Dear Bill - Thanks for Giving Away the Super Bowl.

TB_Helmet · Feb 6, 2018

Butler was either benched because the coaches didn't think he would make a difference based on what they saw in practice, or because of disciplinary reasons.

If it was the former, then they screwed up by not putting him in when they saw that his replacements were getting crushed. He literally could not have been any worse than they were, and given that he had played 97% of snaps in the regular season, and has come up huge (understatement) in past Super Bowls, it's very likely that he would have done better.

If it was the latter, then their rigid adherence to discipline could very well have cost the Patriots the Super Bowl. Obviously they might still have lost, but even if replacing Rowe or Bademosi with Butler leads to the Eagles converting 9 third downs instead of 10, then our chances of winning go up dramatically. Nobody's giving Butler a pass, but Belichick could have still held him out for a quarter or something and gotten his point across. Also, benching him right before the game, after warmups, had an obvious effect on team chemistry and morale, and was sloppily handled. If you're OK with trading a Super Bowl for adhering to the magical Patriot Way, that's fine, but you have to own that.

We wasted one of, if not the, best performances in Super Bowl history by a QB because of one of these two things, coaching incompetence or pride.

IllegalContact · Feb 6, 2018

VectorPrime said:
It’s now fully confirmed that Belichick can do literally anything and still have a loyal legion of devoted fans ready to defend him.

he was tired of brady being the only one with his own underwear brigade

VectorPrime · Feb 6, 2018

TB_Helmet said:
Butler was either benched because the coaches didn't think he would make a difference based on what they saw in practice, or because of disciplinary reasons.

If it was the former, then they screwed up by not putting him in when they saw that his replacements were getting crushed. He literally could not have been any worse than they were, and given that he had played 97% of snaps in the regular season, and has come up huge (understatement) in past Super Bowls, it's very likely that he would have done better.

If it was the latter, then their rigid adherence to discipline could very well have cost the Patriots the Super Bowl. Obviously they might still have lost, but even if replacing Rowe or Bademosi with Butler leads to the Eagles converting 9 third downs instead of 10, then our chances of winning go up dramatically. Nobody's giving Butler a pass, but Belichick could have still held him out for a quarter or something and gotten his point across. Also, benching him right before the game, after warmups, had an obvious effect on team chemistry and morale, and was sloppily handled. If you're OK with trading a Super Bowl for adhering to the magical Patriot Way, that's fine, but you have to own that.

We wasted one of, if not the, best performances in Super Bowl history by a QB because of one of these two things, coaching incompetence or pride.

“IN BILL WE TRUST DUUURR”

PatriotsNumero1Fan · Feb 6, 2018

robertweathers said:
Bill felt Malcolm was in no position to help the defense on any level.

I wanna know based on what? I doubt it's his play. It's more on his attitude. Butler's one tough little guy. He didn't have a great year but he has made big plays for us when it counts. I will miss him as a player. Forever grateful for his big play in super bowl 49.

Bobsyouruncle · Feb 6, 2018

TB_Helmet said:
Man we are gonna be talking about this for years, aren't we?

Probably a lot of people will. Whenever great QB or offensive performances come up in the SB at the top of that list will be Patriots, followed by a bunch of teams that won.

So that's going to come up a lot.

PatsDeb · Feb 6, 2018

robertweathers said:
Bill felt Malcolm was in no position to help the defense on any level.

Nope. He was pissed off at him and decided he wouldn't even let him try to help, even if it meant losing the Super Bowl. BB preaches and practices situational football, but he sure didn't use it on Sunday night, particularly in the 2nd half.

RobertWeathers · Feb 6, 2018

VectorPrime said:
And Bill has never once been wrong before. Or lied before. Ever.

“In Bill We Trust!” You shout as he leads you off a cliff.

That is not my point and you know it.

TB_Helmet · Feb 6, 2018

lancerman said:
Yeah. Pete Carroll will never live down the pass at the goal line. Dan Quin will never live down passing in field goal range. Bill Belichick will never live down benching his starting corner.

It's the nature of sports. You are only right if you win. If Wilson throws a TD pass, they are geniuses and they called the right play against the right coverage. If the Patriots drive for a game winning TD, then Belichick had the courage to hold onto his rules even in a Super Bowl.

When you lose, you're a loser and your decision is responsible for hurting your team.

Well said. Great comparison between Carroll and Belichick (different types of decisions but similar from a big picture standpoint).

VectorPrime · Feb 6, 2018

Again, as we all know, Bill Belichick has never once been wrong in his entire life. He’s literally the second coming of ************ himself. Questioning him is blasphemy.

fumbrunner · Feb 6, 2018

robertweathers said:
He wasn't ready to play and the coaching staff lost trust in him.

And the alternatives seemed to be so much better prepared

Agholor 9 catches on 11 targets for 84 yards.

Which, by the way, was the most catches he had in a game this year.

Ivan · Feb 6, 2018

chasa said:
If you don't like sports where fanbases question silly choices made by coaches, maybe go find a different sport where coaches can't sit players who played 98% of their teams snaps leading up to the championship game, and then provide no insight as to why.

My i suggest golf, or possibly tennis?

I’m Not the one crying and whining, that would be you.

I don’t believe playing time is an entitlement, that would be you.

PatsFan2 · Feb 6, 2018

These BB lemmings are as unbearable as him after that game. Seriously who can Defend BB after this crap?? Only people who give him undue worship. Glad I don't see the world through BB's stupid @ss.

Observer · Feb 6, 2018

robertweathers said:
Bill felt Malcolm was in no position to help the defense on any level.

Well then he felt very very wrong and what is worse, didn’t even bother to check.

Ivan · Feb 6, 2018

VectorPrime said:
He’s either arrogant or ******ed. Take your pick.

If we apply the same criteria to you the answer comes back as both.

PatriotsNumero1Fan · Feb 6, 2018

TB_Helmet said:
Butler was either benched because the coaches didn't think he would make a difference based on what they saw in practice, or because of disciplinary reasons.

If it was the former, then they screwed up by not putting him in when they saw that his replacements were getting crushed. He literally could not have been any worse than they were, and given that he had played 97% of snaps in the regular season, and has come up huge (understatement) in past Super Bowls, it's very likely that he would have done better.

If it was the latter, then their rigid adherence to discipline could very well have cost the Patriots the Super Bowl. Obviously they might still have lost, but even if replacing Rowe or Bademosi with Butler leads to the Eagles converting 9 third downs instead of 10, then our chances of winning go up dramatically. Nobody's giving Butler a pass, but Belichick could have still held him out for a quarter or something and gotten his point across. Also, benching him right before the game, after warmups, had an obvious effect on team chemistry and morale, and was sloppily handled. If you're OK with trading a Super Bowl for adhering to the magical Patriot Way, that's fine, but you have to own that.

We wasted one of, if not the, best performances in Super Bowl history by a QB because of one of these two things, coaching incompetence or pride.

Tell me what change in two weeks? He played well against the jags in the second half. The guy can make a play anytime in the game. I rather go down in flames with butler than bademosi and Richards!

IllegalContact · Feb 6, 2018

robertweathers said:
Yes and hes the coach. His opinion is based on facts

if true, then there would be no reason to leave the world hanging.......

So lets say on Friday Stephen Belichick, secondary coach quizzes Malcolm on the defensive game plan and he flunks it. Stephen tells Malcolm he is not ready to play and he freaks out on him and tells him to go f himself. He says he'll just play man and free lance.

interesting scenario........but that would have led him to not being active.....unless coach is vindictive

regardless, none of this put the pats in the best position to win......he's dressed and the defense was failing at his spot.....the fact that there was no chance for any PT again put bill in a spot of not putting the team in the best position to win.......giving him a chance would have changed that.

Ivan · Feb 6, 2018

Observer said:
Well then he felt very very wrong and what is worse, didn’t even bother to check with me.

Fixed that for you.

lancerman · Feb 6, 2018

Bobsyouruncle said:
Probably a lot of people will. Whenever great QB or offensive performances come up in the SB at the top of that list will be Patriots, followed by a bunch of teams that won.

So that's going to come up a lot.

Or when people discuss Belichick's place in history. You're going to hear a lot of "he's one of the greatest ever, but these other guys didn't lose their team a Super Bowl because they benched a starting cornerback".

RobertWeathers · Feb 6, 2018

IllegalContact said:
not necessarily true........but if so, then that would speak of his piss poor preparation for the game since other defenders had no clue.

You are assuming Rowe and Bademosi's poor play was due to their lack of preperation and not because they either had bad matchups or forgot how to friggan tackle.

IllegalContact said:
now you can say it's Bill's prerogative to not say anything, but that in no way puts the team in the best position to win

I think Malcolm did that job all by himself.

IllegalContact said:
no matter what angle you approach this from, there's a complete disconnect in trying to rationalize it without what really happened

Of course. This entire thread is based on speculation and conjecture.

Ivan · Feb 6, 2018

KontradictioN said:
I was actually an advocate of using the Big Nickel in the weeks leading up to the game. And boy was I wrong. They should have gotten out of that, moved Bademosi to outside CB opposite Gilmore if they weren't playing Butler, McCourty out of the box and back to his natural role, Chung onto Ertz, and Richards off the field altogether.

That said, the personnel changes are likely coming. They will get Rivers and Hightower back. I'm hoping LB is a high pick in the draft followed by DT and maybe DE. The front was just bereft of playmakers, particularly when Hightower went down.

Yep, they have a lot of work to do to fix the problems they have facing these offenses.

Dear Bill - Thanks for Giving Away the Super Bowl.

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