New England Patriots: Malcolm Butler Hopes to Be a ‘Patriot for Life’
Malcolm Butler has gone from Super Bowl hero to highly frustrated as his contract situation continues with the New England Patriots.
Has Malcolm Butler played his last game in a New England Patriots uniform?
While the restricted free agent continues to push for a big pay day for his current team, the question above may not be answered for days, weeks or even months from.
As of right now, there is a lot of rumors and speculation as to what is going on with Butler and how his dissatisfaction impacts his future with the team.
According to Mike Giardi of CSN New England, Butler has grown “extremely frustrated” with his current contract situation and the team’s hesitance to sign him to a long-term deal. The Patriots signing cornerback Stephon Gilmore just days ago only compounded that frustration.
Butler, who is currently tendered at $3.91 million, is a restricted free agent who feels he deserves to be paid like an unrestricted free agent with top 10 cornerback money. As Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reported, the Patriots did give Butler an offer of $6 to $7 million per year last season, which was obviously not in the ballpark he had in mind.
Patriots offered Butler somewhere around $6M to $7M annually last season. Butler hoped to be paid in the ballpark of a top-10 CB.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) March 13, 2017
Despite the contract drama and speculation, Howe also reported that Butler wants to be “a Patriot for life” and hopes things work out. What that shows is that Butler recognizes this is a business and he may have to play elsewhere to get the kind of money he feels he deserves. He also recognizes the team that gave him the opportunity to become the player he is in this league.
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With that being said, the New England Patriots hold all the cards when it comes to Malcolm Butler.
If Butler is to find another team willing to give him the type of money he is looking for, the Patriots could match or decide not to match resulting in a first-round pick. In that scenario, the Patriots could end up signing Butler to a lower contract if that team doesn’t come near or even higher than the Gilmore contract.
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The Patriots could also decide to trade Butler once he signs the tender, which was initially rumored in the Brandin Cooks trade. While that can still happen, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Malcolm Butler ends up playing for that $3.91 million in 2017.