Super Bowl 45 isn’t one that Steelers fans like to remember. It was the team’s last appearance in a Super Bowl, a loss to the Green Bay Packers 31-25.
But it may not have been that way, if it wasn’t for a fumble from running back Rashard Mendenhall…one he says wasn’t his fault.
Likely getting some attention on Twitter Sunday because it was his birthday, Mendenhall took the social media platform to defend his “fumble.”
“I never fumbled that ball,” said the former Steeler. “My coaches could feel like a**holes to say that I did, I never did.”
“I was SEPARATED from the ball, 4 yards into the backfield. That’s the [running back] equivalent of a strip-sack. There’s NOTHING I could’ve done about it.” Respect my career.”
The play in question happened just after the beginning of the 4th quarter, with the Packers only ahead by three, 21-17.
It was the first play of the fourth, when Mendenhall fumbled near the Packers 40-yard line.
It was the third Steelers turnover on offense of the game when it happened, so it’s certainly not entirely Mendenhall’s fault, but it was a huge moment.
Talking on the Fan Morning Show Monday, former NFL tight end Dorin Dickerson said he doesn’t know what Mendenhall is getting at.
“I watched this play, this morning probably about 15 times here on You Tube and from somebody like myself, who’s carried the ball thousands of times . . . I have absolutely no idea what he’s talking about how he said he’s separated from the ball and didn’t’ fumble,” said Dickerson. “That is the most blatant fumble I’ve ever seen in a football game.”
“You were separated from the ball because you weren’t protecting it,” said Chris Mack.
“I have never watched the highlights of Super Bowl 45, because I don’t want any part of that,” said Mendenhall. “It was a down day in my like and you make me watch it again today but you lost the game, you fumbled . . . if a quarterback gets strip-sacked by the way guess what it counts as? A fumble.”
For Mendenhall to take no blame for the fumble…it’s not a good look.