I find myself agreeing with your post, but I have a couple questions:
If poor performance in practice led to MB being demoted to CB3...and the supposed fighting, weed, curfew, or whatever we don't know led to him being demoted to what CB who will not play, then 1. why did come out for the kick off and ST unit and 2. why was he even active?
He was active because we only have 3 other corners. He was the 4th corner. If there were injuries he would have played. It wasn’t butler you scumbag you will never pkay for me. It was butler you aren’t ready to help in this game so I’m going to play other pkayers who are.
Why did he come out for the kickoff? Why did Karras? He is a player on the team who’s role was reduced to last man at his position. That doesn’t mean stay in the locker room.
If what
@robertweathers and you suggest is true (he broke a core BB principle, etc) then why even let him be available.
I don’t knie what he did. I suspect he just handled the demotion poorly and melted down and by kick off belichick felt he wasn’t an option to ojay effectuveky in any role.
Why not stick to your principles and play without him, win or lose. People say, "well, what if Rowe or Gilmore get hurt?" Well, put in a linebacker or Amendola or Burkhead at DB. Do whatever you have to do to prove and uphold your principles but don't go back to Butler. Thus, many of us on the board feel that personal feelings and principles resulted in us losing trophy#6.
It’s not principles.
Let’s try something else.
I think butler was mentally unable to help the team. Between not getting the gane plan, not handling his demotion well, and melting down.
He was still a better option than not having a corner at all. This isn’t punishment, retribution, anger or hatred.
So let’s assume for a moment it was a physical injury. He injured a leg. He was able to run at 85% which meant he could play but everyone else at his position was a better option.
Making him the 4th corner isn’t a matter of principles it’s a matter of you can use him in an emergency but can’t count on him to be effective.
That example is the only way in my opinion that all the info we have fits together.
Other than belichick threw the game, or suddenly one day changed everything he is about and lost his mind, what realistic alternative explanation is there?