Malcolm Butler says he wasted quality reps by getting ejected for fighting Alshon Jeffery
Malcolm Butler has had some tough battles already in preseason.
After the Saints’ Brandin Cooks gave him everything he could handle during joint practices with New Orleans, Butler and the Bears’ Alshon Jeffery got into it when the Pats and Bears met earlier this week.
A scuffle that involved a swing by Butler got him ejected from practice, and now he says he regrets the incident.
“I just learned from it and moved on,” he said, addressing the media after Thursday’s 23-22 preseason win over Chicago. “Wasting quality reps out there, you know I could be getting better at the same time.”
The statement shows maturity and a drive to get better from Butler, who Belichick described as being “way ahead” of his development from this time last season. It also shows the benefit of Belichick’s no-fighting policy at practice: while the Bears only fined Jeffery for the incident, Butler’s ejection forced him to reflect on his actions.
“You’re going to have those mistakes”, he added. “I learned from it and moved on. Went back out there the next day trying to be the best football player I could be.”
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