NFL provides clarity on why Eagles' Big Dom was asked to leave sideline
Philadelphia Eagles' head of security Dom DiSandro (Big Dom) and San Francisco 49ers' linebacker Dre Greenlaw were both ejected from Sunday's matchup at Lincoln Financial Field. The official's decision came after the two exchanged a heated moment on the sidelines over a nasty tackle on DeVonta Smith. After the game, the NFL's vice president of […]
Philadelphia Eagles' head of security Dom DiSandro (Big Dom) and San Francisco 49ers' linebacker Dre Greenlaw were both ejected from Sunday's matchup at Lincoln Financial Field.
The official's decision came after the two exchanged a heated moment on the sidelines over a nasty tackle on DeVonta Smith.
After the game, the NFL's vice president of officiating Walt Anderson provided some clarity as to exactly why both parties were ejected from the game.
NFL Explains Why Big Dom was Ejected
Pool reporter Zach Berman first asked Anderson why DiSandro was ejected.
“The officials had a flag on the field for a personal foul by San Francisco No. 57, and then there was continuing action," Anderson explained. "And so what Rule 19 allows us to do is provide assistance by looking at the video. And we saw video that showed that there was a staff person that made contact with the player and that the player involved, No. 57, made contact with the staff member which warranted his disqualification. The non-player, he was contributing to that escalation. Rule 19 does not afford us the ability to help the officials in throwing a flag that they do not throw for a non-player. That’s only afforded for a player action.”
To sum it up, Rule 19 doesn't allow the league office, which is based in New York, to tell the on-field officials to flag a non-player, however, the league office can eject a non-player from the game.
“Rule 19 allows us to assist the officials by observing the video and using video to assist in the administration of a foul that they called on the field," Anderson said. "We can help them to assess a penalty against a player, but not a non-player, although we can assist with identifying the non-player who would be disqualified.”
Both Greenlaw and DiSandro are expected to face consequences in some form.
Here's the fool interaction between the pool reporter and Anderson:
