Mike Vrabel Denies Accusation Following Sunday's Win vs. Falcons

Falcons claim Patriots simulated snap before penalty

The whole situation started when Michael Penix Jr. was forced to dirt a ball in the fourth quarter after a snap came at him unexpectedly — resulting in an intentional grounding penalty.

“They did a nice job. They simulated a snap,” Morris told the media after the game. “The ball came early, was snapped early. Within that snap, that was when we got the intentional grounding. Nice job by those guys. Great situational football. Great play. Got to snap the ball. That’s why the ball was snapped early on Mike. He wasn’t ready for the snap.”

That led to a response from Vrabel who mostly called Morris' claims a "waste of time."

Vrabel: 'We've never coached that'

“Certainly that wasn’t anybody’s intent,” Vrabel said. “We’ve never coached that or talked about that. I can’t spend that much time focused on it. Did look at it briefly, certainly didn’t think that was anything that we did. It was pretty loud, guys are trying to get lined up, and I’m glad we took off when they snapped the ball.”

“I don’t think [I'm] annoyed," the former player continued. "I’m trying to not waste any more time looking for anybody clapping. I don’t see anything.”

Referees also didn't see anything that would've tipped them off to the foul. But it certainly made for a confusing situation in the moment. Atlanta now falls to 3-5 with an international game vs. the Indianapolis Colts Sunday in Berlin.