Philadelphia Eagles finally get their shot at Malcolm Butler in Week 4

On Sunday, we may finally get some closure on the debate that has surrounded the Philadelphia Eagles and Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler.

We’re a little less than eight months from the day the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LII and hoisted the first Lombardi Trophy in team history, and to this day, one question always seems to get asked over and over again.

What if the New England Patriots had actually trotted Malcolm Butler out onto the field? Would the result have been the same? The answer is simple.

It absolutely would have.

Life is full of ‘what ifs’.

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In this life, you’ll hear a ton of ‘what ifs’. You’ll probably even second guess yourself a few times. What if I had taken that job? What if I had finished school? What if I hadn’t eaten that third donut?

If you’re an Eagles or a Patriots fan, you’ll always look back on that night in Minneapolis, and you’ll think about Malcolm Butler. When you do, we at ITI want you to think about a few things.

The myth that Malcolm Butler is an elite corner exists largely because he made a game-ending interception in Super Bowl XLIX on the biggest stage in sports. Sure, he’s shown flashes here and there, but let’s say it definitively. Butler is not elite and never will be.

So, what if he had played in February? Could he have stopped LeGarrette Blount‘s touchdown scamper or blocked any of Jake Elliott‘s field goals? Would he have helped Tom Brady catch the ball on that trick play or protected Brandin Cooks from being blasted by Malcolm Jenkins?

Could he have prevented Corey Clement from catching that touchdown in the back of the end zone, stopped Clement’s long catch and run that set up the ‘Philly Special’, or stopped the ‘Philly Special’ himself?

Would he have protected Brady from Brandon Graham‘s strip sack or recovered the ball instead of Derek Barnett?

Would he have helped Rob Gronkowski catch Brady’s final ‘Hail Mary’?

Here are a few questions no one’s asked. What if Alshon Jeffery‘s failure to catch a deep pass from Nick Foles had been a catch rather than a Patriots interception off of a deflection?

Would Philly have won by a wider margin? What if Ronald Darby had come up with the interception prior to Brady’s final ‘Hail Mary’?

See? We can do this all day.

Next. Could Philly pursue a former Titans receiver?. dark

Let’s wrap this up.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, life is all about ‘what ifs’. On Sunday, Philly will get their shot at exposing Malcolm Butler, now a struggling cornerback with the Tennessee Titans. Perhaps, we’ll get some closure, or maybe we won’t, but here’s the thing.

Through the first three games in 2018, Butler has given up almost 300 yards and three touchdowns. He’ll likely see a mix of Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor, and, possibly, Alshon Jeffery. The Eagles wide receivers could have a field day.

Yes, boys and girls, that interception in the Super Bowl was a long time ago, and it may be time for a reality check.

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