The reason why Malcolm Butler did not play in the Super Bowl is still a mystery. There were reports that Butler was benched because he was smoking weed, late to meetings, and missed curfew because of a Rick Ross concert, but there has yet to be any evidence presented to support these claims. Butler was forced to refute those reports by releasing a statement on Instagram to clear his name. Butler explained that the rumors about what caused his benching were not true and his post was liked by Tom Brady.
Malcolm Butler’s statement, on Instagram, was liked by Tom Brady. pic.twitter.com/PHnIO5OxbE
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) February 6, 2018
Brady also commented on the post showing support for Butler, so it shows that he did not support Bill Belichick’s decision to bench Butler. The Patriots were shredded by Nick Foles without Butler in the backfield, which ultimately sealed their fate. Brady’s public show of support for Butler is a sign that his teammates were not happy with Belichick’s decision and reveals more evidence of a strained relationship. The reports of dissension amongst Brady, Belichick, and Robert Kraft became public before the postseason began, and this seems to be a continuation of that. Flip the page to see Brady’s supportive comment on Malcolm Butler’s Instagram post.