Rob Gronkowski is calling for the NFL to institute referee punishments amid a slew of questionable officiating decisions this season.
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NFL → call → decisions
The New England Patriots legend also revealed he is skeptical of his long-time team's chances at getting back to the Super Bowl, and suggested they made it last year due to a weak schedule.
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they → reveal → schedule
Gronkowki shared his bevy of strong takes, revealed some newly-unearthed secrets about Bill Belichick's strangest rules, and revealed a new technology he is using to heal his body from the wear and tear of football in an interview with OutKick.
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he → share → OutKick
Gronkowski believes officials should face consequences just as the players and coaches whose games they help decide do.
"So yeah, I think, you know, it would be fair and square to, you know, put the referees on a pedestal as well and — and have punishment just like any coach or any NFL player can be punished just like that," Gronkowski said.
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Gronkowski → believe → that
Asked whether the NFL needs more accountability for officials, Gronkowski pointed to how quickly a player’s fortunes can change.
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fortunes → ask → officials
"I think so, actually, because players are accountable.
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players → think → ?
Players can be cut the very next day and you’ve seen players cut," he continued.
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he → cut → ?
Gronkowski’s comments followed Tom Brady’s criticism of several calls during the Detroit Lions’ 20-17 win over the Green Bay Packers during Sunday's NFL on FOX broadcast.
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comments → follow → broadcast
Brady and FOX rules analyst Dean Blandino disputed multiple decisions, including roughing-the-passer penalties and an intentional grounding call.
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Brady → dispute → penalties
Gronkowski agreed with his former quarterback’s broader concerns.
"
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Gronkowski → agree → concerns
I don’t think the referees are doing that great of a job.
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referees → think → job
I think they can definitely improve," he said.
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he → think → ?
He identified pass interference and roughing-the-passer calls as areas that need improvement before the postseason, warning that incorrect flags could determine games.
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flags → identify → games
"We want it to be fair and square.
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it → want → ?
That’s what fans want to see," he said.
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he → ’ → what
"Yes, you call it when it’s appropriate, but when it’s not appropriate, you know, it doesn’t need to be called and affects the game in all ways.
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it → call → ways
The NFL already grades officials on every play, according to its Football Operations website.
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NFL → grade → website
Those evaluations help determine postseason assignments.
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evaluations → help → assignments
Gronkowski also recalled his own frustration with offensive pass interference penalties when defenders collided with him.
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defenders → recall → him
"It was just me running and I was just a bigger body.
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I → run → ?
So the guy would bounce off of me, you know, even though he ran into me and then I would get the flag.
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I → bounce → flag
It just didn’t make any sense," he said.
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he → make → sense
Patriots have work to do before another Super Bowl run
The Patriots enter Week 8 at 4-3 after a 30-24 loss to the Chicago Bears, and have shown signs of regression after reaching the Super Bowl last year.
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Patriots → have → Bowl
They’re playing tougher opponents this year, tougher defenses.
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They → play → opponents
I think that has more to play with it," Gronkowski said of the Patriots.
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Gronkowski → think → Patriots
"I definitely think the schedule plays a part in it for sure.
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schedule → think → it
It really does."
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It → do → ?
Gronkowski sees a playoff team in New England.
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Gronkowski → see → England
He is less convinced he sees a championship team.
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he → see → team
"The Patriots, I think, are a pretty solid, you know, football team.
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you → think → ?
And I think they’re going to make the playoffs.
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they → think → playoffs
They definitely have a chance at winning their division.
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They → have → division
They just got to pick it up," he said.
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he → got → it
"I just don’t see enough right now for them to be a potential, you know, Super Bowl candidate."
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you → see → enough
Gronkowski also pointed offensive injuries and the need for more playmakers.
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Gronkowski → point → playmakers
He said New England’s offense had been clicking more consistently last season.
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offense → say → ?
"They’re just having some problems right now, a couple injuries, injuries all across the offensive line.
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They → have → line
They’re depleted there.
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They → deplete → ?
So I think the injuries, you know, to the offensive unit is playing a crucial part as well," he said.
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he → think → part
"And once they get everyone back and AJ Brown gets fully healthy, I think they can start clicking at a high level then."
Asked what he would bring to the current locker room, Gronkowski emphasized experience and a belief that the team can win regardless of the circumstances.
"I would say just a mentality of bringing it at practice and also having just a winning mentality that, hey, no matter the situation, we’re going to come, we’re going to find a way to win this game," he said.
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he → get → game
…and 51 more, not listed.
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