FOXBORO — Head coach Mike Vrabel jokingly dubbed the latest Patriots controversy as “clapgate,” but this one doesn’t have legs like the team’s previous -gates.
Morris said the Patriots’ defense was clapping before a key play on second-and-10 with 2:09 left in regulation.
“They were clapping and simulated our snap,” Morris said. “That’s why the ball got snapped early and Mike (Penix) wasn’t ready for the snap.”
Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams got a free rush and forced Penix to throw the ball away after it was snapped early. Trailing 24-23 at the time, the Falcons quarterback was flagged for intentional grounding. The Falcons punted two plays later, and the Patriots were able to put the game away.
“Nice job by those guys. Great situational football. Great play. Got us to snap the ball,” Morris said. “That’s why the ball was snapped early on Mike. He wasn’t ready for the snap.
Vrabel was asked if he was annoyed by the accusation.
“I don’t think annoyed. I’m trying to not waste any more time looking for anybody clapping. I don’t see anything,” Vrabel said.
It was pointed out to the head coach that Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins was spotted on film clapping before the snap from 12 yards away, though he could have been alerting his defense to motion from Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, because he immediately signalled.
“Certainly, that wasn’t anybody’s intent, and I don’t think that we’ve ever coached that or talked about that,” Vrabel said. “I can’t spend that much time focused on it. I did look at it briefly. I certainly didn’t think that that was anything that we did — I mean, I think it’s pretty loud, guys are trying to get lined up and I’m glad that we took off when they snapped the ball.”
Vrabel also addressed it briefly on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show,” saying, “maybe that’s a testament to our fans; it got loud and I could hear the energy. Thank them for that.”
