Last month, the Eagles fired Dan Leone when, via Facebook, he referred to the organization's decision to let Brian Dawkins sign with the Broncos as "retarted". Leone, a game-day stadium employee, immediately apologized for his actions, but was still dismissed. Leone subsequently made the media rounds telling his story in the hopes of getting his job back, and during an interview with FanHouse, he hinted that Dawkins' representatives might be in touch with him for his show of loyalty, even if misguided.
The Eagles still haven't rehired Leone (and it doesn't look like they will; you get the sense that they're just hoping we'll all quit talking about it and get back to ridiculing Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid), but there is good news for the former Lincoln Financial Field gate chief.
From the Philadelphia Daily News' Les Brown (via Shutdown Corner):
...Dawkins will be back at the Linc this season as a visitor, with the Broncos scheduled to play here at a date not yet announced. He said he has decided what he will do with the two tickets each visiting player gets for an away game. They won't go to a high school player this time, but to a former Eagles game-day employee, Dan Leone, who was fired by the team after he vented his displeasure over the Birds losing Dawkins to Denver on his Facebook page.Ah, the unbridled power of Facebook -- it can be used for both good and evil. If not for the internets, Dawkins almost certainly would've never heard this story; of course, if Leone didn't have an online forum to publicly post his rants, he'd still have his job.
"I thought it'd be a good gesture,'' Dawkins said. "Had I not . . . signed with Denver, that guy would still have his job. Obviously, he made a decision and out of emotion said something. He was one of probably thousands and thousands of Eagles fans who felt that way. That didn't surprise me, that someone said that on their Facebook. It did surprise me that he was let go, though. That really did surprise me. I felt it would be a good thing, to reach out to that individual and just let him know how much I appreciate it.''
Either way, I'm still confused why the Eagles organization would take such a hard line with a die-hard fan, and a seemingly nice guy who made a mistake. The media coverage resulting from Leone's firing dwarfs any scrutiny either the team or employee would've received had the matter been handled internally.
This isn't to say Leone was innocent -- he wasn't, and he'll readily admit as much -- just that the Eagles' position is a curious one, at least from a public relations standpoint. And while the story might lose steam in the coming months, when the Broncos roll into town for the Eagles game this fall, we'll be talking about it again.
Maybe they should've just re-signed Dawkins and saved themselves the headache.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-04-2009 @ 1:20PM
James said...
I Have one for you ... The Eagles are "retarted" for more than trading Dawkins. Hey Eagles, I have one question for you ... who do you have on the payrole to spend their time monatoring Facebook? Great use of your finances. Here is another one ... have you ever heard the term Freedom of Speech? You may want to look that one up because I can't imagine an NFL organization or any for that matter, firing an employee for expressing themselves. Shame on you.
Reply
4-04-2009 @ 6:34PM
ButtHead said...
Only calling eagles management "retarted" was kind words compared to how "freaking stupid" they really are.
Reply
4-05-2009 @ 9:48PM
lazyindiankid4 said...
I'm a SKINS fan and man, am i glad he left the the NFC East. He is a great player and probably one of the most classiest players I have a ever seen. I think Synder needs to bring in players like Dawkins who are not only class acts but great football TEAM players.
Reply
4-05-2009 @ 10:34PM
lucy said...
I agree.I'm also a SKINS fan. Last week i bought some of his shoes. I hope he can play better and better in the future.You find the good products in www.9ico.com.
4-07-2009 @ 4:00AM
jeremiah said...
im a Skins fan too, it sucks to see him leave the NFC East. i love watching good games with good players, especially when its against the Cowboys, Egales and Giants. now that hes gone, thats one less play maker to make a good game. personally after the type of year he had he should have retired and gone out with a bang. i feel like now that hes in Denver hes going to fade off and people are going to forget about him like John Lynch. us Skins fan love you and thanks for all the good games and memories, good luck Brian!
Reply
4-14-2009 @ 10:08PM
not2b4ever said...
I don't think retarded is the right word for the Eagles decision to let Brian Dawkins go to Denver. I say "Inconsiderate" is a better word. To the great fans of the Eagles who go out of their way to be there to support their team win or lose, this is a crushing blow. Last year I went to 6 of the 8 home games and 1 pre-season game to see Brian Dawkins play. This year I will only attend 1 game and that will be the Eagles-Broncos game so that I can see my favorite player and I will wear my #20 Dawkins Jersey proudly and yes it will be a Denver Jersey! So Eagles front office, put that in your pipe and choke on it! No more of my money will be wasted to support your paychecks. You let the best safety ever to leave the team he so proudly served for so many years, good & bad. What were you thinking??? You are IDIOTS!
Reply
4-15-2009 @ 6:16PM
kingeagle81 said...
i agree with you i will always wear my dawkins jersey and now that he is with denver im going to have to buy a new one and I hope that the eagles management feels stupid that they let such a good player go