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Rashard Mendenhall #0 | Running Back | Pittsburgh Steelers
Height: 5-11    Weight: 210    Born: , Skokie, IL

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Player Notes
June 15, 2008
Rashard Mendenhall, who was a first-round pick by the Steelers, almost quit football last year while at the University of Illinois, according to ProFootballTalk.com. Mendenhall said, "I sat down and I was like, ‘If this is what football is, I don’t know if I want to do that anymore. I’m not scared of adversity. I want to be happy in my life. I know I can walk away from this. I know I can finish school, get a job." Although vague, Mendenhall was believed to have a problem with Illini coach Ron Zook, but Mendenhall's brother, Walter, talked him into staying and intervened just as Mendenhall was aiming to walk out of the team's facility.

Our View:This news could draw some concern that he isn't dedicated and serious about football, but we will see what Mendenhall is really made of during training camp.
May 29, 2008
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Rashard Mendenhall looks as though he will be a solid fit in offensive coordinator Bruce Arians' offense, according to Pro Football Weekly. Mendenhall has caught the ball well in his brief Steelers career, and he's also shown the speed that helped make him such a well-regarded prospect.

Our View:Mendenhall, who is healthy again after suffering a hamstring injury early in May, will primarily play the role of keeping starter Willie Parker fresh. Mendenhall and probable third-down back Mewelde Moore are likely to be the first backs off the bench for Pittsburgh, which will have a more versatile backfield than it did a season ago. Keep in mind, Parker has rushed for 4,013 yards with a 4.4 yards per carry average during the past three seasons, so Mendenhall will likely be a complimentary player in his first year, though he could provide value as a solid flex option, if he can handle the goal line duties.
May 22, 2008
Rashard Mendenhall has returned to limited drills on Wednesday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. This was his first action since straining his hamstring in the first week of May during minicamp. He said he felt pretty good after practice.

Our View:The Steelers will monitor the prized rookie closely throughout their OTA, which run through next month, and will likely restrict how much he does. The team will be cautious to prevent the injury from turning into a lingering one and something that hinders Mendenhall during training camp, which starts in late July.
May 21, 2008
Rashard Mendenhall still hasn't recovered from a hamstring injury he sustained during the Steelers' mandatory minicamp earlier this month, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The rookie rusher said, "I feel good. We're taking it day-by-day. We want to make sure everything's OK."

Our View:Mendenhall is projected to be the primary backup to Willie Parker this season, and could see plenty of carries in their anticipated two-back 'Pony' system, but he still needs to get healthy and get enough reps, namely through training camp, to hold on to the number two role.
May 6, 2008
Rashard Mendenhall, who injured his hamstring during the recent Pittsburgh Steelers’ mini-camp practices, says he expects to be fully recovered when the team reconvenes for the organized team activity sessions May 20-22 at the team's South Side facility, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Our View:Mendenhall is expected to backup Willie Parker in 2008, and will likely be involved in short yardage and some goal line situations at the very least. We will track this situation, as hamstring injuries can be tricky, and the rookie can’t afford to miss repetitions during the offseason, if he expects to climb up the depth chart.