Bill Belichick Won't Explain Malcolm Butler’s Super Bowl Benching

FOXBOROUGH, MA — You can't blame a reporter for asking Bill Belichick about why he benched now-former Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler for all but one play of the Super Bowl. Of course, you've got to know a substantive answer from the Patriots coach is unlikely.

During Wednesday morning's press conference, the Boston Globe's Dan Shaughnessy took a crack at trying to get Belichick to explain the mystery that has puzzled New England fans and the sports world at large. But in typical Belichick form...

"We've talked about that, that was multiple months ago. We're focused on training camp," Belichick said.

Shaughnessy then asked if he would do anything differently, but Belichick responded, "In training camp? We’re just getting started, we’ll do the best we can.”

When Shaughnessy said that even Belichick's biggest fans want to know what happened, the coach made it clear that he's not going to explain himself.

“I’m focused on doing the best that I can for the 2018 New England Patriots. That’s my job, that’s what I’m going to do and that’s what I’ve done in the past. Every day that I’ve coached here I’ve done the best I can for this football team and I'll continue to do that. Right now 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," Belichick said.

Finally, when asked if it's important to address the benching, Belichick said, "It's important for me go have a good season in 2018."

The first session of training camp is Thursday morning.

Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images