Mendenhall and Harrison: A Tale of Two Tweets
By Todd
If you have followed my posts, you know that I spoke out harshly against Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall when he Tweeted about the death of Osama Bin Laden. I questioned whether or not Mendy should be making remarks implying we should be sympathetic toward the mastermind of thousands of American deaths on September 11, 2001.
Earlier this week, James Harrison tweeted that the NFL rules makers are “idiots” for implementing rules that will fine and suspend players, and possibly fine teams, for what the NFL deems “dangerous” hits.
My initial reaction to Harrison’s tweet was, “Damn straight, Silverback! You tell ’em.”
Then I read this excellent article in the PG by Ron Cook, and you know what? Ron is right.
First of all, I owe Rashard Mendenhall an apology. I still maintain that the timing and the phrasing could have been better (As a writer, I certainly understand how choice of words can make all the difference in meaning.), but in hindsight, I see what he was trying to say.
All Mendy was trying to do was point out the crassness of celebrating death, even the death of the most wanted terrorist in the world. Am I glad that Bin Laden is no longer around to continue devising new ways of killing Americans? Of course. Am I ashamed of my celebratory fist-pump when I heard the news? Yeah, I kinda am.
As for Silverback, for whom I have the utmost respect as a football player, maybe he should think before he tweets. As Mr. Cook points out, Harrison is calling his employer an idiot. The owners have to vote on rules changes and Mr. Rooney voted for this change. I’m not sure calling your boss an idiot is the best way to get into his good graces, in spite of your on-the-field prowess.
Why does Harrison get praised for his remarks while Mendenhall is castigated for his? I think the answer lies in the popularity of the players and their words.
Harrison is a former Defensive POY and made one of the most remarkable plays in Super Bowl history with is 100-yard interception return to end the first half of SB43. Mendenhall is a very good running back, but certainly not a “name” player in the league.
Opposing teams gameplan for Harrison. When they speak of Mendenhall, I’m sure defensive coordinators say something like, “We have to keep the Steelers’ running game in check.” No mention of Mendy by name.
Harrison is recognized as the current face of the violence of the game, having been fined $100,000 during the 2010 season for illegal hits. It got so bad for him that he threatened to retire. Mendenhall is quiet and reserved. He shows up, runs the ball, and goes home.
As for the words, Mendenhall’s words, while poorly chosen, were meant to provoke and inspire thought. Are we really a society where we celebrate killing? Is that who Americans are? I sincerely hope not. I think Mendenhall’s biggest mistake was that he used Twitter for his comments. 140 characters simply isn’t enough for the message he was trying to convey. He would have been much better off writing a letter to the editor of PG.
Harrisons’ words, on the other hand, are popular. We want our football hard-hitting, bone-jarring. That is what we expect from, and love about, the game. Harrison is fighting for keeping that kind of play in the game, and we love him for it.
Is it really so wrong, however, for the NFL to want to protect players? I mean, the players are asking for better post-career health care. Isn’t an ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure? Isn’t the NFL justified is saying, “Okay, if you want better care after your playing days, we want you to be a little mindful of the damage you inflict on yourselves during your playing days”?
Do I think the game will be worse off without helmet-to-helmet hitting? No, I don’t. I certainly didn’t like seeing Heath Miller leave the second Ravens game, and miss the next two games, after an uncalled hit to the helmet. Was the Steelers’ offense better without Miller?
Just because a popular player says something popular doesn’t mean he is right. And it’s not wrong when a less-well-known player says something that on the face sounded bad, but in the end was only meant to engage the mind.
We should all try to remember what my crazy uncle used to say about opinions, “Opinions are like a-holes. Everyone has one.”