A lot has happened between fan-favorite Malcolm Butler and the Patriots since his unforgettable end zone pick in Super Bowl 49. He went from a no-namer on a Super Bowl team to a national hero in a matter of hours. He became one of New England’s best defensive players, and one of the league’s top corners. He put it all out there on the field and promptly asked to be paid. Bill Belichick promptly laughed and quickly shot down his request. Bill Belichick also promptly paid fellow cornerback Stephon Gilmore to an absurd, for the Patriots, at least, 5-year, $65 million contract, which rightfully angered Butler. Soon after, there was an unsettling feeling for the remainder of the offseason between the player and the team. Trade rumors were flying and Butler was nearly dealt to the Saints, but instead hesitantly began the season with the Patriots. Now, here we are, and rumors are starting to swirl again. What a roller coaster ride this kid has been on, huh?
Butler had started every game for the Patriots since Super Bowl XLIX, but that streak was snapped last week against New Orleans. Butler had played no less than 87 percent of snaps in each game since that Super Bowl. He played only 75 percent of snaps on Sunday, and it would have been much less if Eric Rowe hadn’t gone down with an injury. This wasn’t a matchup thing, either, which is what I personally had originally thought. Yes, the Saints have a number of tall receivers, but Butler regularly gets matched up against guys way bigger than him. This is an eerily similar situation to Jamie Collins’ last year.
Collins was widely regarded as one of New England’s best defensive players, if not the best, just like Butler. Both are insanely talented and showed no signs of going anywhere; both were thought of as being a part of the Patriots’ long-term blueprint. Belichick hyped up both of the players, and deservingly so. Both seemed to be the next big thing. Both, at the moment, saw a sudden drop in snaps played.
Similar to Butler, right now, at least, Collins saw a gradual drop in snaps played as the weeks went along. Now, this was only one game in which Butler played a limited role, but similar to Collins, there was seemingly no good reason for him to be benched, both on defenses that needed help at a critical time. Collins quickly went from playing 100 percent of snaps in Week 4 of the 2016 season to playing a measly 61 percent in Week 8. I’m not saying the Patriots are going to trade Butler away within the next month, but it’s hard to ignore the signs, especially when we’ve seen this movie before just a year ago.
One difference between Collins and Butler is that there were no offseason trade rumors swirling around with Collins like there were for Butler, at least that were made public. I can’t see it happening, but it wouldn’t be nearly as much of a surprise if New England was to trade Butler like it was when they shipped Collins off to Cleveland. Another difference if a trade were to come down: the Patriots would surely be getting a player in return for Butler unlike with Collins. We didn’t know it at the time, but New England had a damn good defense last season and were perfectly fine with getting just a draft pick in return for the linebacker. If the Patriots were to trade Butler away, they wouldn’t survive off of getting just a pick back. Without Butler, that secondary is pretty depleted. I don’t think many would be too comfortable with Rowe being the 1B corner to Gilmore. The space between Butler and Rowe is scarily significant. That’s exactly why I can’t see the Patriots trading him in-season.
If the Patriots are smart, which, well, they are, they would keep Butler around for the rest of this season and then look into what his future holds. If they want this defense to be at its very best, they need to stick with Butler. In summary, it’s wise short-term to continue on with Butler, but it would also be wise long-term to think about dealing him when this season is all said and done.
Personally, I think the Patriots are just testing Butler, and that they have been all along. They knew the Seahawks were going to throw from the one-yard line and positioned Butler the way they did on that play at such a time, allowing him to become the celebrity that he is. They purposely made him the great player he is at the caliber he is because they want to see what he’s got, mentally and physically. They want to see him at his best mentally and physically, and they want to see him at his worst mentally and physically. It might be a stretch, but in my mind, it makes way too much sense. They tested him in the offseason when they refused to pay him but went on days later to sign Gilmore to an enormous, un-Patriots-like deal. They’re testing him by taking away his starting role. They want to see what he’s made of. Belichick may say he’s only focused on the upcoming game, but don’t be fooled. They’ve been long determining whether or not they should stick with this player, and it’s one hell of a master plan, if you ask me.
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