the other 4 teams the article thinks he'd be a good fit for are Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle, and Tampa BayMINNEAPOLIS — Malcolm Butler went from the hero of the Patriots' Super Bowl 49 win to the zero of the Patriots' Super Bowl 52 loss.
It's a virtual lock that Butler has played his last down for New England, as he becomes an unrestricted free agent in March, fresh off being benched in the Super Bowl.
Butler all but confirmed it himself, sharing his reaction to ESPN reporters to what his coach Bill Belichick called a "football decision."
Patriots’ CB Malcolm Butler to ESPN’s @MikeReiss: “They gave up on me. F—. It is what it is.”
There's no doubt Butler's value and cachet was a bit inflated during his time with the Patriots. He developed from undrafted rookie into steady starter after his famed interception of Russell Wilson to seal a Super Bowl victory in 2015. Butler earned a trip to the Pro Bowl with solid coverage in the '15 season, and he was a terrific ballhawk in '16.
But Butler struggled in '17, as he was exposed as not being a true shutdown corner at 5-11, 190 pounds. Playing opposite newly signed No. 1 corner Stephon Gilmore, there was a glaring difference between the two. Now 27, Butler will hope to find a happy home on a new team in a more comfortable role.
So, where might Butler play in 2018 and beyond? Here are five teams that could use services.
Chicago Bears
The Bears have a solid big corner in veteran Prince Amukamara and they retained defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who likes to mix up his coverage. That would allow Butler to get the best out of his zone and man-to-man skills without being overwhelmed.
but screw them
would Malcolm Butler be a nice addition to the Bears? Pace may want some additional info as to why he got into Belichick's doghouse right before the start of the Super Bowl, and maybe that is important, maybe not
when he hits free agency, he will have bidders ... I think perhaps the Bears should be one of them
