Malcolm Butler has taken the high road ahead of Sunday's matchup vs his former team.

The ex-Patriots cornerback's benching during Super Bowl LII remains a controversial topic nearly a year later. Now with the Titans, Butler has every reason to enter Sunday's game with extra motivation. If he is, he isn't letting it show.

"I just have to get back to doing what I do, and that's playing football," Butler said. "I know I used to play there, and I just have to pick up my performance – I don't care who I play. I just want to pick up my performance, that's all."

Along with downplaying the personal importance of going up against Bill Belichick and the Patriots, Butler had nothing but positive things to say about his time in New England.

"It went well," said Butler. "It didn't end well, but it went great. Those people showed me nothing but love, and I love them back. I appreciate Mr. (Robert) Kraft, Bill Belichick, all those guys. … No bad blood."

There might be any "bad blood" between Butler and the Patriots, but Pats safety Devin McCourty noted that he and his former teammates who are now with Tennessee aren't friends, at least for this week.

"Those guys don’t know me this week," McCourty said. "So, it’s rough in our friendship. We all talk a good amount during the season but there hasn’t been much interaction during this week."

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