One of the more criticized Pittsburgh Steelers players in the 21st century has been former running back, Rashard Mendenhall. He was drafted in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft to be Willie Parker's successor and had some decent seasons in 2009 and 2010. Unfortunately for him, his 2010 campaign did not just end with a Super Bowl loss, but him fumbling in a key moment during the big game that he is still insistent on saying that it wasn't his fault. He played out his rookie contract in the Steel City and then had one year with the Arizona Cardinals prior to an abrupt retirement.
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Former Steelers running back, Rashard Mendenhall (#34) carries the football during Super Bowl XLV against the Green Bay Packers in Dallas, Texas.
Mendenhall hasn't been around football much since retiring, but recently sat down with former players Jalen Collins and King Dunlap, as well as another co-host, Alex Sweet. On the Raw Room podcast, the group talked about Mendenhall's first career start against the Baltimore Ravens.
Steelers fans probably remember the ball carrier texting Ray Rice prior about having a good game against one of the NFL's best defenses. Hall of Fame linebacker, Ray Lewis ended up hitting him so hard on a carry that he fractured his shoulder. His rookie season was done just four games, and one start in.
Lewis is known for not just being a trash talker on the field, but a bruiser. After Baltimore's defense got wind of Mendenhall preparing to dominate in his first career start, Lewis threatened him on the field prior to the season-ending injury. At the end of the first quarter, Lewis tackled Mendenhall and had some choice words for him.
"I get up and we walking back, man what's he saying to me right there," Mendenhall asked as the four are watching the game. "He like '34, you know we gunning for you, right?'"
At the time, Lewis was in his 13th NFL season and it's hard to imagine a rookie who had barely gotten his feet wet not being a little scared about the hits that were going to come throughout the game.
AP Photo / Nick Wass
Hall of Fame and former Baltimore Ravens linebacker, Ray Lewis enters the field from the tunnel prior to an NFL football game.
Mendenhall, being a rookie and not knowing any better, talked back to Lewis and wanted him to repeat what he had said. The Hall of Famer did not stutter when continuing to talk smack.
"I was like 'what? Say that again.' I heard him I just wanted to make him repeat it. I was like 'say that again.' He was like 'you know we coming for you, right?'"
The last encounter as both of them walked off the field had Lewis essentially predicting and threatening that he was going to hit him so hard that it would knock him out. Mendenhall continued to trash talk, and this time went a little too far. He was speaking to one of the best linebackers in NFL history, but was acting like he was a nobody at the time.
"I'm like 'please Ray, man ain't nobody worried about you.' Almost like, old, ain't nobody worried about you man. And I didn't want to say old a** 'cause then he would have been hot. He was like 'alright, you better be because imma be the motherf***er to knock you out."
It wasn't too long after as Mendenhall went straight up the middle on a carry in the third quarter. Lewis hit him so hard that Mendenhall told the guys it felt like the top left part of his body was missing. He fractured his shoulder and was out for the rest of the season.
Peter Diana / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Former Steelers wide receiver, Hines Ward (#86) and Hall of Fame linebacker, Ray Lewis get in each other's faces while trashing talking during a heated rivalry game in Baltimore, Maryland.
Steelers Didn't Necessarily Miss Mendenhall After Season-Ending Injury In 2008
Pittsburgh went on to win a Super Bowl at the end of the 2008 season. Part of the reason why, aside from a dominant defense, was the rushing tandem of Parker and Mewelde Moore. The two both ran for over 500 yards on the season and had five rushing touchdowns a piece. Mendenhall still got a Super Bowl ring and might have had a second had he not fumbled against the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV.
He certainly learned his lesson, though. Lewis was the wrong guy to act tough around if you couldn't back it up. The linebacker threatened him and knocked him out, as promised, for the remainder of the 2008 campaign.
Do you consider the Steelers drafting Mendenhall a bust? Would you have talked trash back to Lewis? Let us know in the comments below!
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