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#pounditFriday, March 29, 2024

Report: NFL players feel Rob Gronkowski benefits from double standard

Rob Gronkowski

Rob Gronkowski once again seems to be enjoying every moment of his offseason, and the New England Patriots tight end continues to collect cheap laughs from those who view his antics as harmless fun. Is there a specific reason he is scrutinized less than other players?

Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report spoke with four current NFL players who believe Gronkowski is held to a different standard than other players. The implication is that Gronkowski is viewed as a harmless goofball because he’s white, whereas black players are often ripped for similar behavior.

However, I recently heard from four players, two from each conference, who all wondered if Gronkowski is held to a different standard than others in the league.

None wanted to be quoted, even on an off-the-record basis, but each made the point that they didn’t think a player such as Cam Newton could do what Gronk does without public backlash.

Remember, a mother wrote a letter of complaint about Newton for, well, basically doing nothing more than strutting around a football field. Quarterbacks are held to a higher standard, but the players I spoke to noted Newton, in particular, could never have the kind of public life Gronkowski lives.

As Freeman notes, white players are not exempt from criticism. Tony Romo was once ridiculed for taking a trip to Cabo San Lucas the week before a playoff game, which was a situation similar to the one that cast a group of New York Giants wide receivers in a negative light a few months ago.

Gronkowski has never gotten into trouble with the law, but some players around the NFL feel his party-boy antics and WWE appearances (video here) would be labeled immature or uncalled for if his skin color was different. You can certainly understand why they might feel that way.

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