Rashard Mendenhall shows the trouble with tweets

Love Twitter, but here's problem w/ it as Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall learned. Only 140 characters per tweet. Much can get lost in brevity

Whatever you tweet, however reflexive, it's out there, gone. If you are a pro football player representing team, this may have consequences

I've read Mendenhall timeline. He posts thoughtful stuff, ethics stuff, sexual stuff. Monday, he lashed out about joy over bin Laden death

The biggie: 'What kind of person celebrates death? Amazing how people can HATE man they've never even heard speak. We've only heard 1 side'

Also re 911: 'We'll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take skyscraper down demolition style'

Also, more. Uh-oh ...

RM later removed 911 tweet, but it was locking barn after horse fled. Message was public and public incensed. Steelers scramble to clarify

My first thought, a famous line by Evelyn Beatrice Hall. U know it: 'Disapprove of what you say. Will defend to death your right to say it.'

(Not that I'd literally die for Rashard Mendenhall, unless he was on my fantasy team. JK. Haha. But you get meaning. USA lets U say whatever)

If it's just a twitter dweeb, who cares? But if prominent NFL player appearing to support notorious killer and fan conspiracy flame ppl care

Why'd RM do it? Because Twitter makes it so EZ. Exploits growing frenzy for immediacy. Puts anyone on soapbox. And we are all self-important

Last point goes w/out saying of course. And go jump in lake if U disagree, U moron. See, Twitter also feeds uncivil discourse, to put nicely

Were few moments of puzzling finger-wagging on Twitter worth it for RM, public persona and by relation his employer, NFL? Um doubtful. Very.

My guess: Understanding fans far outnumbered by angry fans who will turn away. Then again, that's what we said about Michael Vick. Just win.

Still, RM went to lengths Wed to post a blog http://bit.ly/jlQ2Aa to apologize for his 'timing' and to explain about misrepresenting self

RM says 'wasn't questioning bin Laden's evil acts. Was reflecting on our own hypocrisy.' Meant to 'stir up" conversation, not controversy

Please. As if controversy wouldn't erupt? RM knows better. But it reminds, esp w/ most delicate matters, take that beat before the tweet.