Butler Wants Out

[BigKen]

According to Mike Giardi of CSNNE in a report this morning, Malcolm Butler feels that he's been disrespected and does not want to play for the NE Patriots.

Butler feels that he has not been offered a fair contract and that the signing of Stephon Gilmore to a 5 year $65M contract insults what he's done for the Patriots.

Supposedly, he has talked to other teams but none have come forward with a contract offer. Here's why....
If a team makes Butler an offer equal to or similar to Gilmore's, they would also have to give a up a first round draft pick. They can't escape that reality. If a team wants to trade for Butler, why wouldn't NE want a first round pick? The team would have to give it up if they give him the offer sheet. Basically a team has to give up a front line player or a first round pick for Butler and if a team thinks Butler will improve their defense, how badly would giving up a starter hurt the offense or defense?

Butler turned down a multi-year offer from the Patriots prior to last season. That put Belichick on notice that Butler was looking for a bigger pay hike. He played the 2016 season for $600,000. The first round tender gives him a one deal at $3.91M. He has to sign that tender by June 16th. If he doesn't the $3.91M contract is automatically gone per the NFL and the CBA. Butler then only qualifies for a 110% salary increase to $660,000. So Butler has to decide to play or not. If he sits out a year, what does that do to his value? Even Logan Mankins knew he had to come back or risk being a farmer for the rest of his life so he sat out 7 games but signed the original Patriots 5 year contract offer.

Butler may think he's in the driver's seat but he's actually in the trunk.

 

[Carnzo]

According to Mike Giardi of CSNNE in a report this morning, Malcolm Butler feels that he's been disrespected and does not want to play for the NE Patriots.

Butler may think he's in the driver's seat but he's actually in the trunk.

He may not be any good for the locker room after all. Not a good career move in New England.
Thanks for the update Ken.

 

[BigKen]

Grappolo and Butler to Cleveland for their first 5 picks this year. Two firsts, three seconds.

Done! Ship 'em out!!!!

 

[redseat]

Well considering who they just signed for the money they just signed him for can you truly blame him?

 

[cdumler7]

Well considering who they just signed for the money they just signed him for can you truly blame him?

Yeah I was thinking this wouldn't sit well with many players. I'm guessing he would have taken that same contract in a heartbeat. This is the issue with being a great organization though of just can't make everybody happy when it comes time for contracts. Especially after winning the Super Bowl as the value just skyrockets.

 

[BigKen]

This just came online at CSNNE...

Several Teams Showing Interest In Patriots RFA CB Malcolm Butler
Nate Bouda 26 mins ago

Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reports that Patriots restricted free agent CB Malcolm Butler has received interest from several teams. According to Howe, it wouldn’t be surprising to see action pick up this week involving Butler.

Howe adds that he was given a “strong indication” that Butler prefers to remain in New England and be a “Patriot for life.”

Last year, the Patriots were offering Butler around $6-$7 million annually in an extension, but was hoping to be paid as a top-10 cornerback, according to Howe. New England reportedly told Butler last season that they wouldn’t pay a cornerback more than $10 million per year, which explains why the news of them signing Stephon Gilmore to a massive contract came as such a surprise to Butler, per Howe.

Last night, Mike Giardi reported that Butler and his camp are “extremely frustrated” by the Patriots’ position and the decision to sign Gilmore, which is why they’re courting offers with other teams. According to Giardi, Butler “wants new home.”

Jason La Canfora also reported that Butler’s agent is contacting teams in an attempt to find one willing to part with a first-round pick sign his client to an offer sheet.

While Butler’s a great player, it could be tough to find a team willing to part with a first-round pick and sign him to a long-term extension. Butler is believed to be seeking a similar contract to the five-year, $65 million deal with $31 million fully guaranteed Gilmore just got from the Patriots.

La Canfora mentions that the Patriots would be fine collecting a first-round pick and allowing Butler to move on, especially now that they traded their round one selection to the Saints for WR Brandin Cooks.

Butler’s name actually came up in trade talks with the Saints, but given that he has yet to sign his restricted tender, he could be included in the deal. Although, Adam Schefter of ESPN later reported that there is still a chance that the Saints and Patriots still could discuss a trade later on Butler.

The Patriots placed a first-round tender on Butler a few days ago that will cost them $3.91 million for the 2017 season and net them a first-round pick if he receives an offer sheet from another team and they elect to pass on matching it.

Butler, 27, wound up signing on with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of West Alabama back in 2014. He played out the final year of his rookie contract.

In 2016, Butler appeared in all 16 games for the Patriots and recorded 63 tackles, one sack, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and 17 pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 7 cornerback out of 112 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding Butler and the Patriots as the news is available.

 

[nefansince75]

It's a win win for the Pats... Keep Butler or get a 1st rounder... There are only limited suitors though since the lower the draft order means the more valuable the pick is...

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Mostly speculation by Giardi, at least how I read it.

I've read other speculations as well that say Butler is pissed at his agents for not getting a deal done.

Who knows at this point.

 

[Southieinnc]

Out of New England:
Report: Butler wants to be 'Patriot for life', no holdout planned
Out of New York:
Malcolm Butler wants out of New England, reportedly

You are being had if you believe anything.....

 

[BigKen]

Malcolm Butler will be visiting the New Orleans Saints on Thursday this week.

Ben Vilon of the Boston Globe and Tom Curran think that a deal may be in the works. The following is posted on CSNNE:

The Patriots moved on Cooks regardless, sending their first-rounder (No. 32 overall) and a third-rounder to the Saints in exchange for the dynamic wideout and a fourth.

With Butler making a visit to New Orleans, though, it seems like a second trade between the Patriots and Saints is in play.

Here are some of the different possible scenarios for Butler, with one clear front-runner . . .

* Butler could make a visit to New Orleans and receive an offer sheet. If he were to sign it and the Patriots opted not to match, the Patriots would be handed the Saints first-round pick, which is No. 11 overall. It seems highly unlikely the Saints would be willing to sign Butler to a long-term contract and give up that kind of draft capital, and Larry Holder of NOLA.com confirms that the Saints would not be willing to.

* Butler could receive an offer sheet from the Saints, and the Patriots could match. This also seems relatively unlikely given the amount of money Bill Belichick and his front office just put into the cornerback position by locking up Stephon Gilmore to a big-money free-agent deal. It's a possibility financially because the Patriots have so much cap space available to them, but if Butler is going to play in New England in 2017, it would seem to make more sense for the team that he play on the first-round tender worth $3.91 million.

* Butler and the Saints could discuss parameters of a new contract that would be palatable to both sides, which would help lay the groundwork for a trade between New England and New Orleans. This seems to be the most likely scenario. With the framework for a deal with the Saints in place, Butler could return to New England and sign his first-round tender with the Patriots, which would then make him eligible to be traded. Once the Patriots and Saints worked out a deal -- perhaps something that would include New England getting back No. 32 overall -- Butler and the Saints could officially ink a deal that would pay Butler something closer to what he believes he's worth. NFL Media's Ian Rapoport has reported that the Saints and Butler have already started negotiating a new contract, and they're hoping to have something hammered out this week. Once that occurs, and once Butler signs his tender with the Patriots, then a trade can be executed.

 

[ohiopatsfan]

As much as I would like to see Butler return to the Patriots, I think the third option mentioned by BigKen is what will happen. There is too much animosity between the two parties. The only other team that could easily give up a first round draft choice would be the Browns and they have shown no interest in Butler.

 

[BigKen]

Realizing that Malcolm Butler is visiting the Saints, the Houston Texans have reportedly contacted the Patriots about a trade. The Texans have supposedly offered their 2nd round pick. The Patriots haven't said no, but with the Saints supposedly willing to give back the Patriots 1st and 3rd round picks a second pick in the 20s may not be close. Then again, maybe a bidding war will start.

 

[ohiopatsfan]

Two things weigh against a trade with the Texans. First, BB would be hesitant to help a team that is a strong playoff rival. Second, unless Houston is talking multiple draft choices, their own first round choice is only a few slots above the Pats' 31st choice which they would probably get back in a trade with NO.

 

[BigKen]

CBS Sports is reporting today that Malcolm Butler is "warming up" to being traded to the Saints.

Kind of makes one wonder if this wasn't the plan all along. Original trade for Cooks falls through. Pats trade picks for Cooks and a #4. Saints are re-interested and now the deal is that they will trade the #1 and #3 back to the Patriots for Butler. Patriots picked up a #4 to give to the NFL for Deflategate and then get their original picks back. If the Pats hadn't picked up the #4 from the Saints, they would have had to give up the #3 they dealt because they had no 4th round pick. IS that noise Roger Goodell grinding his teeth??

 

[BigKen]

Stephon Gilmore is already becoming a "team" player on the Patriots. On Saturday he publicly said that he would love to be in the Patriots secondary with Malcolm Butler. Some reports are being rumored that Gilmore has actually been talking with Butler about returning and making the Patriots secondary the best in the NFL.

The rumor that's tagging along with this is that Butler will sign the tender if the Patriots agree to negotiate an extension in good faith..........whatever that means.

With all of the stuff floating around about Butler, if this is true, then the Pats should jump all over it.

 

[ohiopatsfan]

I still think Butler will wind up with the Saints and the Pats will get back their draft choices. Too bad, a Butler/Gilmore combo at CB would have been awesome. Out here in NE Ohio, the latest rumor is that the Browns are interested in getting Cousins in a trade with the Redskins. Some sportscasters say that this is just talk to put pressure on BB to make the Garappolo trade. There is also a rumor that, when he signed his tender, Cousins listed several teams he did not want to be traded to, and the Browns were on that list.

 

[cdumler7]

I still think Butler will wind up with the Saints and the Pats will get back their draft choices. Too bad, a Butler/Gilmore combo at CB would have been awesome. Out here in NE Ohio, the latest rumor is that the Browns are interested in getting Cousins in a trade with the Redskins. Some sportscasters say that this is just talk to put pressure on BB to make the Garappolo trade. There is also a rumor that, when he signed his tender, Cousins listed several teams he did not want to be traded to, and the Browns were on that list.

Washington doesn't seem to care too much what Cousins' wants. I'm guessing if the Browns made a good enough offer they would jump on it.

 

[BigKen]

WEEI is reporting that their sister station in New Orleans has an insider with the Saints and he's reporting that Butler and the Saints have agreed on a multi-year contract. There are no specifics as Butler must sign the 1st round tender that the Patriots have placed on him before any trade can legally take place..

It is believed that the Patriots are getting their 1st and 3rd round picks back that they gave up for Brandin Cooks.
The final trade would be that the Patriots traded Butler for Cooks and a fourth round pick that will go to the NFL.

There are some reports that the deal was done when the Patriots made the deal for Cooks but if Butler did anything different, the Saints would keep the picks.

The big question is whether the Patriots will actually get the Saints #11 in the first round because Butler's value is much higher than Cooks. Butler has two All-Pro 2nd Team selections and 2 Super Bowl Rings. Of course that's all speculation.

With Butler gone, the Cornerbacks on the Patriots squad are Gilmore, Rowe, C. Jones, J. Jones. Still need a slot corner to replace Logan Ryan.

 

[SDGuy73]

/\
Butler signed 1-year/$3.9M 1st-round tender.

 

[BigKen]

Butler signed 1-year/$3.9M 1st-round tender.

I can't find confirmation on NFL.Com, CSNNE, ESPN.........you have to give us a link or a source or something.