Dynamic duo blends nicely
Gilmore works well with Butler
We’ve been calling Stephon Gilmore and Malcolm Butler a dynamic duo given the expectation of them shutting down all the big-time receivers on the Patriots schedule this season.
During minicamp and a few assorted OTA practices, they’ve both competed hard and certainly looked the part of being lead corners at their respective flanks.
Perhaps the more interesting storyline at the moment, until the two actually start playing for real and stifling offenses, might be how Gilmore is fitting in with the cornerback room and defensive backs as a whole. More to the point, how well are he and Butler, who didn’t get the bigmoney contract he was seeking, coexisting.
Last Tuesday, Gilmore and Butler walked off the field together and were engrossed in conversation as they headed to the locker room. Problems, tension? Quite the contrary. Let’s let Gilmore tell it. “He’s such a good dude,” the cornerback said Friday of Butler. “He’s been teaching me a lot because I’m coming in as the new guy.”
Butler might have $65 million reasons to shun the new guy, but instead he’s been in the film room giving Gilmore pointers about the Patriots defense and how it plays in certain situations. They’ve been talking quite a bit about playing corner, about techniques, strategies and whatever else happened during the course of practice.
“Yeah, we talk to each other a lot,” Gilmore said. “We talk about football, pretty much about anything, stuff that happened on the practice field. It’s pretty light. It’s a game that we’ve played since we were little kids. We try to have fun and enjoy the moments on the field.”
In other words, the dynamic duo not only got off to a good start during what essentially was a passing camp but also clicked off the field as well, which is important.
Tension never is good. Butler might not like his contract situation, having to play under a one-year, $3.91 million tender as opposed to reaching a more lucrative long-term deal, but he’s not upsetting matters internally judging by Gilmore’s remarks. In fact, Gilmore said the entire cornerback room, from Butler to Eric Rowe to Cyrus Jones on down, has been welcoming.
“They’re all great guys and great players. They’ve been helping me out a lot. They’ve helped me from when I first came in,” Gilmore said. “There’s not a person in that room that I don’t like. That’s a great thing.”
And yet when you’re the highest-paid guy in the room and haven’t won any Super Bowl championships (never mind two in the past three years), there’s a sense of needing to prove yourself to your teammates.
Gilmore pretty much admitted as much.
“Yeah, I feel like you have to earn everything, not just coming in (new) but every year. Every year starts over,” he said. “Nobody remembers what happened last year or before. Nobody really cares what you did once you step on the game field. You still have to prove yourself every year. I have to do that. I’m looking forward to doing that.”
While it’s only been three months since signing that lucrative free agent deal, Gilmore said he’s certainly more comfortable with the defense and what’s expected of him with the Patriots, but there’s still much to learn before the season opener in September.
“Everything is still new to me. I’ve just been trying to take it one day at a time, trying to pay attention to my job and trying to get better every day,” he said. “I’m just focusing on what I have to do to help the team.”
During the time off before training camp, Gilmore said he might take a few trips with his family, but he’ll be ready to go come the end of July at the start of camp.
“I’ll still be working out and making sure my body’s right (for camp),” he said. “It’s a process. You have to put the work in.”
That’s why Gilmore’s considered one of the best, and the Patriots now boast one of the top cornerback duos in the league.