Mendenhall: No hard feelings
NFL DRAFT '08 | Ex-Illini admits Bears needed OL; Steelers coach sees a perfect fit
Rashard Mendenhall said he harbored no bitterness toward the Bears for choosing Vanderbilt offensive tackle Chris Williams instead of him with the 14th overall selection in the NFL draft. But a guest at his private party Saturday at the House of Blues wasn't so kind.
''[Expletive] the Bears!'' the partygoer shouted while videotaping a message that Mendenhall, the ex-Illinois running back, presumably would see later.
(Scott Stewart/Sun-Times)
School: Illinois/Niles West.
Height: 5-11. Weight: 197.
School: Notre Dame.
Height: 6-5. Weight: 251.
School: Notre Dame.
Height: 6-1. Weight: 304.
Locals relocating
Mendenhall said Halas Hall ''felt like home'' when he visited the Bears' headquarters earlier this week, but it wasn't until the Steelers made the former Niles West standout the 23rd overall pick that he learned his new home will be more than 450 miles away in Pittsburgh.
''They had needs on the offensive line,'' Mendenhall said of the Bears, who selected Tulane running back Matt Forte in the second round. ''After talking to their offensive coordinator [and former Illini coach] Ron Turner, it was up in the air [whether they would select me], just like with every other team.''
The reigning Big Ten offensive player of the year was the first player with Chicago ties taken Saturday. The Seattle Seahawks traded up to make Notre Dame tight end John Carlson the seventh pick (38th overall) in the second round, and the Philadelphia Eagles grabbed Irish defensive lineman Trevor Laws nine picks later.
''First and foremost, he's a quality human being,'' Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said of Mendenhall, who is expected to share time with Pro Bowl running back Willie Parker. ''We were thoroughly impressed with him while getting to know him through the interview process. He's a very humble, blue-collar worker. Those type of individuals don't have any problem fitting in.''
Seattle gave up the 55th and 86th overall picks to move up those 17 spots to choose Carlson, the top-rated tight end on their draft board despite a dropoff in production during his senior season as a result of Notre Dame having college football's least productive offense. Carlson, who finished the season with 40 receptions and 372 receiving yards, remains second in Irish history in catches by a tight end (100) and third in receiving yards (1,093).
Laws helped himself immensely despite the Irish suffering one of the worst seasons in school history. He made 112 tackles last season, the most by a defensive lineman in the nation and the second-most ever by an ND defensive lineman. He also had four sacks, eight tackles for loss, five passes broken up, two fumble recoveries and three blocked field goals. He'll be reunited with former teammate Victor Abiamiri, the Eagles' second-round pick last year.
''I talk to him on a weekly basis, almost,'' Laws said. ''It's really exciting to go to the same team.''
Mendenhall, who broke seven school records at Illinois, was considered a recruiting coup for Turner. He verbally committed to Illinois in 2004 after his older brother Walter received a scholarship in what was widely acknowledged as a package deal. Although two running backs were ahead of Walter on the depth chart last fall, freeing up playing time for his brother factored into Rashard's decision to leave school early.
An Illinois spokesperson confirmed Walter Mendenhall is no longer participating in team activities. Rashard and Walter's mother, Sibyl Mendenhall, said the decision to leave the team wasn't Walter's.
Illinois coach Ron Zook was not immediately available for comment.
''They said they didn't need him anymore,'' Sibyl said when asked why Walter did not participate in spring workouts. ''You'll have to ask the coaching staff. It blindsided us.''
