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| Height: 5-10 Weight: 210 Born: , Skokie, IL |
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| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Player Notes |
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September 30, 2008 Rookie Rashard Mendenhall will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a fractured left shoulder in Monday's win over rival Baltimore, according to the Baltimore Sun. Our View:He averaged 3.1 yards over 19 carries, with no touchdowns in his brief debut campaign. Mewelde Moore will slide into the No. 2 role behind Willie Parker. |
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September 29, 2008 Rashard Mendenhall barely made it through the first half before leaving the Steelers 23-20 Monday night win with a shoulder injury. He was solid for 30 yards on nine carries and also had one catch for six yards. Mendenhall, who struggled with fumbles in the preseason, did not turn the ball over in his abbreviated appearance. Our View:The Ravens were certainly a tough draw for the rookie's first start and he's obviously feeling the pain. The severity of his injury has yet to be announced but if both he and Willie Parker are unable to go in Pittsburgh's next game, expect Mewelde Moore to pick up the slack. |
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September 29, 2008 Rashard Mendenhall headed to the locker room on a cart early in the third quarter with a shoulder injury. Our View:His return for Monday's game is questionable. We'll keep you posted. |
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September 29, 2008 Rashard Mendenhall is starting Week 4's game against the Baltimore Ravens. Willie Parker has been ruled inactive. Our View:Too bad the rookie will face the Baltimore Ravens defense. He dealt with fumbling issues this preseason and has only 10 carries so far in 2008. |
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September 17, 2008 Rashard Mendenhall was expected to get some carries in Week 2, but Willie Parker's solid performance (105 rushing yards) changed the plans, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Coach Mike Tomlin said, "That was the plan, but Willie had that look in his eye." Our View:The rookie did not have a carry or a reception in the game. It was a very close game as the Steelers only beat the Browns 10-6, and perhaps Tomlin did not want to risk Mendenhall coughing up the ball. |
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September 5, 2008 Steelers' offensive coordinator Bruce Arians indicated that Rashard Mendenhall is expected to get 10 to 15 plays in Week 1 against Houston while spelling Willie Parker, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Arians added, "If Willie gets tired, he'll be in there. No special roles." Our View:The team remains uncertain who will be the short-yardage/goal-line back. Mendenhall was previously the leading candidate for the job, but fell out of favor due to ball-security issues in the preseason. |
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September 4, 2008 Apparently, the Pittsburgh Steelers are not overly concerned with the fumbling problems rookie running back Rashard Mendenhall had in the preseason, according to Pro Football Weekly. It certainly bothered them, but not enough that he will not be allowed to touch the ball. Our View:Mendenhall may not see a whole lot of snaps at running back until he proves he can hold on to the ball, but reports of his demise and possible inaction were somewhat exaggerated. |
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September 3, 2008 Rashard Mendenhall will return kickoffs, but coach Mike Tomlin is unsure how much action he will see at running back Sunday against Houston, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Tomlin said, "We're looking at his preparation this week, his attention to detail in terms of how he executes his assignments, and his level of ball security. That process will be ongoing. That's what it's about. We'll see as we get closer to game time." Our View:The Steelers initially planned on featuring Mendenhall significantly this season, and even in the same backfield as Willie Parker in some packages, but the rookie aggravated the team with poor ball security in the preseason. His fumbling issues should bode well for Parker's production, namely early in the season. |
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August 28, 2008 Rashard Mendenhall had a nice outing on Thursday night carrying the ball 21 times on his way to 79 yards for the Steelers. Willie Parker carried the ball four times for 34 yards as well. Our View:Despite the solid numbers, Mendenhall failed to protect the ball as he lost a fumble. Until he shows better control of the pigskin, one would think his workload would be to 10 or fewer touches a game, at least in the early going. |
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August 26, 2008 Rashard Mendenhall fumbled the ball twice on Saturday against Minnesota, and there is a money pool going among the team for anyone that can knock the ball away from him, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The news on the Steelers' bulletin board read, "Take Mendenhall's ball away and get $100 from him. And you get an extra $500 if you bring it to the running back's meeting room." Our View:The pool was created by Hines Ward and Willie Parker to try to improve the rookie's ball handling to fix his fumbling issue. Ward and Parker ordered Mendenhall to carry the football around the Steelers' practice facility at all times. Anyone who strips Mendenhall of the ball this week will be awarded $100, at the expense of Mendenhall. |
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August 14, 2008 Steelers first-round pick, running back Rashard Mendenhall, got the ball 11 times on Thursday, but gained just 30 yards, though he did score a touchdown in his team's 24-21 preseason loss to Buffalo. Our View:Head coach Mike Tomlin had said that Willie Parker would be the one to get the goal-line carries, but obviously Mendenhall received those duties Thursday. It may not mean much, however, except that Parker's night was done. |
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August 6, 2008 Rashard Mendenhall, who failed to score on three tries in the goal-line drill Sunday, made it in for a score on his second try Tuesday night, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Coach Mike Tomlin said, "I thought he was better. He was downhill. He went in standing up one time." Our View:The rookie is working harder, and should keep himself in the running for goal-line carries in the regular season. |
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August 2, 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall has looked good in training camp, and the Steelers are using some formations featuring he and Willie Parker in the backfield together, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Our View:Mendenhall has the size, speed and strength to be a potent offensive weapon. Willie Parker may see more carries, but it would not be a surprise if Mendenhall got the ball near the goal line. |
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July 25, 2008 Rashard Mendenhall has signed a five-year contract with the Steelers worth $12.555 million, according to ProFootballTalk.com. Our View:Coach Mike Tomlin anticipated Mendenhall signing on time before the start of training camp. He is expected to provide a strong 1-2 punch in the Steelers' backfield with Willie Parker right away as a rookie. |
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July 23, 2008 Top rookies Rashard Mendenhall and Limas Sweed are expected to be signed prior to the start of training camp Sunday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Coach Mike Tomlin said, "We don't anticipate any of these guys having hold ups as far as participating." Our View:Contract negotiations are going well for both rookies. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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May 5, 2008 University of Illinois star running back Rashard Mendenhall -- who was just drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers -- was robbed at gunpoint early Monday along the South Side Chicago lakefront, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Mendenhall, 20, was walking along the lake near 39th Street at 2 a.m. with another person when two people robbed him of his phone, cash and wallet, sources familiar with the investigation said. "It was obviously a scary moment," said his agent, Mike McCartney of Priority Sports. "But he is fine. He is doing great. He said he doesn't have anything that is worth his life." Our View:No arrests have been made, and Mendenhall was not injured in the robbery. |
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May 3, 2008 Rashard Mendenhall injured his hamstring after the first day of mini-camp with the Steelers, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Coach Mike Tomlin hopes he will return when the Steelers resume their spring workouts in two weeks. Our View:The Steelers plan to utilize Mendenhall frequently this season as a complement to Willie Parker. His hamstring ailment does not seem to be serious, but we will keep you posted. |
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May 2, 2008 The Pittsburgh Steelers where ecstatic about adding rookie running back Rashard Mendenhall, because they don’t anticipate the former Illinois star having as steep a learning curve as most rookie running backs, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "(Steelers running backs coach) Kirby Wilson and I both felt he might have been the most-ready-to-play guy of the top running backs because he can pass protect," Arians said of Mendenhall, who was the fourth running back taken in the draft. "That's usually the hardest thing for the young running backs coming out of college is having to block Joey Porter off the edge or those great linebackers they face one-on-one in pass protection." Our View:It's too early to predict what role Mendenhall, who rushed for 1,681 and 17 touchdowns this past season at Illinois, will carve out in the crowded Steelers' backfield, but he’s expected to seize the backup role quickly, while providing a compliment to Willie Parker. |
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April 29, 2008 Rookie Rashard Mendenhall is going to be used in a Pony backfield with Willie Parker this season, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In case you are wondering what a Pony backfield is, it is when you line up two running backs at the same time, without a fullback. The Steelers used the concept over 15 years ago when Chuck Noll was the head coach, with Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier as the two backs. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said, "Other than the normal one-two punch, they can play together (Parker and Mendenhall). Rashard has enough size as a pass blocker and pass receiver and Willie is improving in that area every year as a receiver. They could block for each other. Willie is capable. You're not going to ask him to lead on the linebacker, but he can handle certain things. Again, it'll be a package. It won't be the focal point of the offense because you'd beat the two guys up. But it gives you another package, and in the middle of the season if you lose somebody you have a package you can go to." Arians also said Mendenhall is going to extend the career of Parker. Our View:Bruce Arians also considers Mendenhall to be a bigger and faster version of Edgerrin James, and mentions his solid power and hands. Mendenhall's fantasy value went up following this news, and will be an intriguing player to track through training camp. Parker is also coming off a season ending leg injury, and Mendenhall was namely drafted as insurance. |
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April 26, 2008 The Steelers went running back in the first round of the 2008 draft by selecting Rashard Mendenhall as the 23rd overall selection. The Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year was dominant in his junior season with Illinois. Our View:Mendehnall offers the Steelers insurance for Willie Parker who has been overused to a degree in Pittsburgh. The choice isn't that surprising but the Steelers were expected to go offensive line first and foremost on day one. |
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April 16, 2008 Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall will visit the Broncos this week, according to the Denver Post. The team would consider drafting him as insurance, and as a change of pace to the oft-injured Travis Henry. Our View:His long-term fantasy stock would rank high if Denver calls his name on draft day, as Broncos' running backs are also hot in the fantasy world. |
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April 11, 2008 The Chicago Bears have reportedly been inviting many of the top rushers in this year's NFL Draft class to the City with Big Shoulders for personal workouts and interviews, recently having University of Texas' Jammal Charles, Tulane's Matt Forte, and University of Arkansas' Felix Jones in town for visits. It now appears the the Bears are spreading the pond, having met with University of Illinois' Rashard Mendenhall on Thursday and University of Central Florida's Kevin Smith this weekend, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Our View:Some speculate the Bears are attempting to fool their competitors as other needs (namely at left tackle) are much more glaring. The names originally mentioned (Charles, Forte, Jones) might make sense has 2nd- or 3rd-round selections, but both Smith and Mendenhall are likely to go in the mid- to late 1st round. This adds confusion to the situation and could be interpreted in any number of ways. |
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March 28, 2008 Carolina Panthers’ officials held a private workout on campus today with Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall, according to the Charlotte Observer. Mendenhall is rated the No. 2 back available in the draft by many pundits and could be a good fit in the Panthers' offense with his size, power and breakaway explosiveness. This has been a running back-intensive week for the Panthers' pre-draft scouting process. General manager Marty Hurney attended the Arkansas pro day workout on Tuesday, where he got to watch top-rated back Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. Carolina needs a big back to serve as a compliment to DeAngelo Williams in the running game to help balance the offense to take pressure off of quarterback Jake Delhomme and receiver Steve Smith. |