One of the top story lines following the Patriots Super Bowl LII defeat was the notable absence of cornerback Malcolm Butler for all but one snap (on special teams) during the game.<\/p>\n
In the hours that followed the loss, a flurry of rumors and speculation circled throughout the media as to why Butler didn’t play despite not being listed as inactive. Some ranged from missing a team meeting, to attending a concert during the week.<\/p>\n
It wasn’t until shortly before kickoff that cornerback Eric Rowe would make the surprise start in Butler’s place. Butler played in 97.8 percent of the defensive snaps in the 2017 regular season.<\/p>\n
When asked during his Monday press conference, head coach Bill Belichick stated “I respect Malcolm\u2019s competitiveness, and I\u2019m sure that he felt like he could have helped,\u201d Belichick told reporters. \u201cI\u2019m sure other players felt the same way. In the end, we have to make the decisions that we feel are best for the football team, and that\u2019s what we did, that\u2019s what I did.”<\/p>\n
Over his social media accounts Tuesday, Butler shared his side of the story with a statement that refuted rumors said about him while also hinting at a goodbye to Patriots fans. Butler is set to be a free agent in March.<\/p>\n
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— Malcolm CB Butler (@Mac_BZ) February 6, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n