SAN FRANCISCO — After a whirlwind following Super Bowl XLIX, Malcolm Butler has a chance to breathe this offseason.
The New England Patriots cornerback still found his way to San Francisco for Super Bowl 50, where he caught up with NESN.com, despite losing in the AFC Championship Game to the Denver Broncos.
Butler laid out his plans for the offseason.
“Be the best player I can, come back stronger than ever, which I will,” Butler said Friday. “All about getting better. I can’t wait to get back there. I got some goals I want to accomplish.”
Butler, who played for just $510,000 as the Patriots’ No. 1 cornerback in 2015, has a chance to extend his rookie contract this offseason. He’s due to make just $600,000 in 2016 despite being named to the Pro Bowl, but a possible raise isn’t weighing heavily on his mind.
“Not really. I have no control over that,” Butler said. “Contract or whatever, I’m going to come back how I play anyway. That doesn’t even matter. That’s not in my control, just going with the flow and, I’m just blessed to have the opportunity I have now.”
The Patriots’ secondary didn’t lose a step this season despite cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner departing in free agency. The Patriots’ defensive backs, and Butler, can take another step forward with some added continuity.
Check out the video above for more from Butler, and be sure to watch the full interview on NESN.com’s YouTube page.