It's a fact that if Malcolm Butler is recognized at a bar or restaurant in New England he won't need to pay the tab. With his new found fame many are wondering if he will be a one hit wonder. While I don't know if it is possible to make a bigger play than the one he did in the Super Bowl, I do think we will see more from this young player. Here is why:
BALL HAWKER- Tom Brady referred to him as a ball hawk. When he got his chance to play he certainly looked like he had the skills to make a play on the ball. Remember he tipped that long ball that Jermaine Kearse magically caught.
DOESN'T QUIT- He got up and made the tackle after Kearse made that circus catch.
GREAT HANDS- It's easy to look at his interception and say how great his hands are. Looking back at some notes I took during a practice from this summer, I see that he was fielding punts with some other players before practice technically started. I also noted that he was getting the most reps of that group. Chances are if you are a defensive player and they have you fielding punts you must have some pretty good hands to go along with the ability to predict the flight of the ball.
DOESN'T QUIT- He got up and made the tackle after Kearse made that circus catch.
GREAT HANDS- It's easy to look at his interception and say how great his hands are. Looking back at some notes I took during a practice from this summer, I see that he was fielding punts with some other players before practice technically started. I also noted that he was getting the most reps of that group. Chances are if you are a defensive player and they have you fielding punts you must have some pretty good hands to go along with the ability to predict the flight of the ball.
FOOTBALL IQ- We all know how Belichick loves guys who know football. We also know how he teaches every aspect of the game to the minute detail. Face it, he and his team know the rules better than most of the officials. Well, on Butler's incredible interception he did something very important that seems to have gone unnoticed. After intercepting the ball on the goal line Butler stepped back into the endzone for a brief second. Knowing the rules he lunged back into the field of play before going down with the ball. Why is this so important you ask? Had Butler gone down in the endzone it would have been a safety which is two points for Seattle. Suddenly that 4 point lead would be a 2 point lead. Patriot punter, Ryan Allen would then be given a "free kick", which would give possession back to Seattle. With the lead now at 2, the Seahawks would only need a field goal to win. While the end of the game was already topsy-turvy enough, can you imagine that? Click here to rewatch the interception.
TREMENDOUS UPSIDE- Butler hasn't played a lot of organized football in his lifetime. Besides appearing to be a humble young man, he is an athlete who has so much room to improve. While that might have been the peak play of his career, he is nowhere near his peak as a professional football player.
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