Gronk Confirms What We All Know to Be True: 'The Chiefs Get Way More Calls Than the Patriots' Did
When it comes to the topic we're about to discuss, you can't fall back on the old "worst kept secret in America" cliche. Because the Kansas City Chiefs winning games on favorable calls is a secret to no one. Not last season. Not the season before, when they won the Super Bowl on a call that was no one's idea of a defensive hold. Not Week 1 of this season:
And not Week 3:
Going by Pro Football Reference numbers, through three games the Chiefs have been flagged 16 times for 150 yards, to 21 times for 187 on their opponents. That's roughly 1/3 more penalties in their favor than against them. And given that each of their games have been decided by one score and they're 3-0, it's hard to argue they're not benefiting from the way officials are calling balls and strikes.
What's really grinding my gears though is when people try to argue the Patriots of the Dynasty Era got the same favorable treatment. How they justify that argument is beyond comprehension. I mean, what are we talking about here. Give me some examples.
Do you want to bring up The Tuck Rule? Great. Let's discuss. The myths that surround that one reversal of a call that was incorrect on the field are legend. Especially the one about how it had never been called before. Which is a blatant lie. In fact, it went against New England earlier in the season in the game at New York when Drew Bledsoe got hurt and Tom Brady came in.
But I'll see your Tuck Rule and raise you how Eli Manning was in the grasp and Richard Seymour got held on The Helmet Catch play. The Philly Special was an illegal formation. Chris Hogan got earholed 40 yards upfield on the Hail Mary at the end of Super Bowl LII. I could do this all day.
Though I shouldn't have to. Never in the history of pro sports has a dynastic team had more roadblocks put in their way. The NFL literally changed rules to prevent them from doing the things they did better than anyone else. From the Colts lobbying to outlaw their physical style of pass coverage in 2003 to the Ravens getting their Ineligible Receiver formations made illegal in 2014, and more.
Still, there is one illustration of the difference between the treatment of those Patriots and that of the current Chiefs. And that is how the star tight ends' games were called. Simply put, Travis Kelce is protected, Rob Gronkowski was targeted. Which Gronk explains here:
"I didn't really get calls. I was double teamed. I was basically executed off the line of scrimmage half the time and five yards into the route. And then they would call pass interference on me when I was trying to get the guy off of me.
"Remember when I hit Tre'Davious White? Because he held me four times in one play! And then Tom through the interception to him. And I finally flipped out because that was the 50th time I got held that year. So then I gave him 'The People's Elbow' just like that, like it was the WWE ring. … I was just frustrated because I didn't get any calls at all. So yeah the Chiefs get WAY more calls than the Patriots."
This would be the play he describes:
Gronk then went on to add, “I used to just get pounded you know from the linebacker the way to the safety I used to get hammered the guys used to jump on my back and the ball would be thrown to me and there would be nothing called."
This is indisputable fact. Not even up for discussion. As Gronk's career went on and his unstoppability became evident, officials basically legalized committing pass interference on him. As well as targeting him. Hitting him below the knees and in the helmet wasn't a penalty if it was done to him. Just accepted as a necessary part of slowing him down.
In fact, as Gronk's career peaked, they began calling OPIs on him. In his prime, full seasons of 2014, '15 and '17, he was flagged seven, 10, and 11 times. And not because he lost a step or forgot how to play football. But in order to even the playing field for those poor, overmatched souls sent to cover him who had no chance otherwise.
I defy anyone to show me an example of Kelce not getting the benefit of the doubt whenever there's contact between him and a defender. Just one. The treatment of these is two the most glaring example of the difference between how these two dynasties have been dealt with over the years. It's been a violation of the Constitutional principle of equal treatment under the law.
I for one am glad Gronk said it. And proud that the Patriots won championships, not with the help of the officials, but in spite of them.