Mike Vrabel's 'F--king Terrible Call' Remark Led to Patriots Penalty vs. Bills, NFL Ref Says

NFL referee Bill Vinovich told reporters that New England Patriots' head coach Mike Vrabel was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct during Sunday's 29-26 win over the New England Patriots for telling an official he made a "f--king terrible call."

Vrabel acknowledged using that type of language but said he was surprised it resulted in a flag.

"I told him it was a terrible—I'm not going to say effing—call," he told reporters. "I've said that 87 times since I've been a head coach. It was nothing derogatory. You'd have to ask him. I think he was a little sensitive."

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Vrabel said that assistant coach John Streicher told him over the headset that a defensive holding penalty that gave the Bills a first down was a poor call but said he could have worded his complaint differently.

"I probably shouldn't have swore, but I can tell you in my history of being on the sidelines as a head coach, I've said that. And I apologized to him," he noted. "It was unfortunate and I have to be better in those moments."