Malcolm Butler, facing DUI charge, appears briefly in Warwick court

WARWICK − Malcolm Butler, a former NFL defensive player who helped the New England Patriots win two Super Bowls, appeared in a Rhode Island court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving under the influence.

Butler's appearance in District Court, Warwick, drew media from outside the state for a proceeding that was over in minutes.

Magistrate Joseph P. Ippolito Jr. released Butler on a promise to appear.

The 34-year-old, of Missouri City, Texas, was represented by John Harwood, the former Rhode Island House speaker.

Butler waived his right to a jury trial, according to a court record.

Officer encounters former NFL cornerback on Mineral Spring Avenue

Butler was arrested Saturday in North Providence.

He had drawn the attention of a North Providence officer at 3:22 a.m. by stopping and blocking westbound traffic on Mineral Spring Avenue, according to North Providence Police Chief Alfredo Ruggiero Jr.

In a roadway encounter with Butler, the officer detected a strong odor of alcohol on the man's breath, Ruggiero said.

The officer also observed that the driver's speech was slurred and his eyes were watery and severely bloodshot, police say.

Harwood scheduled a pre-trial conference for April 18.

Storybook football fame

Butler was a defensive player with the job of preventing receivers from catching and running with the football.

His path to NFL stardom is a storybook tale.

As an unknown, undrafted rookie from Division 2 West Alabama, he made the Patriots' roster in 2014.

Later that season, with 20 seconds remaining in the Super Bowl, Butler made an interception on the goal line, thwarting a dangerous Seahawks drive for the endzone.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Malcolm Butler, Super Bowl hero, makes court appearance after DUI charge