For Rashard Mendenhall, the Pittsburgh Steelers leading rusher for the previous three seasons is facing a troublesome black and gold future, to say the least. Multiple factors, including injuries (offseason knee surgery and an Achilles injury), inactive for two consecutive games, and to put the icing on the crumbling Mendenhall cake, a suspension for one week, including Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Despite Mendenhall’s injuries, even when he is healthy, he is third on the Steelers team with running 34 times for 113 yards and has averaged 3.3 yards per carry this season. The past three seasons, however, he has lead the Steelers rushing with 1,108 in 2008. And in 2009, he accumulated 1, 273 yards rushing. Also, last season, he reached 928 yards rushing until the final regular-season game against Cleveland, where his ACL was torn.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in desperate need of a big-time running back and Rashard Mendenhall ain’t it. After his two injuries, he returned to the game of play (to start) on November 18th against the Baltimore Ravens, where he proved little. And he continued his dismal streak when he started against the Cleveland Browns on November 25th, where he fumbled twice on four carries and has yet to dress for a game since.
He has been listed inactive for the past two games against Baltimore and San Diego, and is now suspended for “conduct detrimental to the team” as the Steelers take on the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday.
Rashard Mendenhall was a no-show for the game last Sunday against the San Diego Chargers held at Heinz Field. Mendenhall, deservingly so, is in the dog house with minimal chance to escape. His selfishness claimed his first class seat in the Steel-town dog house with unfulfilling his obligation to his teammates, coaches, and the Steelers Nation. Where was his commitment to his team? Where was his support for the players? More importantly, where was Rashard Mendenhall? In today’s lingo-smh-(shake my head) is what most of the Steelers fans are doing about the ugly status of Mendenhall.
However, Mike McCartney, Mendenhall’s agent, thinks differently.
“When I spoke to Rashard, I know he is very excited next Monday to rejoin his teammates. He’s going to come back with great energy to do everything he can to help the Pittsburgh Steelers win football games.” McCartney said.
That’s all well and good, McCartney, but let’s hope your client shows up first. Mendenhall’s suspension will cost him $41, 176.47, one week’s worth of his $700,000 salary. He absolutely needs to be reprimanded for the selfish acts of not showing up for a last week’s game.
Mendenhall should be gnawing at every corner of his dark and depressing dog house. He should be clawing his way out to rejoin his team in effort to succeed in reaching the NFL playoffs. But, no, he has yet to prove any of this to his team, coaches and to the Steelers Nation, for that matter. By the time he does get out however, it just might be too late.
No doggie treats for you, Mendenhall.
