A year ago at this time, Malcolm Butler was an undrafted rookie out of Division II West Alabama simply trying to make enough practice and preseason plays to stick around with the New England Patriots.
By February, Butler, a surprise to make the regular-season roster, had started one game and seen minimal playing time before he clinched the Patriots’ fourth Super Bowl title with one of the great clutch plays in sports history.
Now, the confident youngster might be the only known commodity in head coach Bill Belichick’s new-look New England secondary.
The offseason free-agent departures of 2014 starters Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner as well as the release of former starters Kyle Arrington and Alfonzo Dennard ensured that the Patriots’ defensive backfield would be quite different when the team begins its title defense in September.
So far this summer, Butler has actually been the only constant in the back end. He has taken virtually every rep with the first defense at the left cornerback spot formerly held by Revis.
It hasn’t all been roses — Butler was targeted and beaten badly with regularity by Saints quarterback Drew Brees during joint practice sessions in West Virginia last week — but it has been clear that the second-year Super Bowl hero is being counted on for a key starting role at a key position.
“It’s an honor to have that spot,” Butler said. “I have to work hard each and every practice, each and every game, and play like my position is on the line. I’m just going to come out here and work as hard as I can to keep my spot, and be productive and consistent. That’s all I can do.”
Things are so up in the air in the pass defense in Foxborough that the unit’s best player — captain and returning second-team All-Pro safety Devin McCourty — isn’t even assured of his spot.
McCourty has been taking practice reps at right cornerback, where he started the Patriots’ second preseason game in New Orleans.
A first-round pick and Pro Bowler at cornerback as a rookie in 2010, McCourty’s play fell off so much at that position that he transitioned to the safety spot he has held down the last three seasons.
McCourty has made it quite clear he does not want to return to the cornerback position. He also said after his 21 snaps at the position against the Saints, “I don’t think it looked great.”
Putting McCourty at cornerback again could be as simple as Belichick planning ahead for emergencies and keeping his versatile players in tune.
Or it could be a commentary on the talent at the position that includes veteran newcomers Tarell Brown, Bradley Fletcher and Robert McClain (slot) as well as returning third-year player Logan Ryan, who has struggled mightily this summer.
Regardless, the Patriots’ secondary is, like the passes it’s trying to defend, very much up in the air right now.
The only sure thing at this point seems to be the fact that Butler will make his second career start on opening day as he tries to fill the big shoes left by Revis.
The Patriots’ pass defense will have a much different look this fall and based on the rotation of reps of late, not even Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia are sure what exactly that look will be at this point.
Patriots, Wayne wrap one-year deal
Veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne and the New England Patriots finalized a one-year deal worth up to $3 million on Tuesday.
The Green Bay Packers showed interest in possibly signing Wayne to replace recently injured Jordy Nelson.
Wayne, 36, spent 14 years with the Indianapolis Colts and faced the Patriots in many big games during that time as those two teams dominated the AFC in the 2000s.
“I think I have enough (left) to play,” Wayne said. “Like you said, if I didn’t think I had enough, I wouldn’t be here. One thing I don’t do is worry about what people have to say. If I didn’t play at all, if I decided to retire, they still would have something to say.
“The only thing I can do is let my work speak for myself. I know what I can do, what I can bring to the table. Just got to get caught up and get on the same (page) as everybody and be able to show what I can do. Whoever the naysayers are, watch me work.”
While Colts fans took to social media to voice collective outrage, the franchise chose not to re-sign Wayne when he became an unrestricted free agent in March. Wayne said he didn’t have time to worry about barbs from his former hometown fans.
“No time for that right now,” Wayne said.
Wayne was hurriedly reviewing a playbook, joking it had been “a long time since I’ve had to cram.” He also said he had yet to consider a return to Indianapolis with the Patriots for a Week 6 game against the Colts.
“I don’t even see that right now,” he said.
Wayne won’t be wearing his usual No. 87, which is Patriots All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski’s number. Instead, he’ll go with No. 15.
Wayne was the Colts’ franchise leader in regular-season games played (211) and wins (143) and ranked second in receptions (1,070), receiving yards (14,345), receiving touchdowns (80), 100-yard games (43) and consecutive games with a reception (134). He ranks seventh in NFL history in career receptions and eighth in receiving yards.
Wayne caught 64 passes for 779 yards and two touchdowns with the Colts last season.
After the season, Wayne underwent surgery to repair a torn triceps.
“I want to win, point blank,” Wayne said.