Mike Vrabel Brutally Mocks Raheem Morris’ “Clapgate” Claim — Turns Falcons’ Accusation into a Comedy Show After Patriots’ Victory

Foxborough, MA — The war of words between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons has reached new heights after Falcons Head Coach Raheem Morris accused the Patriots of mimicking quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s clap signal to confuse his center — a controversy fans are now calling “Clapgate.”
According to Morris, “They were clapping. For us, whenever I’m clapping, that means I want the ball. Ryan [Neuzil] said he heard them clapping and thought it was my signal — that’s why the ball was snapped early.”
But Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel wasn’t having any of it. When asked about the accusation, he fired back with his trademark sarcasm and a smirk that could cut glass.
“Annoyed? I don’t think annoyed,” Vrabel said dryly. “I’m just trying not to waste any more time looking for anybody clapping.”
The room erupted in laughter — but Vrabel wasn’t done yet.

“I didn’t see anything. Is that fake? I don’t know… That was new. Maybe that’s a testament to our fans. They got loud — I could hear the energy. So, thank them for that. But I didn’t see anything.”
It was classic Vrabel: confident, dismissive, and perfectly calculated to turn the controversy into a punchline. Patriots fans immediately flooded social media with memes mocking the Falcons’ claims, with one post reading, “When in doubt, blame the claps.”
While the Falcons insisted the early snaps were the result of New England’s sideline trickery, NFL insiders reported that no official complaint had been filed with the league as of Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Vrabel redirected the focus to his players — particularly rookie wide receiver DeMario “Pop” Douglas, whose breakout performance helped the Patriots seal the win.
“Credit to Pop,” Vrabel said proudly. “He just didn’t want to be a distraction. He’s always got a smile on his face, does whatever we ask him to do. To see him find the end zone, make some big catches — that’s what it’s all about.”
Vrabel used the moment to highlight the unity and selflessness of his team — subtly contrasting it with the finger-pointing coming from Atlanta.
“Every week, another guy steps up,” Vrabel added. “That’s what we’re building — camaraderie, resilience, and focus.”
As for Clapgate, it seems Vrabel has already moved on. With the Patriots riding high on back-to-back wins and quarterback Drake Maye turning heads at a recent Celtics-Jazz game alongside his wife Ann, the atmosphere in Foxborough is electric again.
And while the Falcons continue searching for who “clapped,” Vrabel and his Patriots are busy clapping for real — to the rhythm of victory.