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Steelers' O-lineman to former teammates: Stop the public drama

Shalise Manza Young
Columnist

The Pittsburgh Steelers apparently aren’t going to give up their crowns as the NFL’s reigning drama kings anytime soon.

Le’Veon Bell is with the New York Jets, and Antonio Brown has been traded to the Oakland Raiders. Bell seems to have moved on quietly, but Brown seems intent on still being nasty even though he got everything he wanted, including a hefty pay raise.

And it’s continuing still. Here’s Thursday’s edition of “As the Steelers Turn.”

Ramon Foster sends Twitter ‘PSA’

On Thursday morning, longtime Pittsburgh offensive tackle Ramon Foster tweeted out a statement encouraging “any former player or affiliate of the Steelers who has an issue with anyone still in the locker room, please contact me or Maurkice Pouncey or anyone else you feel you can talk to.”

Foster’s statement came after former Pittsburgh running back Rashard Mendenhall made some interesting comments, also on Twitter (more on those in a minute).

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guard Ramon Foster (73) lines up with teammates to start warmups during NFL football practice, Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Ramon Foster wants current and former teammates to keep the fighting off social media. (AP)

“Whoever you have an issue with, we will get you their number and you can address them,” Foster continued. “I PROMISE. These media takes might give y’all good traffic on your social media outlets but the guys still in that locker room, who y’all still know personally have to answer for those comments.

“Call them what you want, but call them personally and tell THEM. Defend who you want to defend but you don’t have to mention the team at all. Whether you have a ring or played for one year ... ENOUGH ... CHILL.”

Interesting messenger

Foster has one point: that any players still on the Steelers’ roster will likely be asked about the continued sniping made in public forums. However he’s certainly an interesting messenger.

Foster had no issue being highly critical of Bell last season, telling media in early September, “My mom died, I went to the funeral and came to camp the next day...Al [Villanueva, a former Army Ranger] has seen people die and has come and given his all to this team.

“It’s a little bit tiresome now. I’m tired of the antics.”

Bell ended up sitting out the entire 2018 season rather than play on the franchise tag, risking his health and the potential of the long-term deal he wanted. Foster did say at one point later in the season that he’d “love it” if Bell came back, though he ultimately never did.

Rashard Mendenhall: WYD?

Foster’s statement came after some bizarre early morning tweets from Mendenhall, who was with Pittsburgh from 2008-12.

At 4:45 a.m. ET, Mendenhall posted, “Alright, I’ll end the mystery...[Roethlisberger is] racist and [Brown’s] black. He had to catch balls from a racist quarterback. Every honest player knows it, it’s not a big deal. He was just supposed to take his lickings and move on, like a slave for real.”

Three hours later, Mendenhall either walked back his words on Roethlisberger or was trying to make a statement about generalizations. It’s not entirely clear, and Mendenhall hasn’t sent any follow-ups tweets or responded to any of the hundreds of comments under his initial charge of racism.

“Clearly it’s no fun, when EVERYONE’s the accused...Please allow the dialogue in sports to be equal. Why’s it so easy to shoot at one layer, but not the other?,” Mendenhall said. “[Roethlisberger isn’t] racist. Just like AB’s not a dirtbag.”

On Wednesday night, Mendenhall called Brown “the GREATEST COMPETITOR of our generation,” as a means of defending Brown’s decision to go AWOL before the final regular-season game of 2018.

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