PATRIOTS COACH Bill Belichick doesn't play favorites. No exceptions.
According to a report, he banished cornerback Malcolm Butler from the field the last two weeks for showing up late for the team's first OTA.
Butler, you'll remember, was the hero of the Patriots' 28-24 Super Bowl win over the Seahawks last season.
The Seahawks had driven 79 yards on seven plays to the Patriots' 1-yard line. With 26 seconds left, Butler intercepted a pass by Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson to seal the victory.
The play didn't convince Belichick to cut Butler any slack.
A team source told the Boston Herald that Butler was late for the Patriots' first OTA on May 26 after his flight the night before was grounded due to poor-weather conditions.