Shane Vereen is like most of New England in that he still doesn't know exactly why Malcolm Butler didn't play in Super Bowl LII against the Eagles.
The former Patriots running back joined Ordway, Merloni & Fauria on Wednesday and was asked if he knew why the cornerback didn't play in the game?
“No, I have actually asked quite a few guys who were on the team at the time and I have not got the same answer twice," he said. "The grassy knoll still exists.”
Vereen acknowledged he's heard a number of different theories, but can't get the same answer twice.
The 31-year-old is now a college football analyst, but he was asked about the Patriots' running backs room and he called it the deepest in the NFL.
"Absolutely the deepest, and probably the most versatile, too," he said. "… I believe in depth. I believe if you have two or three guys who can get the job done you use them. Unless you are 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, everybody has a number of hits they can take in one season. The league has changed and running backs are asked to do more now than they have ever been asked to do. That takes a toll. It might not be running the ball 30 times a game, but you’re going on routes 15 times and asked to pass block another 10 times. It still wears on you and that is hits you’re still taking. If you have a deep group that gets the job done, it’s always better and it keeps guys fresh.”
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