Dre Greenlaw got his revenge game. The 49ers linebacker made a team-high 12 tackles in San Francisco’s 24-14 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. After the game, he had to be held back by Fred Warner as he celebrated in front of Broncos head coach Sean Payton, as first reported by ClutchPoints, citing NFL insider Ari Meirov.
Why It Was Personal
Denver signed Greenlaw to a three-year deal, but a hamstring injury and a suspension held him to eight games. The Broncos released him in March, and he went back to San Francisco. Greenlaw said he was fueled by what he saw as disrespect from Payton, per the San Francisco Chronicle.
When asked about the exchange, Greenlaw kept it short, per Bleacher Report: “I mean, I just haven’t talked to him in months. Even since I was on the team. It’s just a lot.” Payton took the high road: “I think the world of him. I love everything about him.”
The IAHHM Take
Everybody has a job they left on bad terms. Most of us don’t get to see that boss again on a Sunday with the cameras rolling. Greenlaw did, and he played his best game of the season.
Some people will say the celebration was too much. We get it, but this is football. Emotion is part of why the game works, and it’s also why fans circle revenge games on the calendar the day the schedule drops. Greenlaw used his.
The bigger story is the 49ers are 4-0, and a healthy, motivated Greenlaw next to Warner makes that defense scary. Seattle is next in Week 5.
It’s a busy week for “disrespect” in the NFL. Read how Joey Porter Jr. felt about his exit from Pittsburgh.
Was Greenlaw’s moment with Payton fair game, or should he have let the 12 tackles talk?
Source: ClutchPoints
