Report: Malcolm Butler's OTA Absence Was Not Contract-Related
BOSTON (CBS) -- Last week, when Malcolm Butler wasn't present for the Patriots practice session which was open to the media, it raised some eyebrows. ESPN's Mike Reiss did some digging and floated the idea that Butler's absence related to a desire for a new contract.
While Reiss did report that Butler had told friends and teammates that he hopes for a new deal, the Boston Herald's Jeff Howe reported Tuesday that Butler's absence did not have to do with that desire.
I've been given a very strong indication Butler's absence has nothing to do with his contract situation.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) May 31, 2016
More on that, Butler doesn't want to draw any added attention to himself, especially after he missed a flight and was late to 2015 OTAs.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) May 31, 2016
Butler, entering his third NFL season, is due just $600,000 in 2016.