Trouble keeping up? Here’s a timeline of the big Patriots news since the Super Bowl
In case you couldn't keep up with the busy news cycle, here's a glance at the stories as they developed.
The Patriots offseason is less than a week old and has already witnessed more drama than Bill Belichick’s team usually experiences in an entire year.
In the wake of Super Bowl LII, an offseason of uncertainty is already underway. Major emerging stories include the fallout from Malcolm Butler being benched, as well as the fate of Patriots assistant coaches.
Here’s a timeline of the eventful offseason so far:
Sunday, Feb. 4
10:30 p.m.
: Bill Belichick reacted to the Super Bowl loss and offered the first explanation of why Malcolm Butler was benched on defense. Belichick said the decision wasn’t made for disciplinary reasons:
Watch: Bill Belichick comments on not putting Malcolm Butler on the field. https://t.co/z7RyN3UhIJ pic.twitter.com/TVmu9K8WMU
— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) February 5, 2018
10:49 p.m.: Josh McDaniels wouldn’t say whether he intended to leave for Indianapolis or not:
Josh McDaniels addresses new coaching position rumors pic.twitter.com/p09xZVyNCo
— Courtney Cox (@coxcourtney) February 5, 2018
11:08 p.m.: ESPN reporter Mike Reiss caught up with Butler shortly afterward:
Just caught up with a very emotional Malcolm Butler, alongside Adam Schefter. “They gave up on me. F—. It is what it is,” Butler told us. https://t.co/GQLxM6eTGL
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) February 5, 2018
11:31 p.m.: Rob Gronkowski wouldn’t commit to continuing his NFL career:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa9lkjqfhW8
Monday, Feb. 5
11:58 a.m.
: Belichick offered further comments on Butler’s benching after he was asked about it in an end-of-season talk with the media:
I appreciate the question, but it would be a much longer discussion. There are a lot of things that go into that. In the end, the final decision is what I said it was.
Belichick on Butler: “I respect Malcolm’s competitiveness. I’m sure he feels like he could have helped. I’m sure the players felt the same way. In the end we have to make the decisions that we feel are best for the football team. That’s what we did. That’s what I did.”
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) February 5, 2018
12:00 p.m.: Belichick weighed in on Gronkowski’s future:
Belichick on Gronk’s status: “At the end of every season, every person goes through somewhat of a process … Everyone involved with an NFL season gets pretty drained, especially at the end of a season like this … I certainly can’t speak for anybody else.”
— Boston.com Patriots News (@BDCPatriots) February 5, 2018
12:02 p.m.: Belichick said he has “no idea” about McDaniels’s future:
Belichick on whether the status of Josh McDaniels has changed: “I have no idea. You’d have to ask those teams that are involved.”
— Boston.com Patriots News (@BDCPatriots) February 5, 2018
3:00 p.m.: Matt Patricia was officially announced as the next head coach of the Detroit Lions:
The #Lions have hired Matt Patricia as the franchise’s new head coach: https://t.co/Al0meXH4Ur pic.twitter.com/AYa2IYRidT
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) February 5, 2018
5:05 p.m.: Patriots cornerback Johnson Bademosi didn’t want to talk:
#Patriots cornerback Johnson Bademosi didn’t love the idea of a crowd closing in on him.
“I ain’t got nothing for you. I don’t owe you guys shit,” he said, then left.
— Anthony Gulizia (@AnthonyGulizia) February 5, 2018
7:18 p.m.: A report is made that “several factors” led to Butler’s benching:
.@RapSheet reports “several factors” contributed to Butler’s lack of playing time. Among them: illness, rough week of practice, “minor violation of team rules,” and attitude https://t.co/fhmFdlEHmm
— Boston.com Patriots News (@BDCPatriots) February 6, 2018
Tuesday, Feb. 6
12:21 a.m.
: A report emerged that Rob Gronkowski’s home had been broken into while he was at the Super Bowl:
#BREAKING: Police called to Rob Gronkowski’s Foxborough home for burglary. | Details NOW on Boston 25 News https://t.co/Cz34Tv08uf pic.twitter.com/k3kgFBcjW2
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) February 6, 2018
11:12 a.m.: Josh McDaniels was reported to have “officially” accepted the role of head coach of the Indianapolis Colts:
Former Patriots’ OC Josh McDaniels officially accepted the head-coaching position of the Indianapolis Colts.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 6, 2018
12:35 p.m.: A report from NBC Sports Boston alleged that Malcolm Butler committed a curfew violation during the Super Bowl week:
Mike Giardi: Malcolm Butler committed a curfew violation at some point during Super Bowl week. https://t.co/m9dg20iXxN @MikeGiardi @Toucherandrich pic.twitter.com/CtgVvP1Krl
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) February 6, 2018
4:11 p.m.: Malcolm Butler posted a message on social media in response to Super Bowl benching and reports of curfew violation:
— Malcolm CB Butler (@Mac_BZ) February 6, 2018
4:13 p.m.: Tom Brady responded to Butler’s post on Instagram with supportive comment:
Tom Brady liked and commented Malcolm Butler’s Instagram post: “Love you Malcolm. You are an incredible player and teammate and friend. Always!!!!!!” pic.twitter.com/Xe4EI9PrTg
— Boston.com Patriots News (@BDCPatriots) February 6, 2018
7:34 p.m.: In a dramatic twist, Josh McDaniels decided he would not accept the Colts head coaching job and would remain with the Patriots:
Stunner: Patriots’ OC Josh McDaniels has decided NOT to accept Colts’ HC job and will remain with New England, sources told ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 7, 2018
In the past 48 hours, Patriots owner Robert Kraft began talking with Josh McDaniels and ultimately wound up sweetening his contract, helping to entice him to remain in New England, per sources. Bill Belichick has his OC back.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 7, 2018
8:18 p.m.: A report was made that Patriots special teams coach Joe Judge would stay with the team:
Patriots special teams coach Joe Judge is staying with the team, source says. He won’t be following Josh McDaniels to Indy because, ya know, Josh McDaniels isn’t going to Indy.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 7, 2018
(Approximately) 9:30 p.m.: Belichick and Robert Kraft meet at Davio’s in Patriot Place for dinner:
https://twitter.com/JimSmith_WBZ/status/961076890105712641
Wednesday, Feb. 7
11:13 a.m.
: Colts general manager Chris Ballard discussed McDaniels’s surprising decision in a press conference:
Colts CM Chris Ballard on Josh McDaniels: “He said he had bad news for me. I said I just need a yes or no answer, ‘Are you in or out?’ He said he was out, and we’re moving on.
— Boston.com Patriots News (@BDCPatriots) February 7, 2018
11:30 a.m.: Closing out the press conference, Ballard had a dramatic final line in reference to the Patriots:
“The rivalry is back on” 😯😯
Colts GM Chris Ballard with the 🔥 walk-off pic.twitter.com/X4KHGdAWuH
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 7, 2018
12:47 p.m.: Patricia gets a first official tour as coach of the Lions:
Checking out the weight room 👀
Today’s Matt Patricia introductory press conference will stream live at 3pm ET. pic.twitter.com/yZfdyItk0y
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) February 7, 2018
3:11 p.m.: Patricia offered his thanks to Belichick in his introductory Lions press conference
Matt Patricia says “there are not enough words [he] could put together” to thank Bill Belichick.
— Boston.com Patriots News (@BDCPatriots) February 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/BDCPatriots/status/961333547796779008
