Malcolm Butler is on to the next chapter of his NFL story, and despite a sour ending to his New England Patriots’ tenure, the cornerback holds no hard feelings toward his former team.
Butler experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows during his time in New England. Three years after clinching the Patriots’ Super Bowl XLIX victory with a game-winning interception, Butler sat on the bench for all but one special teams snap in New England’s Super Bowl LII loss.
There wasn’t much of a doubt that Butler’s time with the Pats was all but over after their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, but it was made official when the 28-year-old signed a free-agent contract with the Tennessee Titans. Butler was introduced as a member of the Titans on Thursday, and he cleared some more air about his final game in a Patriots uniform.
“I wasn’t feeling too well,” Butler said, as transcribed by WEEI. “I felt like that was kind of part of it. Not to blame anybody. I accept full responsibly for myself. I am not blaming the New England Patriots or no one. It could have been just me, you know. It could have been anything, but I was not feeling too well and the New England Patriots are all about doing their job and they want everybody locked in and focused 100 percent and that probably was not the case. I am glad to be a Tennessee Titan.”
It appears there were no hard feelings from either side as Butler departed New England. Following the Patriots’ loss this past February, head coach Bill Belichick reportedly wished Butler luck in his future endeavors. We won’t have to wait too long for a reunion, either, as the Patriots will face off against the Titans in Tennessee next season.
