Bill Belichick Still Refuses to Discuss Butler Benching or Jimmy Garoppolo

If you are expecting to find out why Bill Belichick benched cornerback Malcolm Butler during the Super Bowl in a game where the team clearly could have used him, don’t hold your breath.

It’s been almost six months since the Patriots lost to the Eagles in Super Bowl LII, but Belichick still refuses to discuss why Butler did not play during New England’s 41-33 loss to Philadelphia.

“Last year is last year,” he said at a training camp press conference today. “We’ve talked about that multiple months ago. I’m focused on training camp. I’m focused on doing the best I can for the 2018 New England Patriots. That’s my job. That’s what I’m going to do. That’s what I’ve always done in the past. Every day that I’ve coached here I’ve done the best I could for this football team and I’m going to continue to do that.

It’s a familiar mantra, but Belichick maintained that his focus is solely on the upcoming season.

“I’m focused on the 2018 season. Not 2017. Not 2014. Not 2007. Not 2004. Not 2001. Not 2000. I’m not focused on any of those seasons, they’re done. It’s important for me to have a good season in 2018 and I’m going to do everything I can to do that. That’s my job. That’s my responsibility, so that’s what I’m going to try to do. Hopefully you can respect that, but maybe not.”

Belichick was also asked about a Sports Illustrated report that said he would text Jimmy Garoppolo after trading him to the 49ers following games to compliment the young quarterback on how he had played.

“Those are things that happened months ago and honestly I’m not too focused on what happened in October, November, December of 2017.” Belichick said. “I’m trying to get our team ready for training camp and that’s where I’m at. I’m not going to engage in stuff that’s happened eight months ago. We could talk about a million things that happened 20 years ago. I’m not there.”

It’s possible Belichick will address Butler or Garoppolo later in the season, but we doubt it.

Here’s the full presser below: