WASHINGTON, DC -- Suffice it to say, around this time last year Malcolm Butler had no idea that he would hear his name uttered by the President of the United States.
On Thursday, with the Patriots gathered on the South Lawn of the White House, Barack Obama made sure to mention the cornerback who helped his team win Super Bowl XLIX thanks to his last-minute interception.
"This team came out on top not just because of big stars but because of guys who weren’t necessarily household names -- Jamie Collins, Shane Vereen, Rob Ninkovich and of course, we all became acquainted with a man named Malcolm Butler," Obama said.
Then the president went looking for Butler amid the crowd of Patriots standing behind him. Raising his hand like a schoolboy, Butler, a product of West Alabama and Vicksburg, Miss., finally caught Obama's eye.
"He’s so small you can’t even see him," Obama said, forcing Butler to laugh and cover his face sheepishly. "But he made an unbelievable play, showed heart and guts on that goal-line slant pass. Of course, as we also know and he acknowledged, he had practiced for it. So you’ve got a combination of somebody with toughness and heart, and you’ve got a great coach and a great organization that anticipates it.
"I think it’s fair to say that Malcolm has earned a lifetime of free drinks in every bar in Boston."
What a surreal way to close the books on the 2014 season for Butler. A year ago, he was wondering if he'd even get a chance to play in the NFL after running a not-fast-enough 4.6-second 40-yard dash in front of a gaggle of pro scouts at Alabama's pro day.
Now he's the author of what may be the best singular play in Super Bowl history, and everyone -- even the president -- knows his name.