Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was upset that his old team benefited from a contentious roughing the passer penalty in the third quarter of New England’s game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday:
“I don’t really know why that’s roughing the passer,” Gronkowski said on FanDuel TV’s “Up & Adams” program, according to Adam London of NESN. “I believe the NFL is doing a poor job with it. It’s essentially ruining the game. They’re policing roughhousing way too much. What was the ruling there (for) roughing up the passer? Because a defender collided with quarterback Mac Jones? If that’s the case, I’m not sure I understand it.”
According to Conor Roche and Katie McInerney of Boston.com, after Washington’s 20-17 victory, referee Adrian Hill told pool reporter Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post that defensive end KJ Henry was flagged for landing his “full body weight” on Jones as the quarterback hit the turf.
“The ruling on the field was that the defender came down with forceable contact, chest-to-chest,” Hill went on to say. “He didn’t perform one of those acts to remove most of that body weight.”
Hill went on to say that Henry could have grabbed Jones and rolled to the side “so they both land on their sides.”” Henry could’ve also broken the fall “first with hands and knees almost crab-like on top of the quarterback.”
Gronkowski clearly opposes the rule.
“Whole body weight?” “I mean, he didn’t fall on his head or lower extremities,” Gronkowski pointed out. “It appeared that he didn’t even attempt to drive him. That’s just how the momentum carried him. It’s a disaster. It’s kind of ruining the game because it sometimes gives the offense an advantage that they shouldn’t have. You get a free 15 yards for no apparent reason. This can change the game’s momentum at any time. So, I believe it is overly policed.”
Gronkowski isn’t alone among former and current players who believe the NFL has overreacted to roughing the passer. Nonetheless, the league stated last fall that it is “not going to back off of protecting the quarterback,” so pass-rushers must learn to control their bodies before and during sacks in order to avoid costly fouls that give opposing teams first downs.
