The Patriots lost Super Bowl 52 in heartbreaking fashion losing 41-33 to the Philadelphia Eagles. Tom Brady and the offense played great, Brady put up 505 passing yards to go along with three passing touchdowns. The defense in the other hand was absolutely abysmal. This was one of the worst defensive performances I’ve ever seen, and the big key to this was the absence of cornerback Malcolm Butler.

Butler was seen crying during the singing of the National Anthem, and most people didn’t really think much of it. The game then starts and Butler is not on the field for the opening play, and then the opening drive, and then the entire first quarter, and so on. Butler did not receive a single defensive snap the entire game and when asked why Butler was not on the field coach Bill Belichick replied “Have guys out there that best help us win”. REALLY?!?!?!?!?! Eric Rowe, Johnson Bademosi, and Jordan Richards are the best guys for the team? Not the corner back who played 97.8 percent of snaps this season, and 3,125 out of 3,195 over the past three seasons? Butler had his struggles this year I’ll admit that, but he’s much much better than the other three players listed. Playing Butler was what was best for the team, not playing Butler was in the best interest of Belichick’s pride and ego.

What’s yet to be known is the real reason why Butler didn’t play a single defensive snap this game. It’s been rumored that Belichick hasn’t been as high on Butler over the past year and a half and during Butler’s contract negotiations. Butler wanted and thought he was worth a certain amount of money and Belichick thought otherwise. I think this was Belichick the GM making the decision over Belichick the coach, pretty much saying to Butler “You wouldn’t take my offer now you’re going to sit in the Super Bowl and lose value not only here but elsewhere. We have guys who can step in and replace you.” and clearly he was wrong. Whether its due to money or any other reason Belichick has a personal vendetta against Butler, he thought he could sit Butler and be perfectly fine with Richards, Rowe and Bademosi, and he was wrong. Belichick saw these guys constantly getting beat wouldn’t put Butler into the game.Bill wanted to prove that he was right and that he was smarter and better than everyone else and guess what, he was wrong.

Could this be a potential shot at Patriots owner Robert Kraft with the reported power struggle in New England between Belichick, Brady and Kraft? It was reported that Belichick did not want to trade quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo earlier this season and that it was a decision that was made by Robert Kraft, could this be Bill’s way of trying to fire back at Kraft and that he’s the one who is in control and sitting Butler be a message? You didn’t want Jimmy here so you shipped him out, I don’t want to play Malcolm so I’m going to sit him in the Super Bowl.

The fallout from this move will be interesting to see in the upcoming weeks. During post game interviews you could see the frustration in Patriots defensive players faces when asked about Malcolm Butler not playing, but did their best to answer the questions in typical Patriots fashion and not discussing much. Im sure their will be a lot of information to come out over the following days and weeks and a lot more storylines, but one thing that I know is that the ego and pride of Bill Belichick cost the Patriots the Super Bowl.

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