Tag: Malcolm Butler

Patriots to commemorate 10-year anniversary of Super Bowl XLIX vs Seahawks in Week 2

Patriots to commemorate 10-year anniversary of Super Bowl XLIX vs Seahawks in Week 2

The Seattle Seahawks are fresh off a win in Week 1, but the 12th Man may want to wait a bit before tuning into Seattle’s Week 2 game. The Seahawks travel to Foxboro to play the New England Patriots, where the home team will be commemorating the most painful moment in Seattle sports history: the 10-year anniversary of Super Bowl XLIX.

No one reading this article needs a recap of what happened in that particular game, as that moment is seared into the collective memory of 12’s everywhere. Part of the pre-game festivities in New England will include cornerback Malcolm Butler ringing the bell on top of the new lighthouse at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots recently added a lighthouse to the stadium, and a new pre-game tradition where a new “Keeper of the Light” rings an old bell. Essentially, it is the Patriots trying to come up with their own version of raising the 12th Man Flag.

https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1834258459748897048

It is hard to believe we’ve already reached the decade mark since Super Bowl XLIX. Obviously, a lot has changed for these teams since that fateful day in Feburary. Aside from the roster changes, both the Patriots and Seahawks have moved on from their legendary coaches who led the teams to XLIX. Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick have moved into (semi) retirement. Oddly enough, both are connected to the Washington Huskies, as their sons are the offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively.

As for the men who played in the big game, the only player from either team who took the field who is still actively in their organization is New England head coach Jerod Mayo – who was a Pats linebacker in the Super Bowl.

Last season, the Seahawks celebrated the 10-yearanniversary of Super Bowl XLVIII with a Week 3 showdown against the Carolina Panthers – the team they opened the 2013 campaign against. For the first time in team history, the Seahawks wore their white jerseys at home. Seattle donned their typical away uniform – white jersey/blue pants – as they were the threads worn in their Super Bowl XLVIII victory. At this point, one begins to wonder if the Patriots might do something similar themselves.

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Super Bowl XLIX hero returning for Patriots’ home opener vs. Seahawks

A former Patriots Super Bowl hero is returning to Gillette Stadium on Sunday

The New England Patriots are honoring the near 10-year anniversary of their Super Bowl XLIX win over the Seattle Seahawks by inviting former cornerback Malcolm Butler to be the “Keeper of the light” at Sunday’s home opener.

It’s a new tradition for the Patriots to have a guest ring the bell atop the lighthouse at Gillette Stadium in the team’s first home game. Tom Brady was the guest last season when the team hosted the Philadelphia Eagles.

Butler being the guest against the Seahawks is poetic considering he’s the one who snagged the game-winning interception from quarterback Russell Wilson on the goal line to help the Patriots win their fourth Super Bowl.

It was one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history.

Super Bowl XLIX ended up being one of the most devastating losses in franchise history for the Seahawks. Former coach Pete Carroll was constantly scrutinized for not handing the ball off to Marshawn Lynch on the goal line.

Frustrations from that game lingered and ultimately played a role in the team dismantling. Carroll is still a senior advisor for the Seahawks.

Sunday’s ceremony will be like taking salt in the wounds with both hands tied for the legendary coach.

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Pete Carroll and Marshawn Lynch discuss the ending to Super Bowl XLIX

Pete Carroll and Marshawn Lynch discuss the ending to Super Bowl XLIX

Fair warning to all the 12’s out there, as this article will be discussing the most tragic moment in Seattle Seahawks history.

In life, there are always major moments where you’ll always remember where you were when they happened. Moments that burrow so deeply into your memory you almost become hyper aware of your surroundings, and everything gets etched into your brain for the rest of your days. Such a moment lives in the collective memory of the 12th Man, and it was the ending to Super Bowl XLIX.

Only two yards away from NFL immortality, the Seahawks’ chances of becoming the first team since the ’03-’04 New England Patriots to repeat as Super Bowl champs was dashed in an instant. Thanks to cornerback Malcolm Butler snatching Russell Wilson’s ill-fated pass at the goal line, the same Patriots defended their own honor by defeating the Seahawks 28-24.

For as painful as this memory is for the 12’s, for as often as it intrudes the thoughts of fans everywhere, it can only be infinitely worse for the players and coaches who lived through it. Specifically head coach Pete Carroll, and the player who should have gotten the ball, Marshawn Lynch.

Recently, Marshawn Lynch has launched a podcast with his agent Doug Hendrickson and California Governor Gavin Newsom. Their latest guest was Lynch’s old coach, Pete Carroll himself. The topics included Carroll’s return to USC, as well as the unfortunate Super Bowl XLIX.

Lynch opened up, discussing how the moment has forever impacted his life. Meanwhile, Carroll acknowledged the missed opportunity and the fact it perhaps derailed Seattle’s chances of going for three-straight.

While there is no way to know for certain if the Seahawks could have pulled off three-straight Lombardi’s, the ending to XLIX will forever be one of the greatest “what if?” moments in NFL history. Although Seattle kept it together for years after the Super Bowl loss, they were never truly quite the same, nor did they have anywhere near the same level of postseason success. To this day, the Seahawks have not progressed past the divisional round, or even won a playoff game where their opponent has scored at least one touchdown.

A snippet of the conversation can be found in the tweet below, and it is well worth a watch, as well as a full listen on their full podcast.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1830657642349703629

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Robert Kraft critical of Bill Belichick benching Malcolm Butler in Super Bowl

In “The Dynasty” docuseries, Robert Kraft commented on Bill Belichick’s unpopular decision to bench Malcolm Butler in Super Bowl LII

Former New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler’s benching at Super Bowl LII was a big talking point in the Apple TV+ docuseries “The Dynasty: New England Patriots.”

Past and current members of the Patriots weighed in on Bill Belichick’s decision, including owner Robert Kraft, who was blunt in his assessment of the situation.

The Patriots defense could not stop the Eagles in that game, as Philadelphia recorded 538 total yards of offense.

The New England secondary struggled throughout the course of the game, and Butler’s absence was undoubtedly felt on the defensive unit. New England could not stop the Philadelphia passing attack in a game where the Eagles recorded 374 yards through the air with their backup quarterback, Nick Foles, under center.

“What has been told to me is that there was something personal going on between Bill and Malcolm that was not football-related,” Kraft said, as transcribed by AtoZ Sports’ Sophie Weller. “I always felt that every decision Bill had made had been to put what’s in the best interest of the team first and put emotion aside. But with Malcolm, he did just the opposite.”

Many of Belichick’s decisions are hard to argue with due to the sustained success the team had for nearly two decades. However, the decision to bench Butler undoubtedly looms as one of the most heavily criticized to this very day.

Former Titans CB Malcolm Butler retires from NFL

Ex-Titans CB Malcolm Butler recently revealed he has retired from the NFL.

Former Tennessee Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler has decided to hang up his cleats after seven seasons in the NFL.

“I am retired,” Butler told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. “I did the best I can do. Walking away from the game feeling comfortable. Everybody can do more, but I’m satisfied with my career. It’s time to move on and transition.”

To keep himself busy after retirement, Butler is involved in real estate and says he’d like to write movie scripts and even possibly do standup comedy.

“There’s a lot of things I can do,” he said. “I want to keep myself busy.”

A former undrafted free agent, Butler last played in the NFL in 2020 with the Titans. He then retired in 2021 after signing with the Arizona Cardinals but decided to come out of retirement to rejoin the New England Patriots in 2022.

After suffering an injury in August that landed him on injured reserve, Butler was released by the Pats with an injury settlement. He later met with the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons but did not sign with either team.

Butler came to the Titans in 2018 and after initially struggling, he rounded into form and became a plus defender for Tennessee.

His most memorable moment came with the Pats during Super Bowl XLIX, when he picked off then-Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in the closing seconds to clinch the game.

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Ranking the 8 greatest prodigal son returns for Patriots

Who were the top former player returns for the Patriots in the Bill Belichick era?

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick likes what he knows.

He isn’t the kind of guy always aiming to reinvent the wheel or create a massive shake-up. If something has worked for him in the past, there’s a good chance he’ll give it another try down the line.

That’s the basic philosophy behind the Patriots’ tendency to bring back past players in a pinch.

New England is a revolving door of past Patriots that have sought opportunities elsewhere, only to return to the same place where they made a name for themselves. In many ways, New England is a place where names are born, leave and come back to be recognized all over again.

Here are the top eight prodigal son returns for the Patriots in the Belichick era.

Ex-Patriots Super Bowl hero attempting comeback with NFL tryout

Former Patriots Super Bowl hero is reportedly looking to join NFC team.

Former New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler isn’t ready to ride off into the sunset, not without at least one more potential run in the NFL. The Super Bowl XLIX hero is reportedly working out with the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday.

There was hope that an opportunity would come from his reunion with the Patriots last year, but he ended up on injured reserve and was ultimately released by the team.

You’d have to go all the way back to his 2020 run with the Tennessee Titans to find the last NFL game Butler even took a snap in. His last workout came in last October with the Miami Dolphins, but it didn’t go anywhere.

Butler is mostly known for securing the game-clinching interception on former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson at Super Bowl XLIX. Some even argued his benching at Super Bowl LII cost the Patriots a championship.

It has been a tremendous career for the former undrafted rookie out of West Alabama, whether he gets another NFL run or not. His legacy has already been cemented as a Pro Bowler, All-Pro and most importantly, two-time Super Bowl champion.

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Patriots salary cap: Tracking New England’s $18 million in dead money

Here’s where the Patriots’ dead money situation stands ahead of the 2023 season.

The New England Patriots have made it past June 1, which means the team’s salary will be less impacted by any trades or contract releases for the 2023 season.

When it comes to dead money, the Patriots are sitting at the middle of the pack in the NFL, mostly due to all of the money they had tied up in former tight end Jonnu Smith’s contract.

Dead cap is money or any guaranteed salary still being paid to players that were moved from the roster. The Patriots are currently sitting at $18,174,272 in dead money, per Over The Cap.

Here are nine former Patriots players eating up a portion of the team’s salary cap ahead of the 2023 season:

Devin McCourty reveals meeting over Malcolm Butler Super Bowl benching

Devin McCourty had some interesting comments on the infamous Malcolm Butler Super Bowl LII benching.

One of the biggest NFL mysteries of all time belongs to the New England Patriots, when they made the shocking decision to bench then-cornerback Malcolm Butler at Super Bowl LII against the Philadelphia Eagles.

What followed was a defensive collapse for the ages in a game where even Tom Brady’s 505-yard passing performance couldn’t save the team.

Retired Patriots safety Devin McCourty had some interesting things to say on the incident when appearing on the “Green Light with Chris Long.”

“Think about, if there was something to know, we’re years past, all of those guys on the team, and you haven’t heard anybody [reveal anything],” said McCourty. “Like, none of us knew. As a matter of fact, the next year, I remember meeting with [defensive coach Brian Flores], and Flo was like, ‘Hey, we’ve just got to make sure that whole situation doesn’t affect the team this year.’

“He was like, ‘I look back at Seattle when we played them in the Super Bowl, and they don’t run the ball. It kind of seemed like that was the end of that team. They never got back to the Super Bowl.’ And that team was so talented. That Seattle team had everything. He was like, ‘I just don’t want that to destroy us.'”

McCourty admitted both he and former teammate Stephon Gilmore are looking forward to reading Butler’s upcoming book, which might provide more details on what actually happened behind the scenes.

It’s still crazy that the Patriots were such a tight-lipped organization that even the players on the team didn’t know what happened with Butler.

Fortunately, New England didn’t turn into Seattle and bounced back the following season by defeating the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 to win Super Bowl LIII.

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Marshawn Lynch still having nightmares about Super Bowl goal line play

Marshawn Lynch is still surprised by the decision to not hand him the ball at the goal line in Super Bowl XLIX.

Former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch still has nightmares about Malcolm Butler’s interception at the goal line that gave the New England Patriots a 28-24 victory over the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.

The interception occurred at the goal line on a play where many thought Lynch would get the football. Seattle was driving down the field towards the end of the fourth quarter on a drive that took seven plays and accumulated 79 yards. Lynch had run the football for four yards to the New England one-yard line on the previous play.

What followed was the biggest play of Butler’s career, and it gave New England their fourth Super Bowl title. Lynch appeared on the I AM ATHLETE podcast and described his feelings on the play.

“So when it comes to the play call, and that was the type of situation. Yeah, I’m hot as (expletive). I’m boiling,” Lynch said. “And the only thing I can do was think, ‘I need to get in his face, for I’m about to laugh at (him) so hard.’ Because I know for a fact, like, if we run that ball four times and we don’t score, everybody on our team, from the front office to the (expletive) janitors will say, ‘Well, (expletive). Yup, well, we deserve to lose that (expletive).’

“So then what happened is you in that mindset of (expletive) should have gave me the ball, should have gave me the ball—this, that and the third. But what it let me do was it really got me the opportunity to see how people really felt about me. So when I walk in that building after that (expletive) and …(expletives) was hot. That was a level of respect for me.”

A Super Bowl win over the Seahawks would set the stage for another string of Patriots titles.

One has to wonder how things might have looked if Seattle ran the football on that play. It’s something that Lynch apparently still thinks about, and it does make you wonder what the trajectory of the league would have looked like had Seattle scored a touchdown and won the game.

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