29 August 2023 , 16:55
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The Atlanta Falcons will bring in former New England Patriots Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler for a tryout on Wednesday in an unexpected career lifeline for a cornerback who hasn't played a regular-season game since 2020.
Butler authored one of the greatest Super Bowl moments of all time, jumping in front of a fourth-quarter goal-line pass to intercept Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in 2015. It sealed victory for the Patriots when it appeared Seattle were on the verge of grabbing the lead. And Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has been criticised ever since for not running the ball with star Marshawn Lynch.
In his prime, Butler was known as a ball-hawking difference-maker who regularly changed games by forcing turnovers. He has 17 career interceptions and five forced fumbles in seven years spent between the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans.
Tennessee released Butler after the 2020 season to free up salary to spend elsewhere, marking the beginning of a yearslong struggle to return to live NFL action. "I was surprised, but I wasn't," Butler said about the Titans' decision. "This is the NFL, it's about business. You know the cap space, they had some trouble with that. I was going to make a ton of money this year if I would have stayed. And I'm pretty sure they needed help in other positions. I wasn't that surprised, but I was. It's business and they were just doing what's best for the team."
Butler's subsequent move to the Arizona Cardinals did not go as planned, and he retired at the end of training camp, citing personal reasons. "I think I did what was best for me and my family," Butler said. "If you're not prepared mentally, you can't do nothing physically. So I think I made the right decision by doing that."
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Butler attempted to come out of retirement last year, joining the Patriots, however he sustained an injury in training camp, and New England released him. The 33-year-old's tryout with the Falcons this week, first reported by NFL Media, could be his last opportunity to crack an NFL roster.
Atlanta allowed the eighth-most passing yards in 2022, though some of that was because of a pass rush that struggled to reach opposing quarterbacks. They are aiming to solidify their defensive secondary ahead of the start of the season.
Malcolm Butler played an iconic role in the New England Patriots' Super Bowl win over the Seattle Seahawks. (Disneyland via Getty Images)"There's a lot of prove as a team and personally for so many of our guys," said safety Jessie Bates. "That's a big deal. I remember being in those shoes the last couple years. The sense of urgency kind of picks up."
The Falcons play the Carolina Panthers and rookie quarterback Bryce Young on September 10 in a once-heated rivalry that has lost its edge over the past couple of years, with both teams enduring a stretch of below-par seasons.
If Atlanta signs Butler, he could be available to play, as veterans are often added to rosters on short notice because of their inherent knowledge of defensive schemes.