BREAKING: The NFL is investigating Philadelphia Eagles senior advisor and chief security officer Dom DiSandro following allegations made by former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho about how a car accident involving an NFL player was allegedly handled, according to longtime Philadelphia reporter Derrick Gunn.
The investigation stems from comments Acho made on his podcast in July while discussing an incident from his playing career.
Acho said he once rear-ended another vehicle while driving to practice and contacted team security. According to Acho, a security official instructed him to send away the police officer who initially responded to the accident because another officer would arrive and determine that the other driver was at fault.
Acho said a second officer subsequently arrived and blamed the other driver.
He also claimed that after the driver learned he was an NFL player and subsequently reported injuries, the team’s security department offered the person home-game tickets and signed jerseys. Acho said the situation ultimately went away.
Acho never identified the team involved or the security official.
That distinction is important.
Acho played for the Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants during his NFL career, but his comments did not specifically identify Philadelphia or DiSandro.
DiSandro, widely known as “Big Dom,” has been the Eagles’ chief security officer since 2011 and has been with the organization since 1999. His responsibilities include overseeing safety and security matters involving Eagles players, coaches and executives.
The NFL’s investigation does not establish that DiSandro was involved in the incident described by Acho. The league is investigating the allegations as questions remain about which team and personnel, if any, were involved.
The situation also puts renewed attention on the unique role NFL security personnel can play in handling off-field issues involving players.
Neither DiSandro nor the NFL had publicly responded to the allegations at the time of the latest reporting.
THE BIG QUESTION
If Acho’s account is accurate, the allegations raise serious questions about whether team personnel improperly attempted to influence a police investigation involving an NFL player.
But until the NFL investigation determines what actually happened — and whether the Eagles or DiSandro were involved — the allegations remain just that: allegations.
Sneaker Shop Talk will continue to follow this developing story.
