FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick shocked many by not playing cornerback Malcolm Butler on defense in Super Bowl LII, but the limited role wasn't a surprise to Butler's teammates.
"We all knew he wasn't starting all week. That wasn't a secret to the guys on the team," safety Devin McCourty told NJ Advance Media.
Butler's lack of action wasn't disciplinary, according to head coach Bill Belichick after the Super Bowl, but nonetheless sparked rumors that Butler addressed on social media.