Belichick on Butler's SB benching: 'The final decision is what I said it was'

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick did not provide much clarity Monday morning for cornerback Malcolm Butler's benching in the 41-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII.

Belichick was asked Monday morning to explain why Butler was on the field for just one play Sunday night.

"I appreciate the question, but it would be a much longer discussion," Belichick said in his final conference call with the media. "There are a lot of things that go into that. In the end, the final decision is what I said it was.

"I respect Malcolm's competitiveness, and I'm sure he felt he could've helped. I'm sure other players felt the same way. In the end, we have to make the decisions we feel are best for the football team. That's what I did. That's really all I can say about it."

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Butler played just one snap in Super Bowl LII on the punt return team. Eric Rowe started in his place at cornerback.

After the game Sunday night, Belichick had said it wasn't a disciplinary decision.

"We put the players and game plan out there that we thought would be the best, like we always do," Belichick said.

Three years after Butler sealed a Super Bowl win for the Patriots with a last-minute interception, the cornerback did not play on defense in Super Bowl LII due to a "coach's decision."

The move did not sit well with Butler.

"They gave up on me. (expletive). It is what it is," Butler reportedly told ESPN's Mike Reiss after the loss to the Eagles in Minneapolis.

The Eagles shredded the Patriots for 538 total yards, 374 of it through the air, prompting Butler to add, "I could have changed that game."

According to ESPN, Butler played 97.8 percent of the Patriots' regular-season snaps on defense. Butler was not at Monday's media night and was limited Wednesday while reportedly dealing with flu-like symptoms.

Belichick also was asked in Monday's conference call about tight end Rob Gronkowski, who after the loss would not commit to playing next season.

"At the end of every season, every person goes through somewhat of a process," Belichick said. "You get pretty drained, especially after a season like this, and then you go through the end of the year process and then the following year's the following year. It's the same for everybody, and I certainly can't speak for anybody else. I will say, five minutes after the game is not really the best time to make those decisions."

--Field Level Media