Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was grabbed in the end zone by Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly on the controversial final play of Monday night’s game, said he didn’t want to make any excuses after New England’s loss.
But in saying that, Gronkowski made clear that he believes the flag thrown on Kuechly should not have been picked up.
“We don’t make excuses,” Gronkowski said, via the Boston Herald. “I’m not trying to sit here and make an excuse that he held me at the end of the game. The game is four quarters long. It’s won throughout all four quarters, not just the last play of the game. We’ve just got to keep working hard, keep sticking together and keep on fighting.”
Although back judge Terrence Miles flagged Kuechly for pass interference, referee Clete Blakeman ruled the ball uncatchable. But Gronkowski has made a lot of catches in traffic in his career, and he would have had a shot at catching that one, without Kuechly draped all over him.
