Malcolm Butler Mega Thread

[Ivan]

One person said that Ivan, but you keep repeating it.

Because it reflects just how bat sh.t crazy many Patriots fans have gone over a single personnel decision. 17 years of working relentlessly to bring success to this franchise out the window because fans don’t like a decision. What an incredibly spoiled, entitled, crybaby bunch of a-holes this fan base is.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

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This is not believable if you are doing what you always say you are doing, and that is putting your best players on the field that give you the best chance to win, particularly in the 2nd half. He wasn't bawling during Justin Timberlake, yet BB stuck with his losing plan that disrupted the whole defense then went on vacation. Inexcusable and a slap to the 52 other players on the roster who didn't deserve it.

"I'm sorry...as I said, I'm not at liberty to discuss it..."

 

[Ivan]

Sorry - he sh.t on me by making multiple decisions not only that I didn't like, but that made no sense, and made my team, who all worked relentlessly to get to the Super Bowl, lose the game. It's not disgraceful. It's venting, and justifiably so.

Unbelievable.

 

[ausbacker]

Leadership is not a popularity contest.

No doubt but Belichick's leadership directly impacted the team and cost it a very winnable Super Bowl.

 

[PatsDeb]

Because it reflects just how bat sh.t crazy many Patriots fans have gone over a single personnel decision. 17 years of working relentlessly to bring success to this franchise out the window because fans don’t like a decision. What an incredibly spoiled, entitled, crybaby a-holes this fan base is.

You don't mind that this decision probably cost us a Super Bowl? Just because people are grieving what could have been a glorious win for our team doesn't mean we are incredibly spoiled, entitled, crybaby a-holes. It means we are upset that our team lost the game, and worse, that our coach, who normally is the best in the business, made a really questionable decision, implemented it in a clumsy and crappy way, and then stuck with it when he could have attempted to right the ship, on multiple occasions. I (and many of the folks here) am not the a-hole here. Not by a long shot.

 

[PatsDeb]

Unbelievable.

That's funny - I feel the same way about your opinion.

 

[Ring 6]

Have any other examples of Brady taking sides in a controversial situation?

He isn’t taking sides.

He would have said nothing, not thrown Butler under the bus IF Malcolm have done anything to deserve a benching.

Did he tell you that?

But here he went out of his way to endorse Butler as a competitor and team mate, then we have Hightower who approved the Browner rip on BB.

You BB nut huggers need to get your heads out of your butts.

It’s instagam not a grand jury. Jesus.

 

[1960Pats]

Have any other examples of Brady taking sides in a controversial situation?

He would have said nothing, not thrown Butler under the bus IF Malcolm have done anything to deserve a benching.

But here he went out of his way to endorse Butler as a competitor and team mate, then we have Hightower who approved the Browner rip on BB.

You BB nut huggers need to get your heads out of your butts.

Good to cybersee you again. I hope all is going well. Things are going great here.

I think Brady has taken sides with all of the players he played with, from Big Vince and Welker all the way down to Talib. TB12's personality won't let him question authority though so he just says that he loves them all and goes with what he has. Belichick is lucky in that regard.

 

[mosi]

Thats what I'm hearing too.

Reiss article might be spun out of BBs office

I have no inside information nor have I heard anything. I am just speculating. If it were drugs or poor behavior, why wait till the very last moment to tell him. To basically make him a spectacle in front of 100 million people. If they thought his play was so bad and that he could be of zero help, they would have made him inactive. Why waste a spot?

So the only thing I can think of is that he did something right before the game which made him go from playing but not starting to being out totally. BB probably thought they would still win the game with the way Brady was playing. I mean, they only needed one stop, just one stop and they basically got it when the Eagles settled for 3. A TD from Brady, who was unstoppable at that point, would have won the game and nobody would be talking about Butler. BB gambled and almost won. Unfortunately, another word for almost won is lost.

 

[RobertWeathers]

No doubt but Belichick's leadership directly impacted the team and cost it a very winnable Super Bowl.

Thats assuming Malcolm knew what the hell to do vs the Philly O. BB didn't think he could at any level.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

In all honesty it is my undeerstanding that the coaches formally tell the players when the come to the stadium on Sunday.

Did the procrastinate with Malcolm? Maybe?

Ok, but why the stubbornness to not even put Butler in at the half? Whatever defense they tried in the first half didn't work. If Malcolm looks awful on one drive, take him out and put in Bademosi/Richards/Whoever. It couldn't have hurt. my theory is that the coaching staff decided before the game that Butler only goes in on defense if there is an injury. otherwise, he stays out. if you ask me they were being too rigid.

 

[Bella*chick]

I mean, they only needed one stop, just one stop and they basically got it when the Eagles settled for 3. A TD from Brady, who was unstoppable at that point, would have won the game and nobody would be talking about Butler. BB gambled and almost won. Unfortunately, another word for almost won is lost.

It occurred to me today that this roasting is what would have happened had we lost the Seattle Super Bowl. His decision not to take a timeout. I can read the posts in my head “he had no faith that Tom Brady would go down and win it!” “He’s lost it! Any idiot knows to call a timeout!” Etc. Etc.

The difference to me he had a chance to try and see if Butler could provide a spark at any point during a 60 minute game and didn’t. I don’t think I’ll ever understand it.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Wow! What a great thread. I'm glad that I'm retired and had enough time to read so much of it.

I have to commend @robertweathers for the way he represented his opinion here, in spite of much criticism.

I'm still not buying the idea that BB decided to bench Butler based on performance.

At some point I'll have to start another thread about BB's biggest mistakes. This one will be right up there but it won't be #1 on my list.

This loss was a very tough pill to swallow and the fans deserve a real explanation, in spite of what the nut huggers, as @patsfan13 playfully called them, may think. We do pay the freight after all.

Without knowing the facts it looks like BB let his ego get in the way of #12 getting #6. Too bad but I won't be losing any sleep over it. I've been able to see my football team go to 10 SB's and win 5 of them. I can live with that.

Thanks.

I don't mind getting killed as long as people are cool about it.

Regardless of what you believe, it is a painful loss with a number of unanswered questions...

 

[PatsDeb]

It occurred to me today that this roasting is what would have happened had we lost the Seattle Super Bowl. His decision not to take a timeout. I can read the posts in my head “he had no faith that Tom Brady would go down and win it!” “He’s lost it! Any idiot knows to call a timeout!” Etc. Etc.

The difference to me he had a chance to try and see if Butler could provide a spark at any point during a 60 minute game and didn’t. I don’t think I’ll ever understand it.

Yes, it's the 60 minute mistake that is toughest to take.

 

[TBR]

Thats assuming Malcolm knew what the hell to do vs the Philly O. BB didn't think he could at any level.

Come on. This is some really low effort thinking. Suddenly, Butler (after playing 97% of the snaps throughout the year and 100% of them in the playoffs) becomes braindead on Sunday and can't comprehend the game plan for Philly? We're talking about the same guy who entered SB 49 late in the game as an undrafted rookie.

 

[letekro]

I am trying to tell myself how Rowe would be a better option than butler. Listen butler didn't have a great year but for one lousy play he makes a great play. All they needed was a couple of stops. It's hard for me to understand how Rowe would start ahead of butler. Also keep in mind that philly knows Rowe's game and tendencies. They went straight after him.

According to Jeff Howe, Rowe allowed 4/9 for 80 yards, with 3 PBUs. For context, Butler had 12 PBUs for the whole year. PFF gave Rowe the 4th highest grade on the team in SB 52 (third highest on D after Flowers and Gilmore). Rowe gave up some plays for sure but it wasn't anything markedly different than what we've seen from Butler all year.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Ok, but why the stubbornness to not even put Butler in at the half? Whatever defense they tried in the first half didn't work. If Malcolm looks awful on one drive, take him out and put in Bademosi/Richards/Whoever. It couldn't have hurt. my theory is that the coaching staff decided before the game that Butler only goes in on defense if there is an injury. otherwise, he stays out. if you ask me they were being too rigid.

Possible. Unbending and uncompromising.

As I process this even more, here is what doesn't add up.

MB played 1000 snaps and 78% of of the snaps vs KC (which was a similar offense) . While BB may have thought it was a bad matchup for Malcolm, he doesn't play him AT ALL. ZERO.

Is that rigidity or is something else going on. There were reports of infractions, freelancing, bad practices.

There has to be more to this.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Come on. This is some really low effort thinking. Suddenly, Butler (after playing 97% of the snaps throughout the year and 100% of them in the playoffs) becomes braindead on Sunday and can't comprehend the game plan for Philly? We're talking about the same guy who entered SB 49 late in the game as an undrafted rookie.

Go read Reiss's article. Its not low effort. Its reported.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I think BB lost that game, along with the team. I'm sure his milf-friend feels like going on TV and saying "My sugar daddy cannot effing coach the team and play on the team at the same time."

There were head-scratchers in this game, and the emotional impact of the Butler head-scratcher was helped along by his (completely understandable) tears.

Unfortunately, I'd feel like a tin-foil-helmet guy believing any conspiracy theory, and like a credulous ninny to toe the party line and say there is no possibility that there wasn't some other reason, other than "we want to play the Iggles different," on face value.

Now in 10 or 20 years when I read the scandalous memoirs or something, that'll be something to have lived a little longer for.

But for now, BB gets the benefit of the doubt (even though I heard he's going to the Giants...)

 

[Ivan]

That's funny - I feel the same way about your opinion.

Mine is based upon a basic character quality, gratitude. It’s something that means a great deal to me. I’m incredibly grateful to my family, friends, coworkers, and those who have brought happiness and joy to my life. And that includes those on teams I root for. I have been called a homer, and a million other names, on this site for defending player’s and coaches who have worked their asses off to give us the joy we have gotten from their success. And like me or hate me I have been very consistent in this regard. I think a lack of gratitude is one of the worst character flaws there is in a person, and unfortunately I see that as rampant both on this site and among Patriot fans in general, and I think that reflects incredibly poorly on all those who demonstrate it, and on Patriot fans as a whole. Belichick, like Brady, has worked tirelessly to bring success and happiness to Patriot fans everywhere, and the ****storm of ingratitude dumped on him since Sunday night is one of if not the most disgraceful episodes I have ever seen. People should grow the f.ck up and deal with the loss instead of raining their ingratitude and sh.t down on the person who has done the most and worked the hardest to make this franchise what it is today.

In short those responsible should be ashamed of themselves for being ungrateful A-Holes. He made a decision, that’s his job, deal with it