Content Post Dear Bill - Thanks for Giving Away the Super Bowl.

[Simpelton]

He did not want to reward Butler for whatever he did Saturday night. It came down to a pride issue with Bill (“I’d rather lose the super bowl and get shredded on defense than give Malcolm an opportunity to make a big play”). Just think about it - if Butler turns the game around defensively then Bill will look like an idiot for not playing him in the first half, so Belichick decides to sit him the whole game.

That is not how Bill Belichick operates.

If he thought Butler would be making great plays, Butler would have been out there.

 

[neuronet]

If he benched him b/c of weed, why did he play on special teams?

 

[Huckleberry1]

Alright forget those people, do you agree how BB handled it if it was not punching a coach related or it was punching a coach related , just to take an example?

If Belichick lost his faith and trust in Butler I absolutely agree with him. You can’t preach team and then put someone out there who you can’t trust to do their job properly, and I think that’s exactly what happened. Like Collins I think Belichick lost his faith and trust in him, and Butler reiterated that,

 

[RobertWeathers]

parcells would have played butler.....

Now you are hitting me where it hurts. My 1B favorite coach.....

I suspect if Tuna thought Malcolm was in such a state that he couldn't execute the game plan he would have not played him. As you now that is my position w/ Bill re: Malcolm.

One thing I do know is Tuna had different rules for different players. Bill does too but not a broadly as Tuna did.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

So did I. It seemed perfectly set up. I was hoping they’d run the ball when he got sacked because I was worried Brady would score too fast and the Eagles would get in FG position.

If you look at the strip sack, James White was WIDE open and would have easily gotten the first down (it was 3rd and 2). That was Brady’s only mistake of the game. Other than that he was stellar.

 

[PittPatriot]

Thats fine but Bill felt Malcolm was not able to do the job on any level. 60 plays, 30 plays, 20 plays, 2 plays. It doesn't matter. There wasn't a single defensive package BB had confidence in Malcolm executing.

As the Coach, he has the privilege and responsibility of making that decision. As an observer, I have the right and privilege to disagree with it. I will stand my ground that there is no situation or condition outside of injury (that includes alleged felony, drug possession, or insubordination) that justifies me that any package, scheme, or strategy deployed by BB or MP are better WITHOUT Malcolm than with him in there.

 

[alvinnf]

BB doesnt give a **** what people think but gives a **** what can effect the outcome of the game I think. And seeing what was happening for 3+ hrs on the field and not doing anything about is against BB's policy over the yrs - doing whatever it takes to win on the game.

Right, he thought not playing Butler gave them a better chance to win. "the code", please your talking out of both sides of your mouth. BB is a F'in baby, pride is one of the deadly sins. Just a quick reminder for all of you apologists, he had one game to win and he f*cked it up. So save your in Bill we trust sayings.

 

[SVN]

I think that reflects the fact that they really wanted to believe in him but couldn’t anymore. Again, that’s Butler's fault, not those who had placed so much faith in him.

It’s oretty clear that it was Butler who forced this issue, not the coaches.

Again, he forced the issue to be benched before the anthem , not the night before? I dont know why it is wrong to ask this question and at the same time understand they lost faith him and it could be butler's fault.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

If he benched him b/c of weed, why did he play on special teams?

Because he was crying and the coaches felt sorry for him would be my best guess, so they “gave” him a snap. It was a token gesture more than anything.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

Butler said the coaches lost faith in him, that’s his fault, not theirs.

And Belichick doesn’t owe you or any other fan anything. If you think you have been shorted then go find another team that won’t disappoint you so much.

Well BB acted like a jerk by suiting the guy up and telling him in the biggest game of the year before the start of the game. His explanation of what's best for the team's a joke.

 

[Simpelton]

Can I just zoom out for a second to point out the incredible irony of accusing anyone of "giving away" the Superbowl in a Superbowl in which we were only leading once for a few minutes over the course of the entire game, and then only by 1 point?

Shanahan "gave away: SB51. We did not "give away" SB52. It was never ours to give away.

We may have made some suboptimal personnel decisions but to call that "giving the game away" is hillariously idiotic on several levels. It presumes that Philly wasn't good enough to beat our best when that's laughably false.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Lost faith in what? I remembered him playing very well in the second half of the jags game. It was a low blow by BB

Sweet baby Jesus are you really that dense?

MALCOLM BUTLER SAID THEY LOST FAITH IN HIM!

Butler's words, not mine.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

Because he was crying and the coaches felt sorry for him would be my best guess, so they “gave” him a snap. It was a token gesture more than anything.

Just put him inactive and that's it. It was classless.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Lost faith in what? I remembered him playing very well in the second half of the jags game. It was a low blow by BB

It was Butler’s fault, not Belichick’s.

 

[SVN]

If Belichick lost his faith and trust in Butler I absolutely agree with him. You can’t preach team and then put someone out there who you can’t trust to do their job properly, and I think that’s exactly what happened. Like Collins I think Belichick lost his faith and trust in him, and Butler reiterated that,

No, thats not what I asked. Yeah we all agree if he lost faith he wouldnt play him. But would you dress him for the game if he lost faith in him and inform him and the team just before the anthem. ? Now you may argue we dont know if he did that before the anthem but lets say its true.Do you agree with how belichick handled butler instead of say making him inactive and playing branch or harris if it was purely football related. ? Are we saying a 1 ST snap butler was more faithful than 0 snap inactive branch ?

 

[Huckleberry1]

Just put him inactive and that's it. It was classless.

What a load of sh.t.

 

[chasa]

Butler said the coaches lost faith in him, that’s his fault, not theirs.

And Belichick doesn’t owe you or any other fan anything. If you think you have been shorted then go find another team that won’t disappoint you so much.

actually he does. We pay for tickets, which results in kraft paying his salary. Bill owes us doing everything he can to WIN, and sitting butler, with the complete lack on information he's given us, butler, the media, and the rest of the patriots team, looks a lot like Spite to me.

It looks like he sat butler, sabotaged the patriots chance to win, All because his ego needed to rub it in malcolm face a little heading into FA.

 

[Huckleberry1]

No, thats not what I asked. Yeah we all agree if he lost faith he wouldnt play him. But would you dress him for the game if he lost faith in him and inform him and the team just before the anthem. ? Now you may argue we dont know if he did that before the anthem but lets say its true.Do you agree with how belichick handled butler instead of say making him inactive and playing branch or harris if it was purely football related. ? Are we saying a 1 ST snap butler was more faithful than 0 snap inactive branch ?

I think dressing him was purely a matter of numbers, , my belief is that Belichick would have preferred to make him inactive but numbers dictated dressing him.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Without fans there is no team for Belichick to coach and make millions of dollars. Don’t sit here and talk about what’s convenient like Belichick has done so much for us and it is wrong for us to be upset or question his decisions. Belichick might have done his job well in previous years but he didn’t do it well on Sunday night. He hurt an entire fan base,

You are right. BB should listen to the fans.

62 other players, and a coaching staff all so he could stick it to one 25 year old guy who wanted to play so badly he was in tears before the game.

Maybe Malcolm should have thought about how he would hurt the other 51 players, coaches, front office staff, his family and his fans before he decided to quit doing his job.

If it was my decision I would fire him. Belichick deserves to be fired and if you feel otherwise you’re a nostalgic sucker.

Go hire Mike Tomlin then. Enjoy.

 

[FrodoBagginz]

Just a sad situation for Butler all around. I have no bad feelings for Butler and will never forget what he did for us.




For that he will forever be a Patriot. I wish him luck wherever he goes.