Another Investigation? NFLPA Looking Into Patriots For Potential CBA Violation With Malcolm Butler
BOSTON (CBS) -- The New England Patriots are reportedly under investigation, again, this offseason.
This time, it has nothing to do with PSI in footballs and it isn't the NFL with the magnifying glass. Instead, this one has to do with Bill Belichick telling Malcolm Butler to stay home after being late to the start of OTAs, and it's the NFLPA putting on the sleuth hat.
From the NFL Network's Albert Breer:
As reported by The Boston Herald's Jeff Howe reported Wednesday afternoon, Butler missed a flight to New England due to weather and was tardy to the start of the first OTA session. For that tardiness to the voluntary session, the Patriots have held Butler out of the last three weeks of practice.
As Breer pointed out, should the Patriots be found of any wrongdoing the most common form of punishment is loss of practice time.
One good note from Breer is that Butler is taking his punishment in stride:
Belichick has a history of sending his players home from practice if they're late, no matter the circumstances. Four players were late to practice during the 2009 season due to a snow storm, and all four were sent home. Just last season running back Jonas Grey was benched for being late during the week following his breakout game against the Colts in November. Darrelle Revis was late to practice a few weeks prior to Grey's tardiness, and was sent home for the day.
Butler, the hero of Super Bowl XLIX, is now part of the group that has felt Belichick's wrath for being late. But at least he was right on time back in February in Arizona.
