Rob Gronkowski blasts controversial penalty in Commanders-Patriots game

"I don’t really know why that’s roughing the passer," Gronkowski said during an appearance on the FanDuel TV "Up & Adams" program, per Adam London of NESN. "The NFL is doing a terrible job with it, I think. It’s kind of ruining the game. They’re policing roughing the passer way too much. What was the ruling there (for) why it was roughing the passer? Because the defender fell on quarterback Mac Jones? If that’s the case, I really don’t understand it that much." 

According to Conor Roche and Katie McInerney of Boston.com, referee Adrian Hill told pool reporter Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post after Washington's 20-17 victory 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 continued. "He didn’t perform one of those acts to remove most of that body weight." 

Hill went on to explain that Henry could've taken Jones and rolled to the side "so they both land on their side." Henry also could've broken the fall "first with hands and knees almost like in a crab-like fashion on top of the quarterback." 

Gronkowski clearly isn't a fan of the rule. 

"Full body weight? I mean, it’s not like he fell on his head or his lower extremities," Gronkowski noted. "It looked like he didn’t even try to drive him. It’s just how the momentum took him. It’s bad. It’s kind of ruining the game because it’s giving the advantage to the offense sometimes when they should never have the advantage. You get a free 15 yards for absolutely no reason. That can change the momentum of the game at any time. So, I think it’s policed insanely too much." 

Gronkowski isn't alone among former and current players who believe the NFL has gone too far regarding its handling of roughing the passer. Nevertheless, the league made it clear last fall it is "not going to back off of protecting the quarterback," so pass-rushers must find ways to control their bodies before and during sacks to avoid costly fouls that gift opposing teams first downs.