Philadelphia

Eagles worker fired over Facebook rant
EstelleDavenport See my TER Reviews 907 reads
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I know this one wont gain me any fans BUT at least my team gets rid of folks for not playing well with others (Dallas/T.O) but come on ya'll FACEBOOK?!?!?!?


Eagles worker fired over Facebook rant

This is why you kids have to be careful what you post on Facebook.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Dan Leone, a 32-year old lifelong Eagles fan who worked as the west gate chief at the Linc on game days for the past six years, was fired because of a rant he posted on his Facebook page after the Eagles allowed Brian Dawkins to become a free agent (he later signed with the Broncos).

Here is columnist John Gonzalez's take on the matter.

Leone posted the following on his page: "Dan is [expletive] devastated about Dawkins signing with Denver. . .Dam Eagles R Retarted!!"

Within a week, he was fired. Let me also mention that Leone suffered from a neurological disorder called transverse myelitis that caused muscle fatigue and limited range of motion in his limbs, which forced him to work from a wheelchair when the pain of standing became too unbearable.

Said Leone: "I tried putting in my case to Rachel [Vitagliano, the team's guest services manager]. I told her I worked there for six years. I did whatever they asked. I only missed one Eagles game the entire time I worked there, and that was because I'm a Mummer. I told her it was my dream to work for the Eagles and that I'd never do anything like that again."

He continued: "I apologized for it. I apologized 20 million times. I never bad-mouthed the organization before. I made one mistake and they terminate me? And they couldn't even bring me into the office to talk to me? They had to do it over the phone? At least look me in the eye. To get done dirty like this, I can't believe it. I'm devastated."

The Eagles had a brief response through a representative: "The only information we can share is that Dan was a seasonal game-day employee and not a full-time member of the Eagles staff."

Personally, I'm really surprised by this harsh ruling. Wouldn't you think the Eagles would want an employee who deals with hardcore fans on a weekly basis to show the same fervor about the team as they do? I guess towing the company line is more important.

If an employee came into my office and called me "retarded", there's a good chance I would have fired his chance just like the Eagles did with Dan.  He admits he was wrong to have posted his comment.  Now he's begging for his job back.  

Well, first of all he was a game day employee.  And second, he should have realized that on the Eagles totem pole he was near the bottom.  

I'm an Eagles season ticketholder.  And I'm pissed about their moves (or lack thereof).  My guess is that they are going to fictitiously get to the league team salary minimum of $110 million by giving out a whole lot of incentive clauses that aren't going to be realized (e.g., Chris Gocong might end up with an incentive that would pay him $1 million if he makes the Pro Bowl.  Very unlikely).  Then next year when there is no longer a cap and floor, Lurie and spend little on this team and make a big profit.  So much for that "gold standard".  

Having said all of that, i) I'm saying it under a screen name that protects me and ii) I own my seat license and as long as I don't abuse the terms of the agreement (e.g., no flare guns), then I don't have to worry. And that's the point here.  The guy that got fired has Freedom of Speech.  But the Eagles also have the right to voice their own opinion by firing his stooopid ass

JoJoRider1006 reads

Dan should get a lawyer!

Its a borderline case, but what he posts online has nothing to do with his performance at work. And he didn't really bad mouth the Eagles, he expressed a very common feeling that most have.

Now if he posted, the Eagles are retarded, dont buy tickets... or if he was bad mouthing the Eagles at the Linc or an Eagles related event... thats a different story

You have to have some level of legitimate cause to fire someone. The Eagles hide behind the seasonal employee thing, but everybody understands what really happened.

The fact that he is in a wheelchair draws concern, because he can argue with the ADA that the Eagles were trying to find an excuse to fire him due to disability. Handicap employees cost more.

Dan proves a point though, the Eagles ARE retarded. I mean they fire a handicap employee because he was upset with Dawkins being let go?! Talk about dropping a PR bomb on themselves.

I'm more than upset about the Eagles letting Dawkins. I'm fucking pissed off about it. I realize it was a 'business decision', all about the money, but they will be extremely hard pressed to find another player as committed to them as Brian. His athletic ability, knowledge of the game, and mature leadership is something you can't buy in a bottle. It takes years to develop. Fucking assholes......

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