Butler plans to play his game even as flags fly

Cornerback is on his way to being the most penalized member of Tennessee's defense for the second straight year

Scott R. Galvin/USA Today Sports

Malcolm Butler can only imagine how defensive backs used to play in the NFL.

“I’m pretty sure a long time ago you could touch guys,” the Tennessee Titans cornerback said this week. “But you take the game how it comes and whatever the rules are, that’s how you have to approach them.

“But there’s no excuses. You have to cover your guy and you have to play football.”

The reality of the NFL in 2019 is that rules have been implemented and emphasized to enhance teams’ ability to throw the ball. And a guy like Butler, now in his sixth season, probably sees yellow flags every time he closes his eyes.

Through the first three weeks of 2019, Butler is the only player on the Titans defense who has been called for multiple penalties.

Officials got him for pass interference in the second quarter against Indianapolis, which meant a first down on a Colts’ drive that eventually ended with a touchdown. He was called for defensive holding in the opener against Cleveland on the Browns’ second possession, one that ended with a punt. There also was a holding call on a punt return last Thursday at Jacksonville. That one was declined because returner Adoreé Jackson mishandled the kick and the Jaguars recovered.

Only tackle Jack Conklin (three for holding, one false start) has drawn more flags. Guard Jamil Douglas and wide receiver Corey Davis, with two apiece, are the only other ones with multiple violations.

“Our job as players and coaches is to understand the rules, what they’re seeing, and coach it, and play to it to the best of our abilities,” coach Mike Vrabel said. “That’s something that we’re focusing on heavily with the fundamentals and not leaving anything to chance.”

Last season Butler was called for eight penalties (three were declined), including two for pass interference and two for unnecessary roughness, which easily was most among members of the Titans defense and second on the team only to tackle Taylor Lewan. It made him one of Tennessee’s most penalized defensive backs of the last 15 years.

A rundown of the most penalties in a single season committed by a Tennessee Titans defensive back (2004-18):

Player	Season	Penalties
Pacman Jones	2005	14
Blidi Wreh-Wilson	2014	11
Brice McCain	2016	10
Alterraun Verner	2013	9
Malcolm Butler	2018	8
Adoreé Jackson	2017	8
Cortland Finnegan	2010	8
Cortland Finnegan	2008	8

Butler’s eight penalties in 2018 matched his career-high from 2015 with New England, one of two seasons during which he was the second-most penalized player among the Patriots. For his career, he has averaged just shy of six penalties per season.

Three games into this season he is on pace to double last season’s total.

“You just have to play your game,” Butler said. “You can’t be worried about if you’re touching a guy the wrong way. That’s going to throw your game off. You just have to keep playing. That’s what I’m going to do.”