are always an incredible player and teammate and friend. Always!!!!!!”

 

[IllegalContact]

As far as we know, TB12 "liked" his post.....and we are somehow supposed to some equate this to his unequivocal support of Butler?



People just need to step away for a while, check themselves and let this play out. I just cant anymore....

Naaah.......the current status is that B.B. is an ***hole

 

[sportnik]

I have no issue with BB benching Butler if he had a bad week of practice, but when it became clear that Rowe, Bademosi and Richards weren’t getting it done, he had to put Butler in the game.

I love BB, but the issue is that BB has been so successful that he answers to nobody and there’s nothing that can be done to hold him in check. In this case, his ego just cost the Pats a Lombardi trophy.

I thought the most telling part of the Two Bills was when Kraft commented on how hard it’s been to manage the Bills. We knew Parcells was a drama queen, but BB is probably a nightmare to manage as well. In retrospect, i think I’ve been much to hard on Kraft, whose done a pretty good job holding it all together.

 

[fair catch fryar]

Naaah.......the current status is that B.B. is an *******

NEWSFLASH!!!! Everyone already thinks that and BB doesn't give a sh!t what we think. It has worked out pretty well so far.

 

[alvinnf]

If there were no issues off the field (and even if there was), BB has to explain this. Even if for some dumb reason, BB demoted/benched Butler, not putting him in there is even worse.

I'm pissed about this situation, we basically handed the Eagles the SB

Aint that the truth!

 

[Todd Bradley]

In other words, Butler was ready to go, Belichick divided the locker room by pulling him an hour before kickoff and created an unnecessary distraction, then after his completely wrong and proven incorrect decision he stomped his foot on the ground and refused to relent even after halftime when Philly already had 22 points on the board, which was the most the team had given up in a half all season long.

As I’ve said numerous times, Belichick’s stubborn ego cost this team a title.

 

[fair catch fryar]

On instagram, in reply to the post:

Tom Brady: “Love you Malcolm. You are always an incredible player and teammate and friend. Always!!!!!!”

Good for Tom, it still doesn't mean anything except what he wrote.

 

[Joey007]

I knew you couldn't possibly believe any of the nonsense you were serving us up.

He’s melting down.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Butler's post looks like a lot of past-tense "Thank you for the ride, Patriots" and a lot of "looking toward the future" wrapped around a kernel of "All this speculation is hurtful to me and my family."

My personal favorite insane speculation is that it's a compliment. BB was NOT going to let him be the hero of two super bowls while he had a non-zero chance of re-signing him.

Heh? Heh? You guys like?

 

[DropKickFlutie]

I have no issue with BB benching Butler if he had a bad week of practice, but when it became clear that Rowe, Bademosi and Richards weren’t getting it done, he had to put Butler in the game.

Yes this is the crazy part. We have seen Belichick make big changes at halftime, benching Arrington who played all year, and putting in an unknown Butler in the Seahawks Superbowl. This defense wasn't stopping anyone last Sunday. They shifted Gilmore at halftime but kept Butler on the bench. Bizarre.

 

[Ring 6]

When the usually refined Tom Brady, along with half the team, comes out in clear support of Malcom Butler, it’s pretty clear what the facts are.

They are friends and teammates.

You were wrong, Belichick cost us a title with his irrational decision.

I can’t be wrong because my argument was you can’t judge a decision without knowing the facts. That argument will never be wrong.

Let the fact that you were on the wrong side of this debate wash over you and come to acceptance.

You need to learn reading comprehension.

My part in this discussion was essentially standing in front of the lynch mob saying you need facts before lynching.

I said numerous times if the lynch mob came for butler i would be making the same argument in his defense.

When a crazy argument is being made (and the **** says about B.B. on this board certainly is crazy) taking the side of reason and wanting facts is not the wrong side of a debate.

 

[Joey007]

There should be a parade tomorrow.

Seems like Bill didn’t seem to want one.

He didn’t want to have to chant “No days off! Except for you Malcolm. Have the day off.”

 

[Jackson 2]

I'm not going to do anything. I know that if they don't Belichick will be regarded as a great coach but not someone you can put in the class of Lombardi because he made a decision that cost his team a Super Bowl. I know that if they don't years from now this will be viewed as the decision that ended the greatest dynasty in football.

It really is in everyone's best interests to win another won.

In 3 years no one other than people around here will even remember it. I challenge anyone to rewatch that game and watch our defense closely and conclude that Malcolm's presence would have resulted in a win. It wouldn't have. For crissakes, as I said to a friend yesterday, having Ty F###### Law at cornerback wouldn't have saved that game. Idiotic homer hysteria. We were beaten by a better team and we still would have been beaten by that team with Malcolm playing every snap.

 

[PP2]

Forgive me for not reading most of the 127 pages of this thread, but...

Personally, I think that BB's decision to bench Butler is going to end up in the top 5 worst football decisions he has ever made, on many levels.

First, and foremost, putting Butler in, would have forced the Gilmore vs. Jeffrey matchup right off the bat, because Butler would have been matched up with Smith. This furthermore would have moved Rowe to the slot to cover Agholor, and Chung would have been on Ertz because he is the hybrid backer in dime. All those roles would have been very familiar to these players.

As it is, Jeffery raped Rowe for 80 yards and a TD in 1.5 quarters and Richards gave up 81 yards. I don't have to bring up Bademosi's missed tackled in the 3rd because the damage had already been done.

Now for whatever Butler may or may not have done- it is still undeniable that he is a hard-nosed, scrappy player who is very competitive, and that kind of attitude rubs off on other players, on defense.