Dre Greenlaw Dec 3, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) talks a with a coach after being ejected against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Dre Greenlaw spoke out about Sunday’s incident against the Philadelphia Eagles that resulted in an ejection.

“It’s a fine line,” Greenlaw told media on Thursday, including NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. “I got to be better in those situations. I don’t want to hurt the team, don’t want to cause flags and stuff like that. Just got to be smarter and avoid it. I’m not too gone when I’m playing. I definitely understand, like, ‘All right.’”

The 49ers linebacker was ejected during Sunday’s eventual, 42-19, victory over the Eagles when he had an altercation with the opposing team’s Director of Security Dom DiSandro. This was after he tackled wide receiver DeVonta Smith out of bounds that resulted in a 15-yard penalty.

“When I was throwing him, I kind of felt myself trying to ease up because he was kind of light,” Greenlaw said. “So I was just trying to get him down. That’s the best way I know to try to get him down.

“I tried to ease up a little bit, but was I surprised (the flag) was thrown? Probably not.”

Greenlaw wanted to make it clear that he plays by the rules.
“I ain’t no dirty player,” Greenlaw said. “I play by the rules. I mean, just because you tackle a little physical doesn’t make you a dirty player.

“I love it when I see a player that’s just playing full of emotion and is ready to go out there and smack everything,” he said. “That’s going to turn me up, too. I don’t think it’s being dirty.”

After the game, head coach Kyle Shanahan said he had a huge issue with what an Eagles staffer did during the scuffle.

Disandro also was ejected after the altercation in which he received an ovation from the Philly crowd.

“I just can’t believe someone not involved in a football game can taunt our players like that, and put their hands in our guy’s face,” Shanahan explained.

 

 

[NBC Sports Bay Area]

About Jessica Kleinschmidt

Jess is a baseball fan with Reno, Nev. roots residing in the Bay Area. She is the host of "Short and to the Point" and is also a broadcaster with the Oakland A's Radio Network. She previously worked for MLB.com and NBC Sports Bay Area.