Times wires
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
PITTSBURGH — Rashard Mendenhall created a stir with comments made on his official Twitter page regarding Osama bin Laden's death.
The Steelers running back on Monday tweeted: "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 …"
Mendenhall, who said God should be the only judge, made a reference to the Sept. 11 attacks.
"We'll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style." Mendenhall later deleted this tweet.
Team president Art Rooney II released a statement.
"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."
Mendenhall, who profiles himself as a "conversationalist and professional athlete" on his Twitter page, also turned some heads in March when he supported a comment by Vikings running back Adrian Peterson comparing the NFL to "modern-day slavery."
LOCKOUT: A federal appeals court agreed to a speeded-up schedule to hear the league's appeal of the order that lifted the lockout a week ago.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis set a June 3 hearing, with 30 minutes of oral argument for each side before Judges Duane Benton, Kermit Bye and Steven Colloton.
U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson issued her injunction stopping the lockout last week. The league appealed to the 8th Circuit, and the same three-judge panel issued a temporary stay on Friday.
The lockout was put back in place by the owners a few hours later. The 8th Circuit is still deciding whether to make the stay more permanent.
WORKOUTS GO ON: Saints quarterback Drew Brees secured access to Tulane's facilities and called on teammates to join him for the workouts. Nearly 40 did, taking cues from their on-field leader as the lockout prevents them from training on team property or contacting coaches.
Normally, organized workouts and minicamps would happen in May and June but aren't during the lockout. So many players are gathering in some form.
Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez invited teammates to join him in California for what he's calling Jets West Camp. Broncos safety Brian Dawkins has organized workouts as have Browns quarterback Colt McCoy, Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne and Falcons linebacker Coy Wire and right tackle Tyson Clabo with their teams.
DORSEY RETIRES: Ken Dorsey, the quarterback who led Miami to the 2001 national championship, retired. Dorsey, 30, spent last season with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts after six years in the NFL. He plans to become a high school coach.