Malcolm Butler Mega Thread

[SHOWTIME15]

My own theory is Butler was told he was not playing the 1st qtr because of a broken team rule (missed the team flight maybe??) and he freaked out and cussed out Belichick. Just a theory on my part.
Whatever the reason it had better be VERY SIGNIFICANT. Absence of Malcolm Butler just might have cost this team a championship.

This is what i’ve been saying all along. He cursed someone on the coaching staff out, probably Patricia.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

Lets see,
1. Butler hasn't been that good this year, he has been mediocre. Continuously stating he has doesn't help anyone's argument. He has been burned over and over again.
2. So the next question is, was Butler better than the alternatives out there. I have no idea.
3. If Butler was better, why wasn't he playing? Was he playing at 80%, did he look like crap all week in practice? None of us were at the practices, none of us were in the locker room, none of us know. I find it incredible difficult to believe BB decided to simply throw the game, or did it because of an ego trip. That is just plain silly.

I don't care how he looked in practice. You put him in and see what you got. This defense didn't even try anything. How about a blitz? One of the worse performances ever.

 

[Soliel]

close how? I don't see in your post an explanation? Just asking because I was want to know one.

I think my theory is close to reality. I think butler copped an attitude problem or was drained from the flu which is quite bad this year especially if you have to go to the hospital. Perhaps a combination of these things.

I would also support B.B. in benching him for comming to the game drunk. I don’t think that’s what it is. I think it’s like before when butler had this same kind of issue.

What a nightmare. The defense went keystone cops on us

 

[RobertWeathers]

RW,

I am curious to see when all the smoke clears what exactly happened. We may never know though. I feel safe saying that Malcom Butler has played his last game with us.

Me too, Ash.

Malcolm is gone. No question.

I will never be convinced Malcolm not registering a single snap on defense solely related to a performance or schematic reason.

I'm sure there were some match-ups BB or Patricia weren't crazy about but to sit your 2nd best cover guy who played 98% of the defensive snaps in the biggest game of the year is bizarre behavior.

 

[primetime]

This is what i’ve been saying all along. He cursed someone on the coaching staff out, probably Patricia.

After last night, I think we can safely say Patricia deserved any cursing he got in this fanfic.

 

[bormio]

This is what i’ve been saying all along. He cursed someone on the coaching staff out, probably Patricia.

Then why play ST?

 

[mosslost]

No matter how you feel about it.. What a strange Patriot career and Super Bowl Story Arc for Malcom Butler...

 

[luuked]

They may be covering for their coach. Either that or Rowe is straight up lying and Butler was crying prior to kickoff because he was putting on a dog and pony show. All signs seem to point to that being the former.

Possible. Not sure why they would say it instead of just giving he generic you gotta ask the coach answer that others are giving. But definitely possible..

The coaching was terrible especially to start. Rowe didn't cover Jeffry for long. They switched Gilmore onto him. Rowe was then tasked with covering either Smith or Agholor, both of which were terrible match-ups for him and both of which were better suited for Butler. So, whatever way you want to cut it, BB doesn't get a pass for this.

I looked through some of the third/fourth down conversions and in the end the front 7 were the biggest issue in this game. That is how close we were to winning the game:





Exactly the kind of play that Hightower or Ninkovich might have pulled off.

I am sure there are more out there because I vividly remember Harrison being close to Foles 1-2 times as well. Point being that coaching was definitely no good but the lack of talent already limited strongly what they were able to do up front. There will be a time in a week or so when things calm down to talk about the fatal flaw of this years roster which was apparent from the very first game against KC.

We'll see as the reports come out, but I think that answer was as genuine as Butler's emotions were before the game. Hopefully I'm wrong because that makes an already terrible decision look that much worse.

Like I said before. For now due to lack of substantial information I will give BB the benefit of the doubt with the entire situation. Lets see if something comes out..

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Then why play ST?

They needed the bodies on STs I guess

 

[mosslost]

benching him for comming to the game drunk

being drunk in the game might have actually helped last night...

 

[luuked]

Then why play ST?

They needed the bodies on STs I guess

He played ONE snap when M. Flowers was out for a bit after being down on a ST play. Lets keep that in perspective please..

 

[bormio]

They needed the bodies on STs I guess

They needed them on D

 

[signbabybrady]

So we know right or wrong BB decided to sit him. BB will be rightfully second guessed forever or until it is truly revealed why and that reason be deemed acceptable.

The real question becomes what the hell did Malcolm do to deserve this?

 

[mosslost]

really strange tho... I just read that Butler had play 100% of the defensive snaps in the 2 playoff games... 100%

THAT does not add up to the "we put our best players out there to put us in best position to win."

 

[SVN]

Curran: Butler benching maddening capper to weird year

 

[condon84]

Butler’s replacements were victimized for several big plays throughout the night.

Cornerback Eric Rowe surrendered two third-down completions for 32 yards on the opening drive, which culminated in a field goal, and a 34-yard touchdown to Alshon Jeffery on the second series.

The Patriots also played a four-safety dime package on third downs, and safety Jordan Richards got beat on third-and-3 for a 55-yard completion to Corey Clement before the half. That drive resulted in a touchdown, and the Pats would have had a different matchup if they used their more traditional three-cornerback dime package with Butler on the field.

Cornerback Johnson Bademosi then subbed in for Richards in the third quarter, and he was immediately beaten by Nelson Agholor for 17 yards on third-and-6. The Eagles also closed that possession with a touchdown.

If you believe Butler not playing a single defensive snap was best for the team then you are nuts. At the very least Butler is a very good tackler and would have made that Bademosi missed tackle.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

No matter how you feel about it.. What a strange Patriot career and Super Bowl Story Arc for Malcom Butler...

Yeah Malcolm Butler's Patriot career has been such an extreme rollercoaster. I've always thought they mishandled him especially with the whole Saints negotiations. Belichick the General Manager has been pretty mediocre and this season was really bad. Look at their signings. UGH!!

 

[Brady6]

Patrick Chung attempting to cover the slot receiver was in the game plan? Now I have heard everything.

Jordan Richards stinks
Johnson Bademosi stinks

Time for Bill Belichick to replenish the defense thru the NFL Draft.

Well the good news is he has an extra second round pick to draft another another Cyrus Jones, Jordan Richards, Tavon Wilson, or Ras-I Dowling...

 

[Huckleberry1]

Well the good news is he has an extra second round pick to draft another another Cyrus Jones, Jordan Richards, Tavon Wilson, or Ras-I Dowling...

Or Rob Gronkowski, Matt Light, Patrick Chung, Jimmy Garrapolo.

The whining in this forum is absolutely brutal.

 

[mosslost]

Off topic.. but what does everyone think of the talk that McDaniels is staying, to inherit the Pats job? Personally I think that is a better move than taking that job as long as he has the contract that he will get the Pats job. At this point I want him before Brady retires if this is true.

I can't believe I am even saying this right now.