A little birdy (no pun intended) relayed a juicy tidbit of drama from the NFL nest - seems like someone's been ruffling feathers. As the echoes of fervent cheers rise from the sidelines, an unusual figure is absent - Philadelphia Eagles’ Dom DiSandro, a guardian of the gridiron.
So what went down? DiSandro, decked out in all his security chief regalia, was ejected from a game earlier this month. But this wasn't your regular football squabble, oh no. He wasn't just trading blows with anyone, but with linebacker powerhouse Dre Greenlaw of the 49ers. The clash was enough to send DiSandro straight to the NFL naughty bench.
Now, we all know the NFL doesn’t mess around. DiSandro isn't just facing stern looks and wagging fingers. No, he's been banned from being on the sideline for the remaining regular-season matches. Quite a blow, right? Nothing says punishment like missing out on all footfall action.
However, DiSandro is still allowed to perform all his other chief security duties. Yes, he still gets to travel with the Eagles (his wings haven't been clipped completely) to Seattle for the Monday night game. But sideline privileges? Strictly off-limits, my friends! Let's not feel too despondent, as he'll be risen from the ashes like a phoenix, erm… I mean, Eagle. He's allowed to return to his sideline perch once the playoffs start.
This all started after a heated incident where DiSandro played the hero and pulled Greenlaw off Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith. We can't forget the lashing tongue DiSandro gave Greenlaw after the recital of the third quarter. Ah, the drama! It was Greenlaw who was hit with an unnecessary roughness penalty and promptly ejected. NFL wasn't very arm-friendly with Greenlaw's wallet either - he was fined $10,927, ouch!
Meanwhile, DiSandro, in all his glory, received a roaring applause as he exited to the locker room. Houston, we had a problem, and the NFL had to intervene. Last week, teams got a serious ‘no horsing around’ memo, reminding personnel of the non-contact policy and potential consequences of their 'football-taunts.'
So, where’s DiSandro now? Well, Roger Goodell, the NFL Commissioner, played Headmaster and suspended him from the sideline when the Eagles locked horns with Dallas. DiSandro had to endure the game from the tunnel, away from the action.
If you thought Dom DiSandro was just your regular security guy, think again. He’s been with the Eagles since ‘99 and takes care of all things safety and security for the players, coaches, and executives. The man is involved in almost everything, from securing the training complex to ensuring all goes smoothly during team travels.
But as they say, the show must go on. Here’s hoping this chapter serves as an eye-opening reminder that not even the burly, low-profile protectors are immune from the NFL's stringent rules. Till then, we’re sure the Eagles and their fans can’t wait to have their roaring off-field protector back on the line!
Happy football! For more NFL happenings, click here: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl.
