Mike Mularkey was "very frustrated" that the cadence caused tight end Zach Potter to jump offsides.
The Jacksonville Jaguars aren’t the first team to accuse the New England Patriots of bending the rules, but they are the latest.
Jacksonville players and coaches believe that the Patriots illegally forced tight end Zach Potter to jump offsides during a critical second down play at the 1-yard line during the fourth quarter of New England 23-16 win Sunday afternoon. Jacksonville was stopped on the next two downs.
Potter was enticed to jump when the Patriots defensive line simultaneously shifted, a legal move, but Jags coach Mike Mularkey took issue with the group using a cadence. Mularkey said he warned the officials of New England’s practice prior to the game, though it wasn’t called.
“Very frustrating,” he said.
Added quarterback Chad Henne: “We practiced that all week and we've just got to be focused on each and every play knowing they were going to do that."
The Jaguars also said that they would have attempted a two-point conversion if they happened to get in the end zone on the final possession.
"They were playing for a bye," Mularkey said. "We were playing for respect."