Good of Mike to apologize, but not really sure he actually addressed the issue raised by his initial post, which is why being single (or anything else related to Butler) would be an "off-field variable." As BRYeleJR has already noted, Gronk (just to take one example) presents a million and one "off-field variables" but there has been zero indication the Patriots have considered moving on from Gronk (and if they did it would presumably be tied to cost and injury history, not his off-field activities unless they crossed the line into illegal or otherwise seriously objectionable conduct).