NASHVILLE — No Malcolm Butler interview is complete without a reference to the cornerback’s Super Bowl LII benching, which remains one of the most puzzling moments in the game’s storied history.
So when Butler met with the Boston media following Thursday’s joint practice between the Patriots and Titans, he fully expected to be asked, in some form or fashion, about why he landed in Bill Belichick’s doghouse in the days leading up to the Super Bowl.
He provided a completely unexpected answer.
Butler joked about the whole thing.
“No regrets at all. I graded out at 99 percent on my punt return rep,” Butler said, laughing. “So it was great, man.”
Of course, Butler was referring to the single special teams snap he played in the Super Bowl. It was his only action in a 41-33 Patriots loss to the Eagles. Butler famously was captured wiping away tears during the national anthem, and he spent the night watching from the sideline as Eagles quarterback Nick Foles sliced up a Patriots secondary that included backups Jordan Richards and Johnson Bademosi.
A year and a half removed from the benching, Butler appears to be at peace. He handled all Super Bowl-related inquiries with a touch of humor. When asked to disclose the reason behind the benching, Butler looked around the field and said, “Where the Hoodie at? You’ve got to go ask him.”
Butler downplayed the significance of the benching, even going as far to say it “wasn’t a big deal.”
“I mean, it was a big deal because of the outside noise and things like that. But it is what it is,” Butler said.
He then smiled and politely requested a transition to the next topic, perhaps afraid he was going to say too much.
“I’m going to try to end this right here because I know you all are good at what you do,” Butler said, laughing.
It’s not hyperbole to suggest Butler’s career arc in New England was unlike that of any other player in NFL history. As an undrafted Division 2 cornerback who ran a 4.6 40-yard dash and had precisely one offer for a minicamp tryout (not even a contract), Butler defied the longest of odds just by making the team.
His interception of Russell Wilson at the goal line in the closing seconds of Super Bowl XLIX will live on as one of the greatest plays in history. In that moment, the Patriots broke a nine-year Super Bowl “drought” (well, by their standards) and officially triggered the beginning of the second era of the dynasty.
They’ve missed the Super Bowl only once since.
In the years between Super Bowls, Butler became a Pro Bowl cornerback, known for his incredibly competitive nature and unwavering confidence. He did enough to earn a life-changing five-year, $61 million contract from the Titans. He takes home $25 million in the first two years, and will earn a minimum of $36 million if he’s on the team in 2020.
Butler said he often thinks about how it all began in his first training camp in Foxborough.
“I remember Darrelle Revis telling me that I got talent, but I just need to learn the game,” Butler said. “I started learning the game instead of just going out there with my athletic ability. I started to become a student of the game. They helped me out a lot. Just growing up and being responsible, those guys helped me out a lot.”
Even though just 17 months have passed since Butler left the Patriots for the Titans in free agency, there has been plenty of change on both sides. Butler didn’t recognize most of the receivers he was covering during Thursday’s practice. Considering most of them were undrafted rookies and one of them was a former Division 2 cornerback who recently converted to wide receiver, that’s perfectly acceptable.
“They’re tough, especially that No. 9 (Gunner Olszewski) and No. 16 (Jakobi Meyers). Those guys are tough,” Butler said. “I don’t know their names, but I know that organization, and they only want hard-working guys, guys that will give full effort, and the expectation is real high, especially when you’ve got (Tom Brady) back there.”
Butler now is part of a Titans organization that is looking to establish a similar reputation. His first season in Tennessee was inconsistent; he struggled mightily at the beginning of the season, but turned things around following the Titans’ 34-10 rout of the Patriots. Butler wants to build off the momentum he had in November and December, carrying all of the lessons he learned in Foxborough with him as he approaches Year 6 in the league.
But he doesn’t want to spend any more time looking back at what transpired in New England.
“I enjoyed my time there,” Butler said. “Everything happens for a reason. I’m still happy. I’m still in the NFL. I still have a great relationship with those guys, so it’s all good.”
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.