Gronkowski weighs in on officiating bias

The Kansas City Chiefs have become what the New England Patriots were years ago: the NFL’s most admired or most hated team. Their three Super Bowl victories in the past five years have made them the public enemy No. 1 of the other 31 teams in the league. Add to that the fact that during their championship seasons they had “help” from the officials – as many claim – and it’s no wonder that every win by Patrick Mahomes’ team is under the microscope.

Now, a Patriots legend has joined the Chiefs’ detractors. Former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers star tight end Rob Gronkowski recently made some waves with his bold claim about NFL officials and their alleged favoritism towards the Kansas City Chiefs. Gronkowski, who played for the Patriots for nine seasons and helped them win three Super Bowls, knows a thing or two about the inner workings of the league.

During an appearance on Kay Adams’ Up & Adams program, Gronkowski expressed his thoughts on the matter, saying, “Yeah, the Chiefs get WAY more calls than the Patriots. I mean, I don’t even remember getting calls…specifically for myself. Maybe as a team, I don’t know, I don’t remember those calls…I’m just talking about myself.”

Gronkowski’s statement sheds light on the perception that the Chiefs have been receiving favorable calls from officials during their successful run in recent years. As a former player who experienced both the highs and lows of officiating, Gronkowski’s insight into this controversial topic is certainly thought-provoking.

4x SB Champ @RobGronkowski says the #Chiefs get "WAY MORE" calls than the Patriots did during their dynasty

"I was basically executed off the line of scrimmage half the time." @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/WRELGWSHEk

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) September 25, 2024

Do the Kansas City Chiefs get special treatment from refs?

Having been a key part of Tom Brady’s Patriots before joining forces with him again at the Buccaneers, Gronkowski has seen firsthand how officiating can impact a game. He pointed out that opposing teams often got away with holding and pass interference while defending him, while he himself was frequently penalized for offensive pass interference.

Gronkowski’s claim raises important questions about the fairness and consistency of officiating in the NFL. It’s not uncommon for fans and critics to debate the influence of officiating on the outcomes of games, and Gronkowski’s perspective adds another layer to this ongoing conversation.

In addition to his comments about officiating, Gronkowski’s journey in the NFL has been nothing short of remarkable. After a brief retirement, he returned to the field and helped lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl 55 title before retiring for good in 2022.

4x SB Champ @RobGronkowski says the #Chiefs get "WAY MORE" calls than the Patriots did during their dynasty

"I was basically executed off the line of scrimmage half the time." @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/WRELGWSHEk

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) September 25, 2024

Patrick Mahomes’ biggest rival is the 2024 MVP favorite despite losing key weapon just like Chiefs QB

Has Mahomes regressed or is it just a slump?

The talk of the offseason was that the Kansas City Chiefs were going to be renewed on the offensive side of the ball. After their defense carried what was a middling offense in 2023 all the way to the Super Bowl, the front office made a couple of additions to get Patrick Mahomes back to his 2022 MVP form. Instead, Mahomes has struggled mightily despite the team’s 3-0 start.

Mahomes currently has the highest interception percentage and the lowest adjusted yards per attempt of his career in a season. His 219.7 passing yards per game would be over 40 yards less than his worst season in that stat category, which came in 2023. Some of this can be attributed to losing starting wideout Marquise Brown before the season, but it continues a concerning trend that popped up last year.

Josh Allen is balling out while Mahomes struggles

It’s also tough to place blame on Mahomes losing a starting wide receiver when his biggest rival, Josh Allen, lost superstar Stefon Diggs in the offseason and is currently the heavy favorite to be the league MVP. Allen has been far and away the best quarterback in the NFL through three games.

Josh Allen ranks this season

Rank
Pass Rating 133.7 1st
Total TD 9 1st
Pass TD/INT 7/0 1st
Wins 3 t-1st pic.twitter.com/vlmdhV9Sxh

— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) September 26, 2024

Many expected the absence of Diggs to affect Allen negatively, but he seems to be playing even better without him. Allen has even come out to say it’s helping him to have several wide receivers who don’t care about stats, and just want to make plays to help the team win.

The Bills don’t have any pass-catchers with elite talent, but Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid all have specific roles within the offense that allows Allen to pick and choose what areas of the field to attack. The Bills have also placed an emphasis on running the ball effectively.

Mahomes’ downward trending production seems here to stay unless Andy Reid makes a conscious effort to change the way the offense is operating. The wins may be masking more serious problems.