Malcolm Butler was benched on Sunday in Super Bowl LII, one of the more curious decisions during the game and especially after, as Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles tossed for 373 yards through the air, three touchdowns and one interception.
After the game, a frustrated Butler pushed back against the Patriots, via ESPN:
"They gave up on me. F—-. It is what it is," Butler told ESPN's Adam Schefter after the game.
"I could have changed that game."
Butler, who played nearly 98 percent of the team's defensive snaps this season, arrived late in Minneapolis due to illness.
Head coach Bill Belichick called his choice not to play Butler a "football decision."
Butler is a former Pro Bowler, two-time Super Bowl champion and has started 16, 16 and 15 games in each of the last three years, respectively. He's also registered eight interceptions over the last three seasons.
He registered the game-winning interception against Russell Wilson in Super Bowl XLIX.
Butler will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
