New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct during Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills after swearing at an official while disputing a call.
“That’s a terrible f*cking call,” Vrabel told the referee, according to audio captured during the game.
The 15-yard penalty handed the Bills a first-and-goal at the 6-yard line. Three plays later, Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen scored on a two-yard run, tying the game at 14-14.
New England went on to win the game 29-26, but Vrabel made clear after the final whistle that he was still irritated by the referee’s response to his language.
“I told him that’s a terrible f-ing call, and I’ve said that about 87 times since I’ve been a head coach,” Vrabel said. “It was nothing derogatory. You’d have to ask him; I think he was a little sensitive. Once I get the word from upstairs that it wasn’t what we felt like was a good call, which I’m going to trust [Patriots VP of football operations and strategy John Streicher] with my life. I probably shouldn’t have sworn, but I can tell you, in my history of being on the sidelines as a head coach, I’ve said that.”
ESPN’s Mark Reiss reported that head official Bill Vinovich cited Vrabel’s language as the reason for the flag.
Asked whether Vrabel had been warned about his language before being penalized, Vinovich said no such warning was possible.
“I don’t know how you’re going to give a warning,” Vinovich said. “It’s not something that’s going to happen twice. When you use language like that, it’s pretty much a given.”
The exchange briefly shifted momentum toward Buffalo, giving the Bills a short-field opportunity that led directly to a touchdown. In the end, though, the Patriots held on for the three-point win.
