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Published on 03/09/2009 at Mon Mar 09 10:01.
Tagged: ,,.



Eagles Employee Fired for Commenting on Dawkins

Posted Mon Mar 9th by

Brian Dawkins talks with the media while holding up his new jersey at Dove Valley on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009 in Denver. (Denver Post/Reza A. Marvashti)

Brian Dawkins talks with the media while holding up his new jersey at Dove Valley on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009 in Denver. (Denver Post/Reza A. Marvashti)

When the Denver Broncos signed seven-time Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins to a five-year deal last week, Philadelphia Eagles fans were understandably upset. Perhaps “upset” doesn’t quite do it justice; many of them were devastated or just plain pissed off.

One such fan was Dan Leone. In fact, Leone was more than a fan. He was an Eagles employee for the past six years, working as the chief of Lincoln Financial Field’s west gate on game day.

Leone, frustrated at the Eagles for letting Dawkins come to Denver, vented on Facebook:

“Dan is [expletive] devastated about Dawkins signing with Denver. . .Dam Eagles R Retarted!!”

In response, the Eagles fired Leone. Can you say, “overreaction?”

Amazingly Leone, who suffers from a neurological disorder called transverse myelitis that forces him in a wheelchair at times, isn’t bitter at the Eagles. He just wants another chance.

“If they called me right now and told me to come back to work, I would,” Leone said. “I’m not holding any grudges. I just want to do my job.”

The Eagles need to call Leone and make amends for their ridiculous reaction to a minor statement. I guess this story rubbed me the wrong way, being a blogger and all, but there’s an obvious gap between fan-speak and employee-speak the Eagles should recognize. Here’s hoping the Philadelphia organization makes it right.

Cold Eagles sure are thin-skinned [Philadelphia Enquirer]

Eagles Fire Crippled Mummer Over Facebook Comment on Dawkins [Hugging Harold Reynolds]

  • Anthony

    What a loser organization the Eagles. They’ve went to 5 NFC Championships in the last 9 seasons without spending a dime. If they would actually invest some money in their team they would have 2 superbowls easily. LOSERS!

  • T-Money

    Wow. That’s probably the dumbest reason to lose your job.

  • rcsodak

    Dan always speak in the 3rd person?

  • Richard

    Regardless of his statement to just want his job back, the man has a lawsuit if he wants it. I guess the Eagles haven’t heard of freedom of speech. What a low class move.

  • Dakota fan

    I believe the 3rd person talk is a Facebook thing.

    What a crock to fire the guy. Of course, they’d fire Santa Claus for not dodging the snowballs quickly enough.

  • AKscott

    unless he was either A) on company time, or B) speaking as a represenative of the Eagles when he made those comments, this was a bogus firing

  • myerda00

    Now some of you GHE fans can see how important leadership is to a team. Champ and DJ have some but it is all on the field not in the lockerroom.
    McD an X made the best FA pickup with Dawkins.

  • http://myspace.com/paraleipsis jchase8410

    Wow, that is completely unbelievable. What a classless move to fire a man because of his facebook status. Aparently if you are an employee of the Eagles, you are not allowed an opinion as a fan, or a right to express that opinion on your own time.

  • http://brocotalk.net (dee)

    Bowlen needs to fire the snitch in the Broncos Organization that leaked the trade rumors, I dont think Patriots had anything to do with it….

    Ok maybe they had a little to do with it … lol

    This isn’t really a story, no organization likes its employee’s to bad mouth them on such a public forum. This would have been listed in his employment contract if he chose to read it. My question is why did this guy have co-workers or possibly managers on his facebook as friends … YOU NEVER EVER DO THAT because it will come back and bite you …. Feel bad for the guy, but I understand the organization’s stance.

  • http://brocotalk.net (dee)

    There are many clauses in his employment contract that would allow for the company to fire him. However, the worker may sue for wrongful dismissal but under what grounds is the question. Depending on what clause in his employment contract the termination was acted on by the company it could be hard for him to get anything.

    In the end it is very bad PR for the Eagles, however if they let this go how many more employee’s will rise up with quotes to newpapers or magazines on what they believe is “Retarded” actions by the organization.

    Also I’m surprised no one took offense to this employee using the phrase “retarded” everyone seems to take pity on him for his disability.

    I may sound as a cold hearted ass, but if you think about it rationally I think you can see the company’s position, however in the end it is a public relations nightmare.

    Note: I’m a business major, and in business there is no room for the heart in any decisons.

  • http://brocotalk.net (dee)

    Final Note on this:

    This employee was a seasonal employee who worked only on gamedays and not a fulltime employee yearly employee who would have a salary and contract. Because of this fact and I quote based on US EMPLOYMENT LAWS

    “Unless the employee is under contract, his/her terms of employment are at will and employment-at-will dictates that either the employer or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time for any or no reason.”

    So there will be no lawsuit, just a PR mess.

    Sorry guys for beating a dead horse, I’m just bored and there is no bronco news… hopefully McD’s and Cutler’s meeting goes well this week.

  • champ2203

    he should go get a job working the gates in Big -D. Jerry Jones will give him a raise to talk trash about the Eagles organization. LOL

  • Richard

    dee your a cold hearted ass( not really but I couldn’t resist)

  • T-Money

    Has anybody else noticed that the Eagles have traded away or lost the majority of their team to FA. It seems like every time i turn around their is another eagles trade or something.

  • http://BroncoTalk.net Mr.East

    The Eagles are just a despicable franchise. No wonder Dawkins left when he was told his new contract involved him giving back money for any missed games. McNabb would be wise to get the hell out next year too.

  • http://brocotalk.net (dee)

    Richard

    lol I know its ok, I’m really a nice guy. What the team should have done was talk to the guy and it doesnt seem he was a problem previously. There should have been some discipline but I wouldn’t have fired if immediately if the guy had a good track record.

  • http://brocotalk.net (dee)

    Anyone else getting tired of the McD-Cutler talk ??? Cant wait till the draft…

  • champ2203

    wow broncos news must be slow right now if this and the heart of our back-up QB are cover stories.

  • Thomas

    eh facebook is lame. This is a perfect example of why I do not have one. I agree with the move, it was very unprofessional of him. The eagles are not a dispicable franchise nor did they make a bad move. Do you guys see a difference between the Eagles D and the Broncos D of the 08 season? If not, I suggest you stop watching football. The eagles have plenty of different needs than us, and although Dawkins was a consistent contributor to the team, they felt it was time to move on and bring more youth back to the team (as shown by their recent signing of Sean Jones). They have many rising stars like Stewart Bradley, Quentin Mikell, Darren Howard, Chris Clemons, Chris Gocong, etc… I highly doubt they’ll lack leadership, however I cannot say they won’t miss him.

  • Gloria Dreher

    I hate the “R” word! It implies that the mentally disabled are stupid. It is as ignorant as using the “N” word!

  • Mike

    I have typed and erased my comment 5 times because it would most likely be blocked. I just don’t get it. Facebook that is.

    Facebook? Really? ?

  • http://www.jobsindubai.com/ Emirates Jobs

    horrible, where is the freedom of speech there? firing an employee because he just gave negative comments?

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