There has been no shortage of drama and news surrounding the New England Patriots since their Super Bowl 52 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Perhaps the most notable would be head coach Bill Belichick's decision to sit 2015 Pro Bowler cornerback Malcolm Butler, who had one snap on special teams in the entire game.
The Eagles torched the Patriots defense, as Nick Foles and co. put up a whopping 538 yards and 41 points, capturing their first Super Bowl championship in franchise history.
It wasn't only shocking that Belichick benched Butler to start, but didn't bother to put him out later in the game. The hooded genius is known for his strong in-game adjustments, but he opted to watch Eric Rowe get roasted instead of giving Butler a chance.
RELATED: BIGGEST MOMENTS FROM SUPER BOWL LII- THE EAGLES DEFEAT THE PATRIOTS
Butler didn't hold back from expressing his feelings about having to watch the game from the sidelines:
Belichick would later defend the decision, saying it was done to "put the players and game plan out there that we thought would be the best, like we always do."
Butler would take to Instagram and post a lengthy message on his Instagram page:
Tom Brady actually liked Butler's photo, and posted the following comment:
"Love you Malcolm. You are an incredible player and teammate and friend. Always!!!!!!"
Brady certainly owes a bunch to Butler, who helped him secure a fourth Super Bowl ring by picking off Russell Wilson at the one-yard line three years ago. After winning Super Bowl 49 MVP, Brady gave his new Chevy Truck to Butler. There's obviously a strong connection between the two.
But at this point, all signs point to Butler leaving the Patriots in free agency next month. He was given a one-year tender for $3.91 million last year, rather than signed to a long-term contract. At 28 years of age, Butler will want to cash out in free agency, and would prefer to join a team that gives him a starting job.