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http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/05/rashard-mendenhall-historian-a.html

Rashard Mendenhall, social historian, has his doubts about 9-11


UPDATE 1:55 p.m. :This isn't the first time Mendenhall has used Twitter to wedge his foot into his mouth. In March, the running back (who made a reported $527,000 last season) sent a Twitter message defending a statement by Minnesota Viking Adrian Peterson ($1.14 million last season), who compared the National Football League to "modern-day slavery."

"Anyone with knowledge of the slave trade and the NFL could say that these two parallel each other," Mendenhall wrote.

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UPDATE 1:31 p.m. : The Pittsburgh Steelers wasted little time distancing themselves from Mendenhall's comments. Team president Art Rooney II released a statement today saying:

"I have not spoken with Rashard, so it is hard to explain or even comprehend what he meant with his recent Twitter comments. 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."

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Rashard Mendenhall, a running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, seems hellbent on proving, yet again, that the ability to share one's thoughts instantly with the world isn't necessarily a good thing.

Yesterday, on his Twitter account -- where he identifies himself as "Conversationalist and Professional Athlete" -- Mendenhall said he was troubled by the celebrations taking place across the country after President Barack Obama's announcement that Osama bin Laden had been killed.

After all, Mendenhall suggested, we hadn't heard al-Qaeda's side of the story.


Then, an hour later, apparently in response to something a follower wrote to him, Mendenhall drew on his extensive experience as a structural engineer to say that he had his doubts about the government's version of what happened to the World Trade Center:


Then -- I'm guessing after people started calling him a nincompoop, or worse -- he defended his statements, saying:


There is not an ignorant bone in my body. I just encourage you to #think


His Twitter account has been silent since.


PHOTO: Rashard Mendenhall (34) doing what he does best, which is not political commentary, during Super Bowl XLV on Feb. 5 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. (G.J.McCARTHY/DMN)


Eric D. Schwerin
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