A next step in the Dre Greenlaw – Dom DiSandro scuffle saga.
Last Sunday, during what was the standout game of the non-primetime slate, the Philadelphia Eagles had their asses handed to them by the now team-to-beat in the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers, 42-19 – at Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia), no less.
One sour note for both teams – although perhaps one of many for the Philadelphia Eagles – was the altercation between now nationwide famous Dom DiSandro, of the Eagles’ security entourage, and star 49ers linebacker, Dre Greenlaw. – resulting in both receiving ejections from the officiating crew.
And whilst there were fierce words exchanged between the pair, it looks like, for the moment, there has been some measure of resolution, presumably after some persuading from both franchises, per Nick Wagoner:
NEWS: #49ers LB Dre Greenlaw spoke today about Sunday’s sideline incident in Philadelphia. Greenlaw said apologies were exchanged and both sides seem ready to move beyond what happened…https://t.co/jVMwwgbUXM
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) December 6, 2023
What Happened Between Dre Greenlaw and Dom DiSandro?
ESPN describes the initial incident in clear detail:
With 9:27 left in the third quarter, Greenlaw tackled Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith near the Philadelphia sideline after a 13-yard completion. Greenlaw lifted Smith off his feet and slammed him to the ground, which drew a penalty flag for unnecessary roughness.
As Greenlaw and Smith stood up, Eagles staff and players rushed over and began yelling back and forth with Greenlaw and some of his teammates.
DiSandro stepped toward Greenlaw, who extended his arm as he yelled at DiSandro. Greenlaw’s hand appeared to come into contact with DiSandro’s face as he pointed at him, which drew the disqualification.
Clearly Greenlaw got overly heated after drawing a penalty, and reacted innapropriately to some overly in-your-face type shenanigans with players from the opposing sideline. But, in fairness, Dom DiSandro, whilst ‘head of security’ does not have the ‘my way or the highway’ bouncer-esque power that his actions would indicate, as football is not a nightclub and Greenlaw – indeed all the players, are far more than just thirsty potential patrons.
However, it seems that the incident, occurring when tensions were at their peak for both individuals, has been put behind the pair. Dre Greenlaw had this to say about the resolution when speaking to the media, per ESPN:
“We just exchanged a formal apology just between me and [Niners general manager John Lynch] and some of the same people that we do know that in the building and stuff like that,” Greenlaw said. “He seemed like a genuine guy. Seemed like a guy that everybody loved in the building. So, I hate that, honestly. I really hate that it even escalated and went to that.”
Greenlaw is certainly correct in the amount of love and reverence given by the Philadelphia Eagles’ players and fan faithful to Dom DiSandro, and luckily it seems like they have both moved past it. Now we move on to whatever the next sideline scuffle will ensue next week. Do not rule out some high tensions when the Eagles try to rectify their loss with a rival game at the Dallas Cowboys, where they are 3.5 point underdogs.
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