Bill Belichick was in the media crosshairs and was reportedly facing a team mutiny after he benched veteran cornerback Malcolm Butler in New England’s Super Bowl loss to the Eagles, but less than a year later it’s clear that he was right, again.
After getting let go by the Patriots, Butler signed a 5-year, $61 million deal with the Titans, and has been one of the worst corners in the NFL by almost any metric this season. The one time Super Bowl hero has given up the most touchdowns of any corner in the NFL, and is ranked as one of the worst corners in the league by Pro Football Focus.
Despite the uproar when Belichick bailed on Butler in the Super Bowl, it’s clear that he cut bait on a veteran at the right time, again, and further cemented his reputation as the NFL’s master break-up artist. From Corey Dillon, to Danny Amendola, to Nate Solder, to Danny Amendola, Belichick is the unquestioned master of assessing player value and knowing when to hold ’em, and when to fold ’em. There’s no disputing it at this point.