You thought Brian Dawkins was treated rough?

By Steven Lienert

The Phanatic Magazine

Following the Eagles’ Week 2 loss to the Dallas Cowboys last season, an Eagles employee inside the NovaCare Complex was heard to say that he was glad the Cowboys won.

Rumor had it that he said it within earshot of the wrong person.

That employee, who shall remain anonymous, was fired before the end of the day.

It was my third week working for the Eagles and, as an Eagles fan and Cowboys hater at heart, I openly loved the fact that the team would take such measures against a stinkin’ Cowboys fan.

After reading John Gonzalez’s article on philly.com today that told the story of an Eagles’ employee that was fired because he wrote something on his Facebook page bemoaning the fact that the team had lost Brian Dawkins, I’m quite melancholy to say the least.

If I was still working for the team, I probably would have done the same thing. Dawkins wasn’t just my favorite player; he was my family’s favorite player. He was my section’s favorite player. He was the Linc’s favorite player. He was the city’s favorite player.

And I probably would have been fired for saying it, too.

According to Gonzo’s story, Dan Leone has worked for the Eagles for six years as a game-day employee. Anyone that entered through the West Gate at the Linc probably has seen Leone a few times.

Leone was so upset after finding out that Dawkins had signed with the Broncos, he went to his Facebook page and typed the following words: “Dan is [expletive] devastated about Dawkins signing with Denver. . .Dam Eagles R Retarted!!”

It was typed in anger. Leone has openly said he regrets writing what he wrote and has already deleted it.

But let’s just take this into context for a minute. A guy that works for the organization loves the team so much he’s passionate about what happens to his favorite players. Is that a reason to get canned?

If that’s the case, what are the Eagles going to do with Quintin Mikell? Mikell was on NBC10’s Sports Final with John Clark last night saying how hurt and angry he was after hearing Dawkins left. That was on television, which probably gets a bit more attention from local sports fans than Leone’s Facebook page.

But Leone is a game-day employee, not a full-timer (as if that would make a difference). If Leone was a starting safety, would he still have his job? You betcha.

The Eagles truly are a first-class organization but when things like this come to light, more often than not they get unfairly painted as petty, callous carpet-baggers that could care less about the little guy, none of which flies in Philly.

Maybe the Eagles’ organization is guilty of the same thing as Eagles’ fans: We both care a little too much. But losing Dawkins and, as of today, Tra Thomas to free agency coupled with the story about Leone’s firing, it’s tough to Believe in Green right now.

Sal Paolantonio was on with Clark on Sunday and said the Eagles should have given Brian Dawkins a lifetime contract. I liked that idea. Nobody deserved to be an Eagle for life more than Brian Dawkins.

Since that isn’t going to happen now, the least the Eagles can do is give Leone his job back.

After all, it isn’t like he roots for the stinkin’ Cowboys.

Right after he hits up Leone to be a friend on Facebook, Steve Lienert can be reached at stevelienert@hotmail.com.