Bin Laden comments cost Mendenhall deal

PITTSBURGH, May 6 (UPI) -- A sports apparel company has canceled its contract with Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall because of his comments on Osama bin Laden.

Champion, a division of Hanesbrand Inc., released a statement Thursday announcing the decision, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported. Mendenhall recently signed a new four-year endorsement deal with the company and had been with Champion since 2008.

"While we respect Mr. Mendenhall's right to express sincere thoughts regarding potentially controversial topics, we no longer belief that Mr. Mendenhall can appropriately represent Champion," the company said.

Mendenhall, in his Twitter feed, both objected to the jubilation over bin Laden's death and asked whether the World Trade Center towers had been destroyed "demolition style." He later apologized for offending anyone and tried to clarify his remarks.