Maybe the most interesting part of the otherwise relatively meaningless Cowboys-Eagles game is happening in the press box.
Eagles beat writer @Jeff_McLane being ejected from the press box for discussing press box etiquette w pr staff. pic.twitter.com/5IUdTdFEof
— Marcus Hayes (@inkstainedretch) January 1, 2017
Eagles are attempting to eject @Jeff_McLane from the press box because he objected to being yelled at by an Eagles media relations staffer
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) January 1, 2017
A beat writer getting kicked out of the press box is not something that happens every day. And “violating press box etiquette” with the PR staff is not really a great reason to make such a drastic move.
According to fellow media members, it appears McLane was not doing anything particularly egregious, only objecting to something the team’s PR staff had said.
It is true. Never lost his cool. Sought to defuse situation created by @Eagles PR. https://t.co/y6MscISgLn
— Marcus Hayes (@inkstainedretch) January 1, 2017
The Eagles have not clarified what policy Jeff is alleged to have violated.
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) January 1, 2017
During confusion over a penalty a while ago, we were all trying to figure out the call. An Eagles staffer yelled for us to be quiet. (1)
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) January 1, 2017
(2) Many of us took exception, Jeff most vocally. He then went to the staffer and calmly discussed why the admonishment was inappropriate.
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) January 1, 2017
(3) A while, later, security guard comes and tells Jeff he is being ejected "for violating the fan code of conduct."
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) January 1, 2017
Bowen, who has been on the Eagles beat for more than a decade, was none too pleased with what went down, and tweeted about it.
This is the most vengeful, petty Eagles regime I've dealt with since I started covering the team in 2002. #Ejectthat
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) January 1, 2017
Other media members voiced their displeasure with what was unfolding.
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) January 1, 2017
Jeff has covered every Eagles game for 8 seasons, been at every press conference. They're not allowing him to finish his job today.
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) January 1, 2017
The explanation from the team, that McLane violated the “fan code of conduct” makes very little sense considering McLane is in the press box and didn’t seem to be doing anything overly inappropriate. He certainly has a right to discuss with PR staff if he objects to something they have done.
This is probably not the last we’re going to hear of this story this week.
UPDATE: McLane was reportedly booted from the press box by Anne Gordon, the Eagles’ Senior Vice President of Marketing. Gordon used to work at the Philadelphia Inquirer, where McLane currently works.
At the direction of sr vp Anne Gordon, foreground https://t.co/UMehkP6EpO
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) January 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/CharlesRobinson/status/815661384130297862
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