In a surprising turn of events, former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall expressed some reservations about his controversial post on social media. This revelation came to light on Saturday, generating quite a buzz in the NFL world.
Mendenhall sparked controversy by criticizing white individuals talking about football and suggesting the concept of a racial bowl game as an alternative to the Pro Bowl. This statement found support among some, but left others perplexed.
During his time with the Steelers, Mendenhall experienced both triumph and adversity. He was part of the team that emerged victorious in Super Bowl XLIII in 2008, only to have his season cut short due to injury. In 2010, he again found himself in the Super Bowl, this time facing off against the Green Bay Packers. Unfortunately, a crucial fumble in the fourth quarter set the stage for a Packers touchdown.
However, the online analysis from white individuals seemed to irk Mendenhall the most. In a candid moment, he vented his frustration, stating, “I’m tired of average white guys commenting on football. They’re not even good at football. Can we please replace the Pro Bowl with an All-Black vs. All-White Bowl? Maybe then, these individuals will stop trying to teach me who’s good at football. I know I’m better than your ‘goat’.”
Mendenhall’s frustration stemmed from feeling criticized by individuals lacking game expertise. He wanted to clarify that he was not the only athlete tired of fans talking trash. “You’re upset over a single tweet,” he pointed out. “But what about us? Whether you like me or not, I am a great football player. This proves my point: you can’t judge a player’s worth based on their race alone.”
Before his NFL career, Mendenhall made a name for himself as a standout running back at the University of Illinois. He then played for the Steelers from 2008 to 2012 before spending his final year in Arizona.
It is worth noting that Mendenhall’s time with the Steelers coincided with their victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, which marked Mike Tomlin’s first Super Bowl championship as head coach.
