Mendenhall's Remarks Cost Him Endorsment Contract

Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall probably wishes he could have taken back his remarks regarding the killing of Osama bin Laden. His consequence for his two tweets is losing his prime sponsor, Champion. Just this past Sunday, Mendenhall had signed a four-year extension with the apparel company, who he had endorsed since 2008, the year he was drafted. But that contract is moot following Mendenhall's remarks.

As a result of the public reaction toward the terrorist's death, Mendenhall tweeted: "What kind of person celebrates death? It's amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We've only heard one side..."

The second tweet is the one that probably cost him his sponsor, regarding the 9/11 attack: "We'll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style."

In a statement the brand sent to ESPN.com, Champion said while they respect Mendenhall's rights to have views on controversial topics, he is not fit to represent their brand because of what he said. In the statement, Champion said they were a strong supporter of the government's fight against terrorism, and called Mendenhall's remarks "inconsistent with the values of the Champion brand."

Occurrences such as this beg the question of whether teams should consider banning social media as a whole.