Social media and the need to be first largely have ruined responsible journalism, and Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler appears to be the latest victim. Now it’s up to the Jets and any other team interested in Butler’s future services to sort out the truth.
An unrestricted free agent this offseason, Butler almost certainly won’t be going back to New England after the hero of Super Bowl XLIX didn’t play a defensive snap in Super Bowl LII and spent Tuesday confronting speculation on the reasons for his benching. There was one report he missed curfew, another that called it a “perfect storm” from being sick to not performing well in practice. Another suggestion implied it was due to drug use.
Butler denied all this in a lengthy statement issued Tuesday through his Instagram account: “I never attended any concert, missed curfew, or participated [in] any of the ridiculous activities being reported. They are not only false, but hurtful to me and my family.”
The Patriots share the blame in some of this for being so tight-lipped about why Butler didn’t play. The vague explanation from head coach Bill Belichick that it “was best for the football team” left the door open to the kind of wild speculation Butler has endured. Now the Jets have to figure out what the real truth is.
Butler appears to be exactly the kind of guy Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan likely will target during free agency: a veteran with a history of success who won’t come with an overly expensive price tag. Whether it’s fair or not, Butler lost some leverage by not playing in the Super Bowl and probably won’t command as rich a contract as he might have if he had played. All that’s being talked about is why he didn’t play and whether it was disciplinary or whether Belichick had no faith that Butler, who had started 15 games. The defense was shredded for 374 passing yards and three touchdowns by the Eagles in a 41-33 loss in Minneapolis.
Butler is Maccagnan’s type of guy, especially after reading his statement. He was humble, thankful for his opportunity to play with the Patriots, and proud of his character.
“I have always given it everything I have to play at a high level and would never do anything to hurt my team’s chances of winning a game, including this year’s Super Bowl where I visited with my family every night,” Butler wrote.
Butler became a hero as rookie in Super Bowl XLIX when he intercepted a pass on the final play just as it appeared the Seahawks were going for the game-winning touchdown. He made the Pro Bowl the following season and started 47 of 48 games over the previous three years. Butler flirted with the Saints last offseason when he was a restricted free agent and was involved in a number of trade rumors at the trade deadline as November. But during Super Bowl week he said he would “most definitely” return to the Patriots is offered another deal.
Don’t expect that to happen. The Jets figure to be among a number of teams, including the Giants, who will call Butler to gauge his interest and price tag. He made $3.9 million this season and will be looking for a bump in salary. By comparison, the Jets signed veteran cornerback Mo Claiborne to a one-year $5 million deal before the start of the 2017 season. Retaining Claiborne is at the top of the Jets’ priority list. If they can somehow land Claiborne and Butler to go along with young safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, they will have a formidable secondary.
“Moving forward, I will do what I have always done to work hard and prepare for the next season to be the best I can be on and off the field,” Butler wrote on Instagram.
The Jets have to sort out fact from fiction.