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The morning after the Patriots let their sixth Super Bowl victory slip away, Patriots Nation is looking for an answer to the question to the elephant in the room: Why did Malcolm Butler, one of the defensive pillars, not play one defensive snap the entire game? Why, after playing 98 percent of the defensive snaps to this point, did that percentage plummet to zero? WHY? WHY? WHY?
We’re not going to get an explanation that adequately fits the crime from the famously curt Bill Belichick. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia wouldn’t spill the beans after being drilled with nine straight questions on the matter.
The coaches have insulted our intelligence with feeding us a load of shit that Butler didn’t fit the team’s “scheme” for the game. They thought they’d ride out the personnel they had on the field, even after Nick Foles cut through them like warm butter. Not adding up.
Now, a Pro Football Focus writer named Joey Cartolano claims to have a possible explanation for Butler’s absence. Or at least one that makes the most sense.
A family friend who I trust, is well connected in law enforcement and was in Minny this week with local cops told me Butler missed curfew, got caught with weed when he came back late to hotel, and subsequently had a meltdown on coaches
— Joey Cartolano (@JoeyPigskins) February 5, 2018
Ok, lets not take this testimony as gospel. There are some loose ends here. How could Minnesota law enforcement possibly know that Butler had a meltdown on coaches? Did they follow him into a team meeting? If something to this degree happened, why would the coaches even activate him for the game?
You know how the family of a victim always wants to lock up the suspect even after overwhelming evidence comes to light that exonerates him? They need to believe he’s the perpetrator because if he’s not, they are back at square one in finding the truth. I’m at this point with the Butler saga. I need to believe that he missed curfew because he took a huge bong rip to the face and went ballistic on coaches. Hell, we’ve all had panic attacks after bong rips.
I need to believe this because I was beginning to subscribe to the notion that Butler tried to bone Linda Holliday.It’s amazing where the mind can go when trying to rationalize the irrational.
JOEY STICK TO YOUR CONVICTIONS. FOR ME!
I am not a reporter. I am not accusing anyone of anything. Was passing along info from a friend that was the best explanation I have heard and thought would bring some clarity to fellow Pats fans. Please stop making this more than that
— Joey Cartolano (@JoeyPigskins) February 5, 2018
At the very least, if this report is fake, maybe it will lure the Patriots organization out to tell us the truth. Perception is everything.