Rashard Mendenhall Is a Problem for the Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall calls himself a conversationalist on his Twitter profile. After the death and capture of Osama bin Laden by the SEAL Team Six, Mendenhall was sympathetic to bin Laden and al-Qaeda.

Not only did Mendenhall have sympathy for bin Laden and al-Qaeda, he then made it seem like he believed that the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks were an inside job. Mendenhall continued to send out some very inappropriate tweets (I'm sure there are young fans following his Twitter).

Now that we know Mendenhall isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, let's get into what's going on now.

Mendenhall is currently suing Champion sports apparel for one million dollars. Mendenhall had an endorsement contract with Champion, but once Mendenhall sent his controversial tweets out, Champion decided to drop Mendenhall.

Can you blame them?

The best part is what Mendenhall's attorney, Stephen Thompson, had to say about the lawsuit. Thompson said, "For Rashard, this really is not about the money, this is about whether he can express his opinion."

Yeah right. You can't be telling us this is about free speech and not the one million you and your client are about to miss out on. Yes, Mendenhall can say whatever he wants, and he can tweet whatever he wants, but we don't have to like it. We don't have to tolerate it, and neither does Champion sports.

Why would an American company want to have a perceived al-Qaeda booster as a spokesman? How could that be good for their business?

CNBC's Darren Rovell reports that Mendenhall had a clause in his Champion contract that allows them to fire him if Mendenhall "commits or is arrested for any crime or becomes involved in any situation or occurrence tending to bring Mendenhall into public disrepute, contempt, scandal or ridicule, or tending to shock, insult or offend the majority of the consuming public."

Mendenhall may be a conversationalist, but he forget to talk about that part of the contract.

The one good thing Mendenhall has going for him with the Steelers, his main employer, is the fact that they would have no real running back without him. His job is secure for at least this year.

But what happens when he starts fumbling the ball? What happens if he continues to send out controversial tweets? Will you still support him? Are you going to wear number 34 jerseys knowing he felt bad for Osama bin Laden?

My advice to Mendenhall; shut up and hold on to the ball!

You can read more of my work at www.412sportstalk.net and follow me on Twitter.