Youngster Malcolm Butler got a lesson Thursday night -- and one he was more than happy to take in.
The second-year New England Patriots cornerback was tasked with covering Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Antonio Brown, who hauled in nine catches for 133 yards and a touchdown. It was a good night for Brown, except for the fact that his team ultimately lost.
Yet it wasn't so bad for Butler, either.
“I learned a lot,” Butler said Friday, via ESPN's Mike Reiss. “[He's] one of the best players in the league. It let me know what I need to work on, what to expect. I will build off of it and try to improve. He's not a great player for nothing."
Reiss notes:
[O]f Brown's nine catches, three of them came on the final drive when the Steelers were down two touchdowns. Those three grabs accounted for 53 yards.
So up to the final drive, when the Patriots seemed to soften things a bit, Brown had six receptions for 80 yards.
