A former NFL running back kicked off controversy over a social media post criticizing the football acumen of “average white guys” and called for a racially segregated bowl game to prove black superiority on the gridiron.
In a post to X, previously known as Twitter, Rashard Mendenhall who played six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals suggested one way that the league could take its obsession with race to the next level.
Seeming to react to criticism of current Steelers coach Mike Tomlin who like Mendenhall is black, the ex-player sounded off with his very own contribution to the current atmosphere of racial acrimony.
I’m sick of average white guys commenting on football. Y’all not even good at football. Can we please replace the Pro Bowl with an All-Black vs. All-White bowl so these cats can stop trying to teach me who’s good at football. I’m better than ur goat.
— Rashard Mendenhall (@R_Mendenhall) December 18, 2023
“I’m sick of average white guys commenting on football. Y’all not even good at football. Can we please replace the Pro Bowl with an All-Black vs. All-White bowl so these cats can stop trying to teach me who’s good at football. I’m better than ur goat,” he said.
In an earlier post defending the embattled Steelers coach from critics, the former star RB wrote, “I don’t understand how you can talk about Tomlin’s playoff record, without acknowledging that Kenny Pickett has only played one year. Who was the QB for all those playoff loses?!! Literally all of them. Make up your minds. How you arbitrarily separate Mike & Ben in de W/L column?”
I don’t understand how you can talk about Tomlin’s playoff record, without acknowledging that Kenny Pickett has only played one year. Who was the QB for all those playoff loses?!! Literally all of them. Make up your minds. How you arbitrarily separate Mike & Ben in de W/L column?
— Rashard Mendenhall (@R_Mendenhall) December 18, 2023
Mendenhall was sacked by X users who came with an all-out blitz after his racially inflammatory post
If your belief is that athleticism is genetic, then you’re just as racist as the people you claim to be against.
— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) December 18, 2023
Imagine thinking this and then wondering why racism still exists.
— The Kevin Harlan Effect (@KevHarlanEffect) December 18, 2023
Imagine a white dude posting this about black dudes in math class
— Dragon (@TheMeatDragon) December 18, 2023
I seriously didn’t expect to wake up and see Rashard Mendenhall inciting a race war https://t.co/rFgDwg7L9n
— Dom (@KnowerOfBans) December 18, 2023
Big Ben won u a few games?
— Jay Gruden (@Coach_JayGruden) December 19, 2023
this sounds pretty racist to me ngl
— Gandalf the Beige (@ludwigthewig) December 18, 2023
Tell me you’re racist crybaby without telling me
— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) December 18, 2023
“Welcome to the 1st Annual Race Bowl LIVE on ESPN8 The Ocho!” https://t.co/aLNGsyJUFX pic.twitter.com/umo3NrSnPP
— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) December 18, 2023
Some users also reminded him of what may be his most memorable moment as a player, a critical fumble that cost Tomlin and the rest of his team a likely Super Bowl trophy.
Lol.
You’re just salty because you got lit up by a blonde white guy and lost the Super Bowl.
We always knew you were a soft candy ass little boy, but didn’t know you were racist too. pic.twitter.com/BHg9w5S4qG
— Clandestine (@WarClandestine) December 18, 2023
Racist and fumbled away a Superbowl
Have some shame
— PICKETT 2 PICKENS SZN (@Gaige_Rage) December 18, 2023
If you can’t hold onto the football when it matters most I’d suggest sitting this out.
— Above Average Prop Guy (@AboveAvgPropGuy) December 18, 2023
It’s even funnier when you realize the highlight of his career was fumbling in the Super Bowl after being lit up by a white guy https://t.co/yTuNgS5mgI
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 18, 2023
— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) December 18, 2023
“Simply tired of being berated by people who arent experts in de game. We jus pretend like I’m the only athlete tired of fans talking trash? You dis upset over a single tweet. What about us? Like me or not, I’m a GREAT in football. This proves my point, u can’t speak on ball alone,” he later added, playing the victim.
Simply tired of being berated by people who arent experts in de game. We jus pretend like I’m the only athlete tired of fans talking trash? You dis upset over a single tweet. What about us? Like me or not, I’m a GREAT in football. This proves my point, u can’t speak on ball alone
— Rashard Mendenhall (@R_Mendenhall) December 18, 2023
You still got time to lose/delete this tweet. Like you did it with the ball in SB
— Whalesbet (@WhalesBet) December 18, 2023
Mendenhall is no stranger to controversy which he ignited after the terrorist mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks had justice delivered to him in the form of a bullet to the head delivered by Navy SEALs.
“What kind of person celebrates death? It’s amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We’ve only heard one side…,” he wrote on Twitter in 2011 after the al Qaeda leader’s death.
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