Malcolm Butler's benching in Super Bowl LI vs. the Philadelphia Eagles has been one of the great mysteries of the New England Patriots dynasty. While there are plenty of theories about the Super Bowl XLIX hero playing only one snap, we've never gotten a clear explanation.
An upcoming tell-all book from ESPN's Seth Wickersham titled “It’s Better to Be Feared" may have finally solved the mystery once and for all. According to Wickersham, a heated exchange between Butler and then-defensive coordinator Matt Patricia led to the cornerback's demotion.