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Devin McCourty: “We all knew” Malcolm Butler wasn’t starting

Patriots safety Devin McCourty has heard all the theories. But unlike most people wondering why cornerback Malcolm Butler didn’t play defense in the Super Bowl, he had a hint it was coming.

“As far as I know, all of that is the furthest thing from the truth,” McCourty told Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com. “We all knew he wasn’t starting all week. That wasn’t a secret to the guys on the team.

“I get why people are fishing. The guy played 98 percent of the plays. I just hate that for him character-wise going into free agency.