HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 28: Head coach Bruce Arians of the Arizona Cardinals reacts in the second quarter of a preseason NFL game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on August 28, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Special teams troubles have beset the Arizona Cardinals all season, and Sunday’s 26-23 road loss to the Miami Dolphins was yet another reminder of that.
Chandler Catanzaro missed a field goal and an extra point and had another extra point blocked, which Miami quickly returned for a two-point conversion.
On Tuesday, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians raised cheating accusations against the Dolphins’ special teams unit. Arians claimed the Dolphins used an illegal simulated snap count on the Cardinals’ first missed extra point, which caused an early snap.
“We had a situation where somebody yelled out a snap count and we snapped an extra point early and missed the first extra point,” Arians told Sirius XM NFL Radio.
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Following that missed kick on Sunday, Arizona’s holder, Drew Butler, was seen pointing toward the line of scrimmage, as Catanzaro looked utterly confused.
On Wednesday, Dolphins special teams coach Darren Rizzi gave the perfect retort to Arians’ allegations:
Rizzi also said the following:
Rizzi was referring to another of Arians’ claims after the game. Arians said the totally biased and rigged weather deteriorated whenever his team had the ball.
“We practiced with a wet ball on Wednesday and didn’t have any problems,” Arians said, according to the Associated Press. “But when it continually pours when you have the ball, which was kind of odd, it’s tough.”
It sounds like the Cardinals– or at least Arians– are simply looking for excuses for their recent lackluster performances when they are the ones who need to improve and be in top condition, not the weather.
The Dolphins (8-5, 2nd in AFC East) next visit the New York Jets on Saturday night, while the Cardinals (5-7-1, 2nd in NFC West) will host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 28: Head coach Bruce Arians of the Arizona Cardinals reacts in the second quarter of a preseason NFL game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on August 28, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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