In Bill We Still Trust?

Almost a week has passed, but the images are still clear....

A national anthem playing...
Patriots players with arms on each other's shoulders in solidarity....
Pink doing an absolutely great job singing....
The video of an overwhelmed Malcolm Butler.

Little did anyone know that this was the beginning of series of unfortunate events that led most of New England to no longer have a full, unyielding allegiance to Bill Belicheck. 

There have been knicks in the armor before. The failure to sign David Givens and Deion Brach. The head-scratching 4th and 2. The epic collapse in the 2008 Super Bowl. The whole implosion of the Adalius Thomas team. But Super Bowl 52 was different.

Exactly what happened, no one will ever know. Belicheck is not on to say why he does things and will also not throw a player under the bus verbally. But the puzzling disappearance of Malcolm Butler and the decision to sit him will gnaw on Pats fans for years.

Sure, it will blow over. And, truth be told, I am not even sure if Malcolm Butler would have made a difference. The secondary was being shredded without him and he has had an off year anyway. He could have been just as horrific as Eric Rowe or Jonathan Badamosi.

However, one thing is clear. "In Bill We Trust" was no longer the motto of Patriot Nation as of February 4, 2018.