The last time Malcolm Butler donned a Patriots uniform, he was crying on the sideline during the national anthem before Super Bowl LII.
Butler played one snap that day — on special teams. He didn’t play at all on defense despite leading the team in defensive snaps that season. He watched from the sideline as Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Patriots, 41–33.
He was hurt. Livid. Outraged. How could Bill Belichick not play him in the Super Bowl? Despite everything that happened, Butler kept his mouth shut.
He knew he could have helped that day — Feb.