Wooderson wrote:According to Augustine, anytime a ball doesn't reach a receiver because a defender picks it off or tips it, it can't be PI. Even if the defender prevented the receiver from getting back to the ball in the first place, which is what led to the INT. If that's the case, Kuechly could have ripped Gronk to the ground and PI can't be called. Can anyone confirm that? Seems like a terrible rule.
I think the logic there is that despite interference, if the ball was going to be picked off anyway, the interference is irrelevant.
I guess the debate can be whether or not Gronk could have not only prevented the INT, but made the catch as well if he hadn't been interfered with...but I think it's pretty clear that he couldn't have made a play, since the ball was underthrown and Gronk was still moving away from the ball when it was intercepted.
But I still think Gronk could have made it at least a much tougher decision for the refs if he sold the interference better, instead of just standing there.