Rashard Spills the Beans on Ben

[RobinCole]

Earlier in the thread, a poster asked if Mendenhall was even present when this incident took place. I haven't seen an answer. If he wasn't there, then he too is relying on a "source". His hearsay is no more credible than any other hearsay.

[SidSmythe]

Maybe Mendenhall is just upset bc Ben wouldn't let him go further with him than that moment on the field in the final seconds of the AFC Championship Game???

[Chucktownsteeler]

Non-story, really. Can't wait for camp to begin.

[phillyesq]

I think Mendenhall is kind of a douche for releasing private team info. You keep that sort of thing amongst teammates, but he decided its the most newsworthy tidbit he could offer up in order to draw attention to his lifes work.

This nails it.

Mendenhall is a wanna-be intellectual who, in reality, is a dunce. I don't care what half truths and tales he is out there offering to bring attention to himself.

[Ghost]

I think Mendenhall is kind of a douche for releasing private team info. You keep that sort of thing amongst teammates, but he decided its the most newsworthy tidbit he could offer up in order to draw attention to his lifes work.

I'm with you on that. He's trying to make a name for himself in Hollywood as a writer and he passed along a story that he shouldn't have to get himself some cred. Dick move. Selfish too.

[Ghost]

Here's what really happened. Ben was actually there to make sure it didn't get out of hand and then not only did he not stick a rookie with the bill, but paid for the bulk of the bill himself. Mendenhall is a complete liar and a dick:

Article on Bleacher Report:


That's why Batch was confused when former Steelers teammate Rashard Mendenhall, in a [URL="http://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/races-sports/rashard-mendenhall-the-real-player-behind-ballers-20150701"]Men's Journal[/URL] interview to promote a television show he is helping to write, claimed Roethlisberger stuck a rookie with a $25,000 dinner tab. "When I heard that, I was scratching my head," Batch said. "I don't know where Rashard was going with that. I was there."

According to Batch, the Steelers had a longstanding tradition of making rookies pay for a dinner for their position groups. The tradition since has been stopped. In 2008, it had been getting out of control, and Roethlisberger and Batch were trying to police some of the dinners, Batch said. That's why they showed up at the Capital Grille in Pittsburgh, where Steelers offensive linemen and a few running backs were eating. Between the red meat and red wine, the tab called for more green than any rookie's credit card could cover.

Someone suggested Mendenhall, the Steelers' first-round pick, should split the bill with offensive lineman Tony Hills, the Steelers' second-round pick. "Rashard is like, 'This isn't my position group, so I shouldn't have to pay,'" Batch said. "'This should fall on Tony Hills.'"

There were some cracks about Hills putting on an apron and washing dishes. But Hills' credit limit was nowhere near the cost of the meal, there was no sympathy from his linemates and he was sweating. Batch said Roethlisberger left the room and quietly pulled the manager of the restaurant aside. He told him to charge Hills what his credit card would cover, and he would pay for the rest. There was talk of Hills eventually repaying Roethlisberger.

"Ben never asked him for the money, and Tony never repaid him," Batch said.

Roethlisberger goes out of his way to be kind to rookies, Batch said. Whenever the Steelers had a rookie QB, he never had to pay the bill for the position-group dinner. Roethlisberger would take his credit card as if he was going to use it, and then pay himself.

[feltdizz]

but Hills credit card was still maxed out...lol.

[papillon]

but Hills credit card was still maxed out...lol.

Hopefully, his limit was minimal and Ben ended up with the Lion's share of the tab.

Pappy

[Djfan]

Ben could jump in front of a trash truck to save 18 crippled nuns, and the story would be about how he was reckless in traffic, and murdered an innocent rolly-polly bug.

[Slapstick]

but Hills credit card was still maxed out...lol.

Poor rookie NFL player who signed a 3 year $1.455 million contract with the Steelers in July of 2008!!

[phillyesq]

but Hills credit card was still maxed out...lol.

Hills, who is amazingly still in the league, signed a 3 year, $1.45 million dollar contract which included a $304,500 signing bonus. I'm not going to weep for him.

[phillyesq]

Poor rookie NFL player who signed a 3 year $1.455 million contract with the Steelers in July of 2008!!

Sorry for the redundant post - started typing then got distracted.

[Shawn]

Hills, who is amazingly still in the league, signed a 3 year, $1.45 million dollar contract which included a $304,500 signing bonus. I'm not going to weep for him.

I'll disagree here. 300K is a lot of money? Lets put this in perspective. Many rookies have worked and sacrificed all their lives, will die younger, age poorly and then vets making much more money put 25k bills on their CC? So after taxes he is looking at 200K...if that. They might have family to take care of, only a few years to make a significant living and the vets basically abuse them financially when most vets are set. I actually find it classless. And I think it's real easy to look at the numbers and act like they will be set for life. Which in most cases is not true.

[phillyesq]

I'll disagree here. 300K is a lot of money? Lets put this in perspective. Many rookies have worked and sacrificed all their lives, will die younger, age poorly and then vets making much more money put 25k bills on their CC? So after taxes he is looking at 200K...if that. They might have family to take care of, only a few years to make a significant living and the vets basically abuse them financially when most vets are set. I actually find it classless. And I think it's real easy to look at the numbers and act like they will be set for life. Which in most cases is not true.

First, I don't think that $300k leaves you set for life. But lets remember the fact that Hills was what, 22 when he signed that deal? A 22 year old coming out of college with no debt. Maybe he had a family at 22 - I don't really know - but I didn't know many 22 year olds with wives and kids.

And Hills is still playing now. Has a $750k or so contract for this year. After taxes, that is still around $450k.

The whole tradition is certainly a bit classless. But these are professional athletes. They make and spend obscene amounts of money.

[Slapstick]

I'll disagree here. 300K is a lot of money? Lets put this in perspective. Many rookies have worked and sacrificed all their lives, will die younger, age poorly and then vets making much more money put 25k bills on their CC? So after taxes he is looking at 200K...if that. They might have family to take care of, only a few years to make a significant living and the vets basically abuse them financially when most vets are set. I actually find it classless. And I think it's real easy to look at the numbers and act like they will be set for life. Which in most cases is not true.

But, he could have handled paying for that meal...far more easily than a regular person...