Gronkowski thinks NFL is targeting him with pass interference calls

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski believes he's being targeted by the NFL when it comes to offensive pass interference calls.

There have been a league-high five accepted OPI calls on Gronkowski this season, the latest of which came late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos after he caught a pass on third-and-5 to give the Patriots a first down.

Appearing on 98.5 The Sports Hub's "Toucher & Rich" show Tuesday, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald said the NFL is "absolutely" targeting Gronkowski with the OPI calls.

"There is no question about that. There is not even a debate, especially after that fourth-quarter OPI called on Sunday. That closed the book on that debate; they are going after Rob Gronkowski," Howe said. "He didn't even initiate the contact and was penalized on that play. That was the worst penalty, up there with the Malcolm Butler PI (against the Giants). Those are the two worst penalties I've seen called this season against the Patriots.

Gronkowski agrees:

Despite all the penalties, Gronkowski has made it clear he won't alter his playing style.

"It's been going on all year," Gronkowski said after the Patriots' Week 10 win over the New York Giants, according to Phil Perry of CSNNE.com. "We just gotta keep playing how we've been playing. That's all ... I'm not sure what it is. I'm just going to keep playing how I've been playing. Go out to practice and transition it to the games."