Malcolm Butler Finally Speaks About Super Bowl Benching

It was easily the most controversial decision of Super Bowl LII. That’s saying something too. Malcolm Butler getting benched. Just incredible.

Here is a guy who saved his New England Patriots from their third-straight Super Bowl defeat back in January of 2015 with one of the greatest interceptions in history. He then went on to become their best cornerback, a Pro Bowler that same year and helped them win a second Lombardi trophy the next season in 2016. One would think he’d done enough to earn the benefit of the doubt that he knows how to step up in big games.

Apparently, the Patriots didn’t get that memo. Due to a variety of circumstances, they made the unpopular decision to bench the former Super Bowl hero right before the showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles. Butler was seen crying on the sideline prior to kickoff. Several teammates couldn’t believe it and soon there were legions of fans who joined that chorus after the Patriots defense watched Nick Foles slice them up for 373 yards and three touchdowns.

Over a month later, Butler finally spoke his mind on what happened to Sports Illustrated and how it might’ve been different.

"“I never missed a game. Never missed practice or anything like that. Would we have won if I played? Probably. Maybe. I’m not sure. I would say we were short about one or two plays and I saw a couple plays out there I could have made.”"

Butler is the perfect example of the Patriots machine

At the end of the day, this shouldn’t have been a surprise. The Patriots are a team that operates like a machine. It views players like gears in an engine. When one gear no longer becomes useful, it’s removed and eventually discarded. New England has done that with so many good players over the years. Butler is not the first to experience that harsh reality and he likely won’t be the last either. At least not as long as Bill Belichick is in charge.

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Not that Butler has much to complain about these days. He already got his two rings from them and now has a new $60 million contract from the Tennessee Titans. The sting of that Super Bowl will likely fade over time for him. Whether many in the Patriots organization can get over the decision to not let him finish what he started that day? Only future football historians can answer that.