Retired NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski believes that officials are treating the Kansas City Chiefs with kid gloves, calling their officiating style “more lenient” toward the team. Gronkowski’s comments come in the midst of a contentious postseason, with several high-profile playoff games having featured questionable calls.
Gronkowski, who spent nine seasons playing for the New England Patriots and won four Super Bowls during his career, made his claims during a recent appearance on NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk podcast. When discussing the current officiating climate in the NFL, Gronkowski alleged that the referees are treating certain teams differently than others.
“In my opinion, I think some teams get away with a lot more stuff than others,” Gronkowski said. “And in my opinion, the Kansas City Chiefs, you know, are one of them. They seem to get the benefit of the doubt a little more often, and that’s just my take on it.”
Gronkowski’s statements suggest that he believes the NFL officiating crew has a biased stance toward the Chiefs, and that they are getting more favorable treatment than other teams. While this is a matter of interpretation, Gronkowski’s comments will certainly spark controversy among NFL fans, who have already been on high alert regarding playoff officiating throughout the season.