Rashard Mendenhall’s Osama Bin Laden Tweets Cost Him Champion Endorsement Deal

There has been plenty of fallout and negative reaction regarding Rashard Mendenhall's tweets in regards to Osama bin Laden's death and the reaction from Americans that followed. Now, that backlash is affecting Mendenhall's endorsement deals.

USAToday.com reports that the athletic apparel company, Champion, has dropped Mendenhall. The company has removed its sponsorship of the Steelers running back because they claim he doesn't "appropriately represent" the Champion brand, spokesman Matt Hall told the website.

Mendenhall has been under fire recently from many Americans for tweets he sent out in the wake of bin Laden's death on May 1.

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

Mendenhall tried to clear things up some later in the week with a blog entry, but his comments continue to be met with criticism.

Steelers owner Art Rooney released a statement earlier in the week saying that "it is hard to explain or even comprehend what he meant with his recent Twitter comments."