NFLPA Files Complaint over Malcolm Butler Being Barred from Practice by Patriots

The National Football League Players Association reportedly filed a complaint Thursday against the New England Patriots for barring Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler from practice after he was late for OTAs last month.  

According to Randy Scott of ESPN.com, the NFLPA is handling the complaint without the second-year defensive back getting involved or giving his approval. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reported New England head coach Bill Belichick could be fined $100,000 as a first-time offender, while the Patriots could face a fine of $250,000.

Butler will forever be remembered for his interception at the goal line in last season's Super Bowl to seal another championship for the Patriots. The clutch play didn't earn him any extra leeway from Belichick and Co. as preparations for the new campaign got underway, though.

The West Alabama product alerted the team that his flight back from Mississippi got delayed, according to Wayne Epps Jr. of the Boston Globe. However, Butler was still punished when he arrived late on May 26 and ended up missing two weeks of on-field work, Epps reported.

"I'm really not going to get into that," Butler said, per Epps. "No comment on that."

Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk reports players are not supposed to be subjected to discipline for missing voluntary workouts. The NFLPA is asking for records showing player attendance and participation from the Patriots' OTAs.

Since Butler isn't involved in the complaint, it shouldn't impact his status once the team comes back together for training camp. The biggest takeaway for him is scheduling a flight with a little more margin for error in the future.

It's unclear at this stage what the NFLPA is trying to accomplish by filing the complaint. The Boston Globe report pointed out Butler was still allowed to participate in film sessions and gym work while sidelined.