Malcom Butler Controversy

@"greediron" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

or if new englands O had been able to punch some TD in early instead of spotting foles a 2 score lead in the first half it might have been different.  foles is an ok QB,  but he can be rattled,  new england was never able to make him nervous,  on the field or on the score board.

NE's defense looked like crap IMO.  Glad Patricia is going to coach the lions. 

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"greediron" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

or if new englands O had been able to punch some TD in early instead of spotting foles a 2 score lead in the first half it might have been different.  foles is an ok QB,  but he can be rattled,  new england was never able to make him nervous,  on the field or on the score board.

NE's defense looked like crap IMO.  Glad Patricia is going to coach the lions. 

apparently neither D was worth a shit with over 80 points combined and the loser having over 500 passing yards and nearly 40 points of their own.

@"greediron" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"greediron" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

or if new englands O had been able to punch some TD in early instead of spotting foles a 2 score lead in the first half it might have been different.  foles is an ok QB,  but he can be rattled,  new england was never able to make him nervous,  on the field or on the score board.

NE's defense looked like crap IMO.  Glad Patricia is going to coach the lions. 

apparently neither D was worth a shit with over 80 points combined and the loser having over 500 passing yards and nearly 40 points of their own.

Well, Philly held NE in the redzone and led to a missed FG and came up with the strip sack to ice the game.  And they had NE off their game in the first half.  I think NE made a good halftime adjustment to go up tempo and nearly wore the defense out.  But they gutted out one last play to clinch it.

Brady didn't have his best game ever but was still pretty damn good.  I think the defense had a lot to do with and I really think his hand is bothering him more than is being reported.

@"Geoff Nichols" said:

@"TBro" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"mgobluevikes" said:

@"TBro" said:

@"MarkSP18" said: Butler was really sick with flu like symptoms last week and did not even travel with the team.  He came to Minnesota separately.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots/2018/02/patriots_notebook_malcolm_butler_battling_through_illness

I was reading the patspulpit site and someone commented that they kept him away from the rest of the team for the most part.

This may indicate that he missed a lot of the preparation that was done for Philly this week.  Not sure how much they did last week but probably some for sure.  This week could have been some fine tuning stuff.

Who knows, maybe they felt he was still too weak even if he said he was not?

The way Eric Rowe was playing you would think they would give Butler a shot.

It still was a close game and I have to look at the Patriots offense in the first half and wonder what was going on because in the second half they really did better.  I did not see much difference besides getting Gronk the ball but I am sure it is more complicated.

Brady was very inaccurate with his throws all game, especially in the first half. He didn't look like the AP's MVP last night. Gronk only had 1 catch in the first half so I agree with you that McDaniels did not call a good game last night but the pressure the Eagles were putting on Brady had a lot to do with it. He just wasn't comfortable. Same with Keenum. He looked amazing in the opening drive, and then the Eagles were able to get pressure on him and he was never the same QB.  

If throwing for 500 yds., and scoring 33 on that defense, with that coverage, was a measure of very inaccurate throwing, I'm guessing you're going to be very disappointed in our QB next year... or any year.  

while I only watched parts of the first half,  I saw several instance where Brady misfired when trying to target gronkowski.  in fairness,  the pats oline was completely outmatched by the iggles defense and brady had little to no time to set up on many pass plays.... however,  in the past I think the pats win that game.  Tom had great numbers,  but I dont think he had the touch I have seen in the past.  (again only watched about half the game and was in/out during that half.)

mgobluevikes, 

Jimmy did a better job of capturing what I was trying to say. Yes, Brady put up some big numbers, but for several parts of the game he did not pass with the precision we are used to seeing out of him. A lot of that was attributed to the Eagles' pressure, but he also had several throws that he had plenty of time and was just off including some of his decision making. I also think that McDaniels and Patricia didn't call great games either. 

Yes, he missed a few throws. But you're being overly critical. He threw for 500+ yards, 3 TD's, and was a hair under 60% accuracy. He wasn't vintage Brady, but his performance or the offensive game plan wasn't the issue. They didn't punt a single time all game. 

Reports out here near Foxborough have stated Butler missed curfew and was caught with weed, thats why he was benched, and more reports have the locker room not happy with that decision

@"Sir Viking Bob VWO" said: Reports out here near Foxborough have stated Butler missed curfew and was caught with weed, thats why he was benched, and more reports have the locker room not happy with that decision

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"Sir Viking Bob VWO" said: Reports out here near Foxborough have stated Butler missed curfew and was caught with weed, thats why he was benched, and more reports have the locker room not happy with that decision

I heard the curfew, not the weed part...So according to the NFL it's ok to be drunk but not a toke of weed...

Maybe it wasn't his weed?  ;)

@"SmashmouthD" said: Maybe it wasn't his weed?  ;)

...and he doesn't own a watch so that's why he missed curfew.

@"ArizonaViking" said:

@"SmashmouthD" said: Maybe it wasn't his weed?  ;)

...and he doesn't own a watch so that's why he missed curfew.

Maybe he said something like, "hey, I think these Eagles are pretty good Biil." Boom, benched.

I believe the alleged “curfew violation” was for having some trim in his room.. rumor has it!  :o

@"Kentis" said: I believe the alleged “curfew violation” was for having some trim in his room.. rumor has it!  :o

@"Sir Viking Bob VWO" said: Reports out here near Foxborough have stated Butler missed curfew and was caught with weed, thats why he was benched, and more reports have the locker room not happy with that decision

@"Tom Moore" said:

@"Sir Viking Bob VWO" said: Reports out here near Foxborough have stated Butler missed curfew and was caught with weed, thats why he was benched, and more reports have the locker room not happy with that decision

You dont have the whole story and it likely never comes out.  The BFL is not as strict on “weed” (they can’t be, it is legal in some of the states the NFL has teams.

Poor Butler reminded me of another outstanding NFL citizen and his SB appearance.  From Wiki...

"After the 1997 season, Eugene Robinson joined the Atlanta Falcons in 1998. During the season, Robinson recorded 46 tackles, two fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and one touchdown return, earning his third career Pro Bowl selection. After making a game-saving play in the NFC Championship game (breaking up an otherwise certain winning touchdown to Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss) Robinson made it back to the Super Bowl (the Falcons' first appearance ever) for the third year in a row, and again faced the Broncos.
The night prior to Super Bowl XXXIII, Robinson was arrested by an undercover police officer for soliciting a prostitute. Earlier that day, Robinson received the Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award, given annually to a player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community. After the arrest Robinson agreed to return the award.
The next day, without much sleep the night before due to the prostitution incident, Robinson gave up an 80-yard touchdown reception to Broncos receiver Rod Smith, giving the Broncos a 17–3 lead over the Falcons. Later, in the fourth quarter, he missed a tackle on Denver running back Terrell Davis that enabled Davis to break a long run to the Atlanta 10-yard line. The Atlanta Falcons ended up losing the game, 34–19, and Robinson was widely denounced by the press and fans for the previous night's incident. The next season was Robinson's last with the Falcons."

@"Ralphie" said: Poor Butler reminded me of another outstanding NFL citizen and his SB appearance.  From Wiki...

"After the 1997 season, Eugene Robinson joined the Atlanta Falcons in 1998. During the season, Robinson recorded 46 tackles, two fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and one touchdown return, earning his third career Pro Bowl selection. After making a game-saving play in the NFC Championship game (breaking up an otherwise certain winning touchdown to Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss) Robinson made it back to the Super Bowl (the Falcons' first appearance ever) for the third year in a row, and again faced the Broncos.
The night prior to Super Bowl XXXIII, Robinson was arrested by an undercover police officer for soliciting a prostitute. Earlier that day, Robinson received the Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award, given annually to a player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community. After the arrest Robinson agreed to return the award.
The next day, without much sleep the night before due to the prostitution incident, Robinson gave up an 80-yard touchdown reception to Broncos receiver Rod Smith, giving the Broncos a 17–3 lead over the Falcons. Later, in the fourth quarter, he missed a tackle on Denver running back Terrell Davis that enabled Davis to break a long run to the Atlanta 10-yard line. The Atlanta Falcons ended up losing the game, 34–19, and Robinson was widely denounced by the press and fans for the previous night's incident. The next season was Robinson's last with the Falcons."