NFL legend critical of sport's officiating amid latest controversies: 'Up in the air'

SAN FRANCISCO – NFL referees are nether the biggest microscope ever. With cameras from each space and the slowest of motions possible, it's rather casual to knock officiating from the couch.

But Rob Gronkowski, who watches plentifulness of shot arsenic portion of "NFL connected FOX," believes the league needs to bash thing to summation the prime of calls.

‘Officiating's been up successful the air. I don't privation to beryllium present and truly knock officiating due to the fact that it's truly tough. It's truly pugnacious to bash that. It is simply a divided second. You gotta marque a call, propulsion a punishment flag, and benignant of retrieve what you saw close connected the spot. So it's tough," Gronkowski told Fox News Digital connected vigor row.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM 

Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots argues with tract justice Mike Weatherford aft receiving a punishment during the Bills crippled astatine New Era Field connected Dec. 3, 2017, successful Buffalo, New York. (Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Gronkowski's solution is 1 that you whitethorn not adjacent cognize is simply a fact.

"I deliberation officiating should, they should get paid precise good and compensated well, and they should beryllium full-time. From what I hear, they're not full-time, and they person different jobs arsenic well. That makes perfectly nary sense," Gronkowski said adamantly. 

New England Patriots choky extremity Rob Gronkowski argues his lawsuit to caput manager Bill Belichick, left, and an authoritative aft an altercation. (Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

ROB GRONKOWSKI JOKES ABOUT TOM BRADY'S HALL OF FAME CANDIDACY AFTER BILL BELICHICK, ROBERT KRAFT MISS OUT

"This is simply a multibillion-dollar industry. These officials request to beryllium paid large dollars, but besides they request to beryllium putting the clip and enactment successful 24/7 passim the full year. Yeah, they tin person a small clip disconnected successful the summer, but they got to beryllium astir the crippled of shot astatine each times. And I deliberation that volition help, you know, the game’s called successful a amended mode due to the fact that I don't privation to criticize, but determination person been immoderate perfectly unspeakable calls, and it's precise inconsistent… That needs to stop, and I deliberation that would stop, you know, if they're full-time."

Officials recovered themselves successful the limelight earlier this postseason during the Denver Broncos–Buffalo Bills divisional-round matchup. Brandin Cooks had a shot taken distant from him by Broncos antiaircraft backmost Ja’Quan McMillan aft helium seemingly completed the catch. The referees ruled it an interception, taking the shot distant from the Bills. Buffalo was called for 2 antiaircraft flags connected Denver's ensuing drive.

Denver Broncos cornerback Ja'quan McMillian intercepts a walk intended for Buffalo Bills wide receiver Brandin Cooks during overtime of the AFC Divisional crippled astatine Empower Field astatine Mile High. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

Commissioner Roger Goodell defended officials during his pre-Super Bowl LX property league connected Monday.

"I’m truthful amazed astatine however bully our officials are. We walk clip each week looking astatine assorted angles and inactive debating it a week later. These guys person to marque a split-second decision, and the men and women connected our tract are incredible. I deliberation they’ve proven implicit and implicit again they’re truly fantastic astatine what they do," helium said.

"On the different hand, it’s a hard athletics to officiate. It’s fast. It’s quick. And we person to beryllium capable to usage technology, successful my view, to effort to forestall the evident errors. Now, they’re not each obvious. I think, depending connected which squad you’re for, they’re evident successful your eyes potentially. But astatine the extremity of the day, we spot that if there’s an evident error, we request to beryllium capable to hole it. And I deliberation exertion tin assistance that."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Shawn Smith has been named the caput authoritative for Super Bowl LX connected Sunday, marking his archetypal clip starring a unit successful the large game.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter