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Four-time Super Bowl champion Ron Gronkowski added fuel to the fire by suggesting the Kansas City Chiefs are the beneficiaries of “lenient” officiating in their games.

Favoritism toward the Chiefs has been a relentless storyline throughout the 2024 season, and it’s only been amplified during the playoffs. Why? Because people have working sets of eyes and ears.

Yes, it’s that obvious.

Gronkowski, who won four Super Bowls alongside Tom Brady, another quarterback with a reputation of being treated with kid gloves by NFL refs, believes the favoritism isn’t necessarily blatant, but it’s there nonetheless.

In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Gronkowski suggested the refs are “definitely … more lenient” toward the Chiefs.

And frankly, who would know better?

Rob Gronkowski Says Refs Favor The Chiefs

First of all, Rob Gronkowski doing an interview with a background featuring Bounty paper towel rolls is so … well, Gronk.

Second, some are going to dismiss his comments as sour grapes. The Chiefs are trying to accomplish something even Brady and the Patriots never did – three straight Super Bowl victories.

That said, the legendary tight end is saying that some star players pay their dues and get favorable calls as they continue playing in the league. And, he admits, Brady was one such player.

“It was Tom, but he deserved it at the time. He was an 18-year vet, and he took his punishment as a young buck during his first eight years in the league. Oh my lord, he used to get lit up. It was understandable he got calls,” Gronkowski says.

RELATED: Patrick Mahomes Breaks His Silence On Complaints That Refs Are Helping The Chiefs: ‘Doing Their Best’

It’s The Chiefs Turn

Is Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes getting those calls now? Rob Gronkowski seems to think that’s what is happening here.

“It’s been shown throughout the regular season and extending into the playoffs,” Gronk said. “I just feel like there’s something, like, maybe give them an extra call or two. Don’t make it too obvious, but make it a little obvious.”

We’ve seen how one or two extra personal foul calls can sway a playoff game. The Chiefs played the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional round game, and the game turned on a pair of roughing-the-passer calls against Texan defenders on quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Replays on at least one of those showed the defenders didn’t hit Mahomes at all.

Some Chiefs players have been defiant about the refs helping them move along in the playoffs.

Kansas City linebacker Drue Tranquill isn’t impressed with NFL fans who believe the refs are helping guide his team to yet another Super Bowl.

“Shoutout to the @BuffaloBills .. heck of a battle,” Tranquill wrote after the refs blew a first down call that proved pivotal in a tight game.

“The rest of y’all can take all that ‘ref’ talk & kick rocks. We stand on business,” he added.

Rusty Weiss is a lifelong NFL and MLB fan (Cowboys/Dodgers) and sometimes fan of college basketball (Xavier). Rusty is ... More about Rusty Weiss
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