Malcolm Butler will get a chance at redemption in a New England Patriots jersey. The last time he wore one, he was barely allowed on the field — left to watch while the Philadelphia Eagles ripped apart his team’s secondary in Super Bowl LII. Bill Belichick inexplicably benched Butler, a decision which the Patriots coach has never explained to this day.
But that strange ending may not be the final chapter in Butler’s career with New England. The Patriots signed the cornerback to a two-year deal worth up to $9 million. Though he’s been out of the NFL for a full year after temporarily retiring, Butler may quickly ascend to the team’s top cornerback spot. Surely, he and Bill Belichick are pleased to get another chance to work together and, perhaps, have a happier ending.
“No bad blood between me and Bill Belichick,” Butler said July 2018 during an interview with ESPN. “One of the greatest coaches ever and I care about him, I know he care about me. And this a hurtful game sometimes and it can look different than what it is. But that’s my guy. … I got a lot of respect for him.”
