Mendenhall retiring

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap20...teeler-rashard-mendenhall-reportedly-retiring

Interesting...however he's made it known for a while now that he has interest outside of football and such. And if this end up being true and he doesnt try to come back later or whatever...thats unfortunate...he had the potential, but injuries, too much spinning...and eventually not caring enough about the game/etc did him in.

Looking back at that 08 RB class...wow...not much there anymore...

1st rounders:

McFadden - injuries galore...but decent...
Stewart - seems like hes disappeared...and not the big star #1 guy he was pegged to be
Felix Jones - in the end flopped...but is an OK backup (i'd welcome him back)
Chris Johnson - had a few good years...but now what is going on with him?


2nd rd:

Forte - one of the couple standouts
Rice - been solid...and then last year...meh...not sure it'd say he's done or whatever...but yeah

3rd:

Jamaal Charles - solid...and probably the top guy left from this draft with Forte right behind him

There were a number of other guys taken...most are either not in the NFL...or backups/journey men


What a lot thought was one of the most solid/etc RB classes turned out to be not so much just a handful of years later.

 

Most definitely, I've been holding to the belief that Rice had never had any serious injury prior to last year and that his durability might be factor going forward as his shelf-life was getting shorter. Not wishing him any injuries on him, but they were working him like a draft horse to cover for Flacco and the rest of the offense's problems. Charles and Forte are different backs and had their injury issues already. This is the reason that most people pulling for Bettis get pissed when he's matched against a guy who did awesome for 4 years then went basically kaput!

 

The guy could have been really good. Just didn't have the heart. Gotta be 100% mentally committed. Not surprised he's throwing in the towel.

 

he gave us some good years. just kind of a different bird.

 

He's just soft as Charmen tissue paper as far as mental toughness is concerned and a bit off the wall in his beliefs. What ever his future holds I wish him well though. Hopefully he takes advantage of his full ride college degree.

 

I'd say Johnson had a few great years (4500 yds rushing in his first three season). Had the Steelers taken him over Mendenhall, we might be talking 7-time SB Champions. Johnson was durable and could catch.

 

He's probably smoking a big fattie with Ricky Williams as we speak.

 

So what do you guys think, first ballot HOFer?

 

This will give him more time to investigate the person really responsible for 9/11.

 

Hit the nail on the head for me, mac.

The guy had a lot of nonsense levelled at him around here - too much spinning, soft, fumbles at important points (based on the one incident in the SB which really wasn't on him) etc. - and it would be a shame if people forget that he was a productive and talented back. That said, I think we saw the best of him while he was here, and doubt he would have continued to develop beyond that.

 

He's a different guy I don't think he really loved the game of football, like some players do.

 

Talented yes, productive, not really. He really only had one good year with the Steelers (only one season with 1000+ yards and more than 4 yards per carry.) He was a disappointment considering he was a first round pick. He had great speed and size. Just never played with heart.

 

Retire a Steeler? What say the board?

 

Bet he wants to travel extensively, live the bohemian lifestyle, and devote what's left of his legs to a hip hop dance career.

Don't rule out an AM talk show.

 

the writing was on the wall for him in arizona.......... andre ellington will be their starter this coming season and was taking serious snaps away from him last yr.

 

or a stand in for marty Feldman. TTF if you please.

 

I enjoyed reading this and my thoughts on him are similar to those expressed by Thigpen82. This seems similar to Barry Foster's decision at a similar age and point in his career.

 

"What was more difficult for me to grasp"...8th paragraph...we all know the real answer here.