Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler was not pleased about Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s failure to acknowledge him after the team’s 21–17 victory on Sunday.
Butler spent four seasons with New England, signing as an undrafted free agent in 2017 following a two-hour meeting with Belichick. Although the Patriots (1–5) lost their third consecutive game in Week 6 and registered the organization's worst start in a season since ’95, the 29-year-old was “upset” that his former coach could not “say anything” to him after the game.
“He didn’t say anything,” Butler said, per Logan Reever of KLAS-TV in Las Vegas. “Not even congratulate me, tell me, ‘You look good,’ or, ‘You don’t look good,’ ‘Kiss my a--,” something. …. I know Coach Belichick has bigger things to worry about obviously. They’re going through a tough time, but I mean geez, wave, something.”
"Bill didn't have the respect to say anything to me after the game...kind of felt disrespected."#Raiders Adam Butler spent 4 seasons in New England and didn't hold back on Bill Belichick after the game. #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/epv9bp4FFF
— Logan Reever (@loganreever) October 16, 2023
Butler recorded his first sack of the season and two tackles in the Raiders’ win. In addition to Butler, Las Vegas wide receiver Jakobi Meyers—a former New England wideout—also said Belichick avoided interaction with him. However, the 26-year-old told reporters that he was not mad about his former coach’s decision.
“It’s cool, though,” Meyers said.
The Patriots will seek to bounce back during Week 7 in an AFC East showdown against the Bills.