The Sports Xchange

One day after it was learned coach Bill Belichick sat Malcolm Butler for tardiness, the hero of the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl victory was back on the field for Organized Team Activities (OTAs) on Thursday.

Butler missed a flight to Boston because of weather issues and was late for the first practice of organized team activities (OTAs) on May 26. As a result, he was held off the practice field for three weeks.

The NFL Players Association is looking into a potential violation of the collective-bargaining agreement. Sanctions for missing voluntary work would violate the CBA, the sources said.

Butler had planned to be in Boston the day before OTAs began, but weather problems made that impossible. He also contacted team officials to let them know he would be late.

Butler had been absent during two recent open workouts, and it was unknown why he was not present until this information surfaced.

Butler intercepted a pass by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson at the goal-line with 20 seconds remaining to preserve the Patriots’ 28-24 victory in the Super Bowl.