Dre Greenlaw was thrown out of the Week 13 game in Philadelphia.
Kyle Shanahan, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, spoke with linebacker Dre Greenlaw prior to his dismissal in Week 13 for an altercation.
Greenlaw got into a fight with Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith following a third-quarter play, and Eagles security staff leader Dom DiSandro got involved as well. During the third quarter confrontation, both Greenlaw and DiSandro were expelled.
“Yeah, I talked to him before he left the field very quickly, and then I talked to him a little bit after the game,” Shanahan said to reporters on Monday. “I heard it all and then saw it all and it looked like he told me.”
The 49ers won 42-19 despite Greenlaw’s absence, but the Niners losing a player against the Eagles losing a staff member caused a commotion.Jarrett Bell of USA Today, for example, termed it a “unjustifiable call” against the Niners.
“Greenlaw was punished for [a] portion of the incident that never should have occurred — a non-player on the sideline who had the audacity to interject himself into the situation and put his hands on a player from the opposing team,” Bell stated in an email.
Kyle Shanahan Revisits Referee’s Call
On Monday, Shanahan will discuss his opinions on the referee’s decision once more.
“I haven’t heard anything yet.” “I mean, my thoughts are basically the same as they were yesterday,” Shanahan explained. “It was hard to accept Dre Greenlaw getting kicked out of that game for something that didn’t involve someone that had to do with that game.”
“However, I have no ill will towards Dom or anything of the sort.” “I don’t want anyone to judge him too harshly,” Shanahan added. “I think he just got caught up in a strange and emotional situation.” So, no ill will against him. I know several people who know him and think highly of him. I couldn’t believe we’d lost our player because of this.
Kyle Shanahan: It’s Just Guys Shouldn’t be Around That Area’
Shanahan hasn’t heard the end of it since Sunday’s victory, which he admitted. However, he clarified that he has only received texts on the incident from 49ers personnel “who have been in Philly.”
“We have coaches and players who have played there and coached there,” he remarked. “I don’t know him, but I don’t think it was that big of a deal.” Just occasionally you end up in places you shouldn’t be and get too close to a player.”
“I just was upset our player got suspended over someone that happened to be kicked out of a big game,” he said. “But I don’t think he did anything particularly heinous.” It’s just that guys shouldn’t be in that area, and I don’t believe it was quite fair to our player.”
“There was nothing personal against him. Things happen. I’m sure he feels bad about it. But I hear he does a great job for that organization, and people rave about him as a man,” Shanahan said of DiSandro.
For Heavy.com, Matthew Davis covers the NFL, focusing on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, and San Francisco 49ers. He has covered Minnesota prep sports as a contributing writer for the StarTribune since 2016.More information on Matthew Davis
