McCourty: Patriots all 'knew' Butler wouldn’t start in Super Bowl

What secret?

Patriots safety Devin McCourty says the whole team “knew” Malcolm Butler wasn’t going to start in the Super Bowl, despite reports that it was a last-minute decision related to disciplinary issues and players were in the dark.

"We all knew he wasn't starting all week,” McCourty told NJ Advance Media. “That wasn't a secret to the guys on the team.”

The cornerback — who was spotted crying during the national anthem before the Patriots’ loss to the Eagles — didn’t play any defensive snaps during Super Bowl LII.

After the game, head coach Bill Belichick maintained that it was simply a coaching decision, even though Philly carved up the Pats defense for 538 yards and Butler’s replacement, Eric Rowe, struggled.

"I get why people are fishing,” McCourty admitted. “The guy played 98 percent of the plays (last season). I just hate that for him character-wise going into free agency. It's just not true. As far as I know — and I was there all week — not one time did anything come up."

Butler, who was New England’s hero in Super Bowl XLIX, said after the loss that the Patriots “gave up” on him.

“I don’t know what it was,” the 27-year-old told ESPN. “I guess I wasn’t playing good or they didn’t feel comfortable. I don’t know. But I could have changed that game.”

Numerous current and former Patriots came to Butler's defense after the game. McCourty said “the worst part” was to see all the speculation afterward, with reports that his benching was due to everything from allegedly breaking curfew to marijuana.

In a statement, Butler had thanked the organization for his time in New England and denied any wrongdoing.

“During Super Bowl week I never attended any concert, missed curfew, or participated (in) any of the ridiculous actvities being reported. They are not only false, but hurtful to me and my family,” he wrote.

McCourty called Butler a “great teammate” and told the website it’s been “great to watch him develop.” But Butler’s written statement seemed like a goodbye to the Patriots.

"If he decides it's hard to come back after that, anywhere he goes, the guy is a great football player and probably one of the most competitive people I've been around,” McCourty said. “With all my guys, we're teammates and friends for life."