Patriots don't expect Malcolm Butler to be back next season

[supafly]

That sucks. Was still holding out some hope that NE would offer him a deal in the ballpark to New Orleans', and that he'd stay a Patriot.

That said, I don't think he's quite as good as some people think, but he plays with a lot of heart and is a borderline CB1, so that's good enough for me when the Logan Ryans of the world are making 10m a year.

 

[ALP]

yall making it sound like our highest paid defender played any better....

 

[brdmaverick]

....Because we can use him this season? Plus depth is important.

AGREED, I suppose this is Bill's fault though...........he's already taught us that you CAN get rid of players like Jamie Collins and Chandler Jones and STILL win the Super Bowl. I don't mean that as sarcasm either, I think he really has spoiled the fan base in to thinking we can just get rid of anyone and still win.

 

[ViperGTS]

Wonder if the news is a leak to gauge the current trade market. Odd for it to come out. You never hear stuff like this.

 

[nabwong]

I wouldn't trade him because we lose the playbook with him and the person coming in cannot learn it fast enough.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Wonder if the news is a leak to gauge the current trade market. Odd for it to come out. You never hear stuff like this.

Especially a day after a big loss and a preseason with questions about his focus and uneven play

 

[supafly]

I wouldn't trade him because we lose the playbook with him and the person coming in cannot learn it fast enough.

We've seen guys like Talib etc come in and do just fine. Brown and Edelman made the switch pretty nicely. We've seen rookies and other players pick it up in their first year without issue.

I'm not meaning to downplay his potential loss or gloss over the learning curve with a new guy, but it's certainly not like trying to pick up the offensive playbook, either.

 

[Love The Drake]

I have no idea what this team will or won't do.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Seriously? Day after a loss threads do err on the funny side when they do rarely occur.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Seriously? Day after a loss threads do err on the funny side when they do rarely occur.

Is it that far fetched to consider trading someone, who by all accounts, doesn't appear interested in remaining here and already tried leaving once?

I have no doubt the Patriots are seeking upgrades for their Front 7. I would not put it past Belichick to trade Butler if the return is right (and assuming he's confident in the depth behind Gilmore and Rowe)

 

[skinnydog]

His head is elsewhere.

Very possibly. I'll always love the guy for the SB interception, but I've always thought he plays over his head in terms of his talent level by going absolutely all out play after play. Yes, I also love that approach, but it's hard to sustain game after game and year after year.

 

[DaBruinz]

I heard Rappaport say this last night and just laughed. Like anyone in the Patriots Top Brass is going to say SQUAT to Rappaport (or any journalist) about what their plans are.

As for the people crapping on Butler all I have to say is WOW. The entire defense stunk last night. They tried using a defensive formation that they'd never employed before with 4 safeties and it burned them all night.

Last night's loss is as much on the coaching staff as it is the players. The players didn't make plays, but the Coach's sure didn't do their job in terms of scheming to put them in position to make them..

 

[DaBruinz]

Especially a day after a big loss and a preseason with questions about his focus and uneven play

Rappaport announced it before the game.

 

[jimnance]

I have no idea what this team will or won't do.

Neither does anyone else. Some people just like attention, I guess.

 

[AvocadoIceCream]

I heard Rappaport say this last night and just laughed. Like anyone in the Patriots Top Brass is going to say SQUAT to Rappaport (or any journalist) about what their plans are.

As for the people crapping on Butler all I have to say is WOW. The entire defense stunk last night. They tried using a defensive formation that they'd never employed before with 4 safeties and it burned them all night.

Last night's loss is as much on the coaching staff as it is the players. The players didn't make plays, but the Coach's sure didn't do their job in terms of scheming to put them in position to make them..

In fairness, the likelihood they pay Butler after the big deal to Gilmore is very unlikely.

Add that to the fact they have to make a decision with JG, and I'd be shocked to see him back, unfortunately

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think we should trade him now, I think Rowe is playing better anyway. Why not get more than a 3rd round comp pick?

Report: Patriots Don't Expect Malcolm Butler Back After 2017

************...

Let's just give up on 2017, dump a top 10 CB and add draft picks.

There is a time and a place to cut n run on top players with expiring deals but now is not the time.

 

[Tony2046]

************...

Let's just give up on 2017, dump a top 10 CB and add draft picks.

There is a time and a place to cut n run on top players with expiring deals but now is not the time.

Did the digital game day sewage system malfunction and seep into the main page or what?

 

[varjao]

The missed 1st round pick on Easley, the 1st that was stolen, Malcolm Brown being just ok and now the gamble on Cooks in a SB window (before the injuries), some very average drafts with many players gone (thank God we hit on Thuney and Mitchell last year to even things a bit), this last draft a big question mark, point being this team needs draft capital and an infusing of new players in rookie contracts to rebuild the defense pretty much like we did hitting on HT, Chandler Jones and Collins, I don't doubt any rumor although I think right now a 1st for Butler is a ship that has sailed. I think his market now is a 2nd round draft pick and depending on the team trading for I say it's a very tempting thing.

If his mind is really on next year, bank account full of dollars, big house and cars...who knows, I trust BB has a better radar for players with their mind elsewhere than me but I have the impression that this is the case since we gave Gilmore that big deal if the reports at the time were accurate, there was an MB Instagram post that was very telling as well.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

The missed 1st round pick on Easley, the 1st that was stolen, Malcolm Brown being just ok and now the gamble on Cooks in a SB window (before the injuries), some very average drafts with many players gone (thank God we hit on Thuney and Mitchell last year to even things a bit), this last draft a big question mark, point being this team needs draft capital and an infusing of new players in rookie contracts to rebuild the defense pretty much like we did hitting on HT, Chandler Jones and Collins, I don't doubt although I think right now a 1st for Butler is a ship that has sailed. I think his market now is a 2nd round draft pick and depending on the team trading for I say it's a very tempting thing.

If his mind is really on next year, bank account full of dollars, big house and cars...who knows, I trust BB has a better radar for players with their mind elsewhere than me but I have the impression that this is the case since we gave Gilmore that big deal if the reports at the time were accurate, there was an MB Instagram post that was very telling as well.

A second round pick to do what with? Draft another Jordan Richards or Cyrus Jones?

I would keep Malcolm, franchise him again after the season. Make another team give up a first for him

 

[SammyBlueCat]

I would be cautious grading individuals after a collective mess like the Chiefs game was.