Plenty of times, players are accused of not showing up for a given game. In most cases, the player was physically present.
As to Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall, he literally didn’t show up for Sunday’s game against the Chargers.
According to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Mendenhall was a no-show for the game, failing to arrive after being told he wouldn’t be on the active game-day roster.
As a result, Mendenhall will not appeal the suspension, which will cost him more than $41,000 in lost pay.
“What’s happened, happened,” agent Mike McCartney told Bouchette. “When I spoke to Rashard, I know he is very excited next Monday to rejoin his teammates. He’s going to come back with great energy to do everything he can to help the Pittsburgh Steelers win football games.”
Mendenhall also needs to help himself. In March, he’ll be a free agent, hitting a market that has gone soft when it comes to running back.Though it may not be too late for Mendenhall to help the Steelers, it’s probably too late for him to boost his own chances to get anything more than a one-year, low-money deal.