Butler didn’t do it

Underdogs going into the Super Bowl, the Philadelphia Eagles, led by backup quarterback Nick Foles, went on to win the championship. For Patriots fans, this was a bitter pill to swallow — and the blame game began before the final gun sounded in Minnesota (“Mutiny in Foxboro,” Feb. 7). Spoiled with success like the Yankees in the 1950s and Celtics in the 1960s, the partisans wanted — and expected — more.

But enjoyment from sports doesn’t always have to be from victories by a favorite team. When an unlikely hero emerges for an underdog opponent whose city and fans longed for a championship like Boston in 2004, a lesser, but genuine opportunity exists to applaud their success.

The Patriots had a terrific run — which will hopefully resume next year. For now, it is OK to appreciate the Eagles’ brief Camelot.

And, as for the reasons the Patriots fell short, it will remain like a murder mystery. We simply know that the Butler didn’t do it.

— Steve Kramer, Lexington