Three days after the heated incident on the sidelines resulting in the ejection of San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw and Philadelphia Eagles’ head of security, Dom DiSandro, both parties signal a readiness to put the confrontation behind them.
In his first media appearance since being ejected for making contact with DiSandro’s face during Sunday’s 43-19 win, Greenlaw revealed that apologies had been exchanged through intermediaries. Despite the league office announcing a review of the incident, Greenlaw and Niners coach Kyle Shanahan anticipate no further discipline beyond the initial penalty and ejection.
The NFL issued a memo to all teams, reminding them to prevent game-day staff involvement in altercations. The incident occurred in the third quarter when Greenlaw’s tackle on Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith led to a heated exchange. DiSandro’s involvement resulted in automatic disqualification for both parties, a decision Greenlaw disagreed with but acknowledged.
Niners coach Shanahan expressed displeasure with Greenlaw’s ejection, particularly given the involvement of a non-player or coach. Shanahan hopes for a resolution without ejections, emphasizing the need to keep the game moving.
Confident that the league will address such incidents, Shanahan aims to prevent them from becoming common practice, where teams trade a staff member for a key player. Greenlaw’s physical approach, seen as a tone-setter, generates energy for the team despite resulting in penalties.
Greenlaw, acknowledging his aggressive style, emphasizes he’s not a dirty player and aims to balance aggression without causing penalties. Teammates appreciate his fast, physical approach, recognizing the challenges of avoiding penalties in quick situations.
Despite the Sunday incident, there is no call for Greenlaw to change his playing style in San Francisco. Linebacker Fred Warner emphasizes the value of Greenlaw’s role as an enforcer and tone-setter on the field.
