Free-agent-to-be CB Malcolm Butler sets the record straight about ‘ridiculous activities being reported’

A major storyline since the first play of the Super Bowl last Sunday and every since has been why Bill Belichick decided to hold starting cornerback Malcolm Butler out of the game. The reports have ranged from an illness, to a bad week of practice, to missing curfew, to some combination of all three.

Butler took to instagram and Twitter Tuesday to say his piece and refute the claims being made.

“I have always given it everything I have to play at a high level and would never do anything to hurt my teams’ [sic] chances of winning a game, including this year’s Super Bowl where I visited with my family every night,” Butler said. “During Super Bowl week I never attended any concert, missed curfew, or participated [in] any of the ridiculous activities being reported. They are not only false, but hurtful, to me ad my family.”

His post of this message on Instagram was liked by several of his teammates, including Tom Brady. That kind of support would suggest he speaks the truth. He continued...

“Although I wish I could have contributed more to help my team win, I have to get ready for the next opportunity.”

That ‘next opportunity’ would figure to come with another team. Butler is headed for free agency and an incident like this would figure to have him leaving New England to get a fresh start elsewhere.

Among the teams who figure to make a hard push to sign at least one starting cornerback this free agent period is the Raiders. Butler is among a host of talented corners who could hit the market in March. This could get interesting.