This week saw a mass exodus of high-profile free agents from Foxboro. By the time the NFL league year opened Wednesday afternoon, the Patriots already reportedly had lost four players to other teams: wide receiver Danny Amendola to the Miami Dolphins, offensive tackle Nate Solder to the New York Giants, and cornerback Malcolm Butler and running back Dion Lewis to the Tennessee Titans. After posting a heartfelt farewell message to Amendola on Instagram on Tuesday, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady took to social media again Wednesday to pay tribute to Solder, Butler and Lewis, whom he called his “brothers for life.”Butler commented on Brady’s post, writing, “Forev... NESN.com
Tag: Malcolm Butler
Malcolm Butler Releases Statement On Benching, Denies ‘Ridiculous’ Reports
by Zack Cox on Tue, Feb 6, 2018 at 4:33PM 1,312 Malcolm Butler addressed his Super Bowl LII benching Tuesday in a statement posted to his Twitter and Instagram pages. The New England Patriots cornerback, who played just one special teams snap in his team’s 41-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, denied reports that he missed curfew or violated team rules in the week leading up to Super Bowl Sunday. “During my four-year career wi... NESN.com
NFL Rumors: Malcolm Butler Benching ‘Divided’ Patriots Locker Room
Bill Belichick’s decision to bench cornerback Malcolm Butler in Super Bowl LII will be one of the most talked about storylines of the NFL offseason, and it could be one with far-reaching ramifications for the New England Patriots. An earlier report Monday suggested that Butler’s benching in the Patriots’ 41-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was a “perfect storm of issues,” with his illness, poor play and a missed curfew playing a role. However, a different report from WEEI’s Kirk Minihane suggests that Belichick’s decision was not a disciplinary action, and that his decision was sudden and had a severe impact on New England’s locker... NESN.com
Matt Patricia Offers Insufficient Explanation For Malcolm Butler Benching
by Zack Cox on Mon, Feb 5, 2018 at 3:58AM 1,073 MINNEAPOLIS — New England Patriots fans hoping for answers about cornerback Malcolm Butler’s stunning Super Bowl LII benching got none from defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. Patricia, who is widely expected to become the next head coach of the Detroit Lions this offseason, offered the same maddening response to repeated questions about Butler not seeing the field in New England’s 41-33 loss to the Phil... NESN.com
David Ortiz, Zdeno Chara Among Best Ever Boston Sports Free-Agent Signings
Share this: There’s no doubt Boston is a premier destination for marquee free agents in all sports. The latest player to take his talents to Beantown is NBA All-Star forward Gordon Hayward, who agreed to . four-year max contract with the Celtics on the Fourth of July. With that in mind, let’s go over some of the top free-agent signings in Boston sports history. Zdeno Chara: The Bruins got their latest franchise defenseman in June 2006. Since then, Chara has tallied 429 points, a Norris Trophy, as well as a leading role in the Bruins’ first Stanley Cup championship in 39 years back in 2011. David Ortiz: “Big Papi” needs no introduction. On January 22, 2003, Ortiz signed a non-guaranteed free-agent contract with Boston, and his legend
Why Hall Of Famer Aeneas Williams Sees Himself In Malcolm Butler
Share this: HOUSTON — Aeneas Williams is a Pro Football Hall of Famer who had 55 interceptions in his 14-year NFL career, so he knows a lockdown cornerback when he sees one. And he sees one in Malcolm Butler. “Malcolm had what I had,” Williams told NESN.com’s Rachel Holt on Tuesday on Super Bowl LI Radio Row. “Even though he’s not as tall as someone of the other guys, he’s strong. And I had unusual strength when it came down to bigger receivers. … The thing I love about his game is he competes, and he’s a smart player.” Watch the video above to hear more from Williams, who also showed off his Ring of Excellence, courtesy of Kay Jewelers, and explained why he
Malcolm Butler Has A Lot Riding On Playoff Matchup With Antonio Brown
Share this: FOXBORO, Mass. — New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler has already proven he won’t be another Larry Brown, Timmy Smith or David Tyree. Now it’s time to show he’s an elite cornerback. Butler successfully transitioned from unlikely Super Bowl hero to one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2015 and earned a second-team All-Pro nod in 2016 thanks to some dominant stretches with four interceptions this summer. Still, Butler had issues at times in 2016, like when he allowed over 130 yards to the Dolphins in Week 2 and over 100 yards and two touchdowns to the New York Jets in Week 12. Butler locked down the majority of his opponents this season,