San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw made headlines on Sunday when he chirped at Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton on the sidelines during the teams' Week 4 contest. Video of another incident between the pair hit social media on Monday and now, the NFL has reportedly issued a punishment to Greenlaw for the exchange. Greenlaw played eight regular season games and two playoff contests with the Broncos last season but was cut in March, before re-signing with the 49ers three days later.
The 29-year-old informed reporters following Sunday's game that he told Payton to "get the (expletive) off the field," according to insider Aaron Wilson's report and the harsh words stemmed from Denver's decision to release him. "The disrespect," Greenlaw said. "He couldn't be man-to-man and call my phone and say, 'We're going to cut you.'" For his part, Payton (who's no stranger to controversy) said after the Niners' 24-14 victory that he wasn't holding a grudge against his former player.
"I think the world of him. I love everything about him," Payton said, per Wilson's report. "He plays with that emotion and so, all good." Payton is in his fourth season at the helm with the Broncos.
Denver is a disappointing 2-2 this fall following last season's run to the AFC Championship Game. Greenlaw spent the first six seasons of his career in the Bay Area after being selected in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He recorded 43 tackles, two quarterback hits, two passes defended, one forced fumble and one interception during his lone regular season with the Broncos and added 10 tackles in the playoffs.
Greenlaw is tied with San Francisco teammate and four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Fred Warner for the team lead in solo tackles (16) this season.
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