On a conference call the Monday morning after the Super Bowl, Patriots coach Bill Belichick did not offer any new insight as to why the team did not play cornerback Malcolm Butler in the 41-33 Super Bowl LII loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Butler, who including the playoffs started 54 of the last 55 Patriots games, did not play a single defensive snap Sunday night as the Eagles went up and down the field and scored on eight of their 10 possessions.
"I respect Malcolm’s competitiveness and I am sure that he felt like he could have helped," Belichick said.