Steeler Mendenhall tweets up controversy

Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall, who created a stir in March when he agreed with Vikings running back Adrian Peterson that the NFL was akin to modern-day slavery, has sparked an even bigger controversy with his comments about the death of Osama bin Laden.

On his verified Twitter account -- Twitter.com/R_Mendenhall -- Mendenhall wrote a series of tweets that questioned why people would be so angry at bin Laden and whether airplanes really could take down the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001.

"What kind of person celebrates death?" Mendenhall wrote. "It's amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We've only heard one side . . . "

In another tweet, he wrote: "We'll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style."

Tuesday afternoon, Mendenhall deleted the tweet about the planes from his account.

The series of tweets was so controversial that the Steelers issued a statement Tuesday from team president Art Rooney II.

"I have not spoken with Rashard, so it is hard to explain or even comprehend what he meant with his recent Twitter comments," Rooney said. "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."

In March, Mendenhall amplified Peterson's remarks about comparing the NFL to modern-day slavery. "Anyone with knowledge of the slave trade and the NFL could say that these two parallel each other," Mendenhall wrote.

Mendenhall is coming off a career-best year with 1,273 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns, as he helped lead the Steelers to the Super Bowl. His late fumble keyed a Packers second-half rally that led to Green Bay's win in the Super Bowl.

Among Mendenhall's other tweets after the announcement bin Laden had been killed: "I believe in God. I believe we're ALL his children. And I believe HE is the ONE and ONLY judge."

"Those who judge others, will also be judged themselves."

"For those of you who said you want to see Bin Laden burn . . . I ask how would God feel about your heart?"