New England Patriots: Who Is Malcolm Butler?

Mandatory Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas/Reuters

If you’re anything close to a football fan you have probably heard of the name of New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler. Chances are if you were one of the 120.8 million viewers who viewed the immaculate Patriots’ comeback to defeat the Seattle Seahawks, you probably know who Butler is as well.

Butler, 25, attended the University Of West Alabama, a school containing a Division II athletic program. Prior to his collegiate career at West Alabama, Butler attended Vicksburg High School in Mississippi; during his time there, he only played the sport of football during his freshman and senior years. The recruiting process was not luxurious to Butler, therefore he took his talents to a community college.

His career at Hinds Community College would be short-lived due to him being kicked out of school in 2009. According to Providencejournal.com, there has been no confirmation of the specific reasoning, but Butler’s only arrest record included possession of paraphernalia.

Where does a man go from here? After being kicked out of an educational environment, as well as a football environment, it would be hard to imagine to be consistent in your dreams.

Soon enough, Butler was working at a local Popeyes, a fast-food chain, and took classes at Alcorn State University. It seemed Butler was facing the typical dilemmas normal college students face; that being financial issues, time management, and an independent nature.

The aspiring student at the time in Butler was not enough to fulfill Butler’s desires.

“That just made me realize how bad I wanted it and how bad I really needed it,” Butler said. “You don’t know how good it is until it’s gone” (Providence Journal, Daniels).

By the next semester in autumn, Butler was invited back to Hinds Community College to participate with the football team. Eventually, Butler would go on to play well enough to transfer to West Alabama, the start of his soon-to-be NFL career.

Mandatory Photo Credit: Joe Chance, UWAAthletics.com

At West Alabama, Butler provided collegiate coaches, as well as NFL coaches, something to talk about. Some regarded the evolving safety to be one of the best, if not the best, in the Gulf Coast Conference, according to CSMontier.com.

By the time Butler’s name was around the Division II atmosphere, West Alabama received a call from New England Patriots special teams coach Joe Judge. One thing led to another and the Patriots had signed the defensive back to a contract as an undrafted free agent.

What could you expect from the 24-year-old at the time? Coming in at a minimal 5’11”, 190 frame it looked as a body count move for the Patriots, at the time. Although his name was not as popular as Darrelle Revis or Brandon Browner, Butler manager to fight for a roster spot and soon started a game in the preseason, specifically against the Philadelphia Eagles. It should be noted that Butler not only made the team, but it was due to his tremendous play in training camp by deflecting passes, forcing fumbles, and picking the opposing quarterback off.

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His impacts continued throughout the regular season, after making the team. Aside from Super Bowl XLIX, Butler was placed on a few people’s radars following the Patriots game against the Denver Broncos in Week 9. Mastermind quarterback Peyton Manning eyed Butler and immediately tested the rookie. The rookie would line up against founded wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and would give him his money’s worth. By the end of the game, Sanders would total 151 yards on ten receptions; keep in mind a good portion of those yards came when Butler was not on Sanders.

The importance of game time playing was enough, but to garner the Patriots trust was even more. The Patriots, or any organization, would know that any quarterback would test a rookie defensive back, but for the Patriots to trust their rookie speaks volumes.

Mandatory Photo Credit: Getty Images/Mike Ehrmann

As the Patriots achieved their Super Bowl berth, Butler remained a focal point due to the mismatch the Seahawks provided the Patriots with in cornerback Kyle Arrington on Chris Matthews. Butler was implemented and made terrific plays around the field.

The coverage provided by the, then, rookie seemed astounding, especially on Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson‘s throw to Jermaine Kearse to set-up a red-zone threat late in the fourth quarter. Kearse bobbled the pass and fell to the ground in what was great coverage by Butler, but the ball landed in Kearse’s hands leading to a completion. Nothing could have been done more for the rookie in that situation. Butler’s ball skills were proved to be polished, as he was able to get his hand on the ball four out of six times at the Super Bowl, including Kearse’s miraculous catch.

In what could be the most controversial call in NFL history, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and company decided to throw it on the one-yard line. The rest would be history as Butler would read the play – the same play the Patriots reportedly practiced prior to the Super Bowl – and solidified the interception; the event would lead to the Patriots’ fourth Super Bowl championship in the 2000 era. Butler would be soon known as the Super Bowl hero.

The calendar has turned and, as the Patriots would say, it’s on to 2015. Yes, the Patriots were crowned as 2014 champions with the aid of Butler’s tremendous game clinching interception, but now Butler seems in line for the starting job at the corner back position.

The secondary has been depleted since the end of the 2014 season; Revis bolted back to the New York Jets, Browner was released and signed with the New Orleans Saints, Arrington was released and signed with the Baltimore Ravens, and Alfonzo Dennard was released and signed with the Arizona Cardinals, only to be released again.

Do analysts and a variety of football fans have the right to be skeptical about the concerning Patriots’ secondary? More than likely. In fact, Patriots fans should be too. However, the silver lining should be Butler and his raw talent.

Does Butler need to improve to provide the NFL and viewers around the league with more than what many see as a one-hit wonder? The answer is an overwhelming yes, but many should note that Butler is nowhere near a one-hit wonder, even to current date.

The key component to improving, according to Patriots cornerback coach Josh Boyer, is to play at the pro level and being familiar with the system the defense is running. Butler should be given that opportunity in the upcoming 2015 season.

Should Patriots fans be overconfident in Butler? No, but as stated earlier, the silver lining for the Patriots’ secondary should be safety Devin McCourty and the emerging Butler.

Mandatory Photo Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

During the first preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, the Patriots defense held the Packers’ starting offense to limited points and consecutive red-zone stops. In a variety of plays Butler played a crucial aspect to stop Aaron Rodgers‘ and company from putting points on the scoreboard.

Playing with Revis, Browner, and the entirety of faces on the 2014 Patriots defense has aided Butler’s knowledge of the game.

The concerning focus for Butler should be living up to expectations. Following the Super Bowl he mentioned that he felt overwhelmed and hopes that the interception would not depict in career. The only person who can change that would be for the 25-year-old Butler in 2015.