Mendenhall Creates More Twitter Trouble With Bin Laden Tweets
CHICAGO (CBS) Back in March, former Illini and current Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall created some controversy over several of his Tweets that compared the NFL labor situation to "modern-day slavery."
Now it appears that he's causing a similar stir with his comments about the response to the American military strike that killed terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.
"What kind of person celebrates death?" Mendenhall posted to his Twitter page. "It's amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We've only heard one side..."
After the news of bin Laden's death broke on Sunday night, the country witnessed scenes of celebration outside of the White House, at Ground Zero in New York City and on college campuses across the country.
Bin Laden was the mastermind behind the September 11 terrorist attacks that brought down both World Trade Center Towers in New York.
"We'll never know what really happened," Mendenhall later posted. "I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style"
The Steelers organization felt compelled to respond to their running backs' controversial comments.
"I have not spoken with Rashard, so it is hard to explain or even comprehend what he meant with his recent Twitter comments," team president Art Rooney II said in a statement on Tuesday. "The entire Steelers organization is very proud of the job our military personnel have done and we can only hope this leads to our troops coming home soon."
Among Mendenhall's other bin Laden tweets:
"I believe in God. I believe we're ALL his children. And I believe HE is the ONE and ONLY judge."
"Those who judge others, will also be judged themselves."
"For those of you who said you want to see Bin Laden burn ... I ask how would God feel about your heart?"
"There is not an ignorant bone in my body. I just encourage you to think."
Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.
