One of the biggest questions coming out of Super Bowl 52 was what the Patriots were thinking by not playing Malcolm Butler. He did play, but it was just one special teams snap. This was a player who started all year long and suddenly on the biggest stage, he was a spectator.
Bill Belichick defended his decision after the game, but that didn't stop people from talking about it. One of the more interesting names was Brandon Browner, a former Pro Bowl cornerback and two-time Super Bowl champ, one of which was as a member of the Patriots.
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Browner went on several (profane) Instagram rants Monday to criticize the move.
Man, Bill wasn’t right at all tonight, man. I ain’t know how to feel watching that s— without my man, without my homie, without Malcolm. I didn’t know whether to cheer for they ass. Feel me ... That dude has started every game for that team. Feel me. Since he picked the f—ing ball off and he was taking on their number one dude at that.
That s— was some power trip shit, feel me? Like to prove a point. They felt like they had the quarterback to do it with. We don’t need you as a cornerback. Man, you play every game of the season but the Super Bowl. I can’t rock with that. That was a bulls— ass call. That was a bulls— ass decision. That was a power trip.
You divide the locker room when you do that. Motherf—ers find out [when] a n— ain’t playing before the game. You divide the locker room. Cats says they rocking with Malcolm and cats say they rocking with the coach’s decision.
Congratulations to the eagles, but that s— was weak. They deserve that for not playing him.
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In another post, Browner posted in a caption, "A locker room was divided pre game, most yds ever given in up in a SB game, and your best defender over the past 3 seasons. Doesn’t get a snap. You [sic] where hurt/burnt where he was needed tonight."
Also, "Players play and Coaches are supposed to Coach, Bill was out coached for not letting his players play."
