Rob Gronkowski is that latest NFL player to be frustrated with the league's referees. The Patriots tight end took to Twitter on Tuesday to express his displeasure with the disproportionate amount of offensive pass interference calls being made against him this season.
Rob Gronkowski thinks the NFL is targeting him with offensive pass interference calls
He’s been flagged for OPI a league-leading six times.
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Gronkwoski has been flagged for OPI six times this year, with five of them being accepted, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. That's more than any other team (Washington has been flagged for it five times) and a number that already surpasses the four OPI flags last year's leaders, Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett and Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Cecil Shorts, drew.
"Sometimes we're getting [the calls] and sometimes we don't," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said Monday. "We didn't get any last night. I don't know why or why not. You think they're looking at it, and they probably are. Sometimes officials miss it, too. I totally understand that. They're not -- I don't know. I have no clue."
Gronkowski has yet to talk to the media since leaving the Patriots' Sunday night 30-24 overtime loss to the Broncos early with a leg injury. But he was flagged for OPI twice in that game and on Tuesday wrote on Twitter that he agreed with the opinion of The Boston Herald's Jeff Howe, who said that he believes the NFL is targeting Gronkowski with those calls.
This is not the first time this season Gronkowski has expressed displeasure with how he’s being officiated.
Pass interference is defined by the NFL as an act by a player more than 1 yard beyond the line of scrimmage which significantly hinders an eligible player’s opportunity to catch the ball. The league’s video demonstration can be viewed here.
This marks the second straight season the NFL has made offensive pass interference a point of emphasis. Last year OPI was called a total of 105 times and 2.5 times per game. This season it’s being called at nearly the same rate.
Here’s a list of all six of Gronkowski’s OPI penalties.
2 — Week 3, vs. Jacksonville
1 — Week 8, vs. Miami
1 — Week 10, at New York Giants
2 — Week 12, at Denver (one accepted, one declined)
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