Retweet of the Day - November 19, 2013

Last night's Monday Night Football game between the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers ended on a controversial non-call on the final play of the game. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw an interception in the back of the end zone but a penalty flag was thrown after Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly made contact with Patriot tight end Rob Gronkowski in the back of the end zone.

The flag was waived off because the pass was judged to be uncatchable. Tom Brady was livid, launching into a profanity laced tirade directed at the referee. Still photos of the play appear to show Kuechly holding Gronkowski, which would suggest that, minimally, a defensive holding or illegal contact penalty should have been called against the Panthers.

Still, the sports irony, some would say sports karma, was impossible to ignore. The New England Patriots AFC dynasty was kicked off in the 2001 Divisional Playoffs against the Oakland Raiders, then coached by Monday Night Football color commentator John Gruden, by the application of the Tuck Rule. The rule was so counter-intuitive to the game of football that the NFL has since removed the rule from the game.

Today's retweet is from Joe ‏(@Yankees_JM1):

"Deep down inside Gruden loves it that the penalty wasn't called. #tuckrule #Raiders"

The best "incomplete pass" Brady ever threw....

Image from www.shootgap.com

GRONK SMASH

Multiple sports media outlets have reported that New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who has not played since last season due to an arm injury and a back injury, is due to return to the Patriots’ lineup this Sunday. The Patriots host the unbeaten New Orleans Saints at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

This could not come at a better time for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, whose receiving weapons seem to be whittled down further every week. Gronk is the real deal and he is a matchup nightmare for defensive backs and linebackers. This is the first time in 2013 that Brady will have an elite target with which his opponents will need to contend.

NO SLAM DUNK

The Saints have had remarkable success under first year defensive coordinator Rob Ryan against the pass this season and have forced a considerable number of timely turnovers. They have had to contain elite pass catchers like Julio Jones, Roddy White, and Tony Gonzales of the Atlanta Falcons, Vincent Jackson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals, Mike Wallace of the Miami Dolphins, and Brandon Marshall of the Chicago Bears. 

Gronkowski, much like the Saints own star tight end Jimmy Graham, is a more unique and potentially troublesome threat. Gronk is 6’6” and 265 pounds – the height of an NBA forward with the mass and strength of an NFL linebacker and above average speed and vertical jumping ability for his tight end position. 

One player is not going to solve the myriad offensive issues the Patriots have. But Brady has proven to be a magician when he simply has suitable working parts with which to work. Now he has a premium cog back in his machine. The Saints are already underdogs in this matchup (opened at +3), and will have to brew a never before used formula in the lab to contain the Pats offense with their Pro Bowl tight end back in the lineup.

Rob Gronkowski after reaching paydirt: SMASH! SMASH!! SMASH!!!

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