The star outside linebacker returned from Miami on Tuesday after seeking yet another opinion on his knee.Merriman said last week he has two torn ligaments in his left knee and has been told by doctors that he could suffer a possible career-ending injury if he attempts to play without having surgery.
Incredible.
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood 
No way he plays. This is an attempt to look like he's playing for the love of the game or some bullshit. He'll be a last minute scratch. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.
I hope so Stacy. That sounds insane. He's been scouring the country looking for a doctor to tell him he can play.
Can't the Chargers trainers keep him from playing? If not, just bench him. It doesn't make any sense...
He has to be out of his mind. Crazy enough for a player on any team, but he knows he'll be facing cut-blocking Denver linemen at least twice. I hope Turner has the stones to bench him if he won't sit out.
Remember, he does play two games against the Raiders' offensive line.
The team could stop him at any time by putting him on injured reserve, right? I don't get it--unless Merriman told them that if they IRed him, he'd never play for them again, letting him do this doesn't make any sense at all.
Norv Turner is Exhibit B in the case of Negroes v. White Privilege in the Coaching Ranks of the NFL.
Hmmm. Mebbe. But he is--arguably--the greatest offensive coordinator of his generation. That said, three head coaching jobs? Really?
Never won a playoff game as a HC. Greatest OC of his generation? Never accomplished much outside of being Jimmy Johnson assistant. Kinda like Dave Wannestadt in that regard.
Anyway, Mike Martz is the greatest OC of his generation.
To be fair, Herm Edwards would be Exhibit A for the defense.
Yeah, I mean, all they have to do is keep him on the sideline. He can get dressed and all, just like the cats on jayvee in high school.
But that doesn't mean he has to touch the field.
I'm wondering about Shawne Merriman's judgment here, seriously. I mean, does he not have anyone to advise him about the long-term risks of things?
I'm guessing Mr. Merriman sincerely believes that the door is closing on the Chargers' chances for a Super Bowl run. I think he honestly believes he can make a difference. I also think he's in deep denial about the extent of his injury. If they're have any shot at the Lombardi Trophy after this season, someone - that'd be you, Coach Turner - needs to sit him down and explain why the best thing he can do for his teammates is to go under the knife in a few weeks.
As a Patriots fan, I'm a HUGE fan of Norv Turner as the Chargers coach. If you know what I mean and I think you do.
his decision makes no sense. i hope he does not play. but if he does, one does have to wonder about the side effects of illegal enhancements used by merriman; apparently, they significantly impair judgment. still, it's the nfl and football the point is to hurt and get hurt. sometimes though football does reward, like the super bowl last year taking down the most obnoxious team.
go celts. two for KG
Is Merriman's contract ending soon? Is there a clause in his contract wherein in if he misses a number of games he receives less money. If his contract is ending soon, if he were to miss an entire year due to an injury, especially a knee injury to a player who's known for his freakish combo of size and speed, he's going to lose a lot of signing bonus money.
NFL contracts are notoriously brutal, just brutal, when it comes to things like this. You'll often read, way after the fact, about contract issues that forced a player to play when he shouldn't have. It seems to me that this is a topic that should be explored more by writers, but you never, ever hear about it. Perhaps the NFL cows sports reporters into not inquiring into real contract details, or maybe teams and players like to keep contract details hush hush until it's time for a renegotiation. I also tend to believe that sports reporters are just as lazy and dumb and full of conflicts of interest as their political brethren (Exhibit A: Peter King/Brett Favre); in fact, I'm inclined to believe that they are not only just as lazy but even dumber, significantly dumber.
I think you have to include Norv's tenure as Chargers head coach, which contradicts the "never won a playoff game" comment above. (I don't doubt the "Barry Switzeresque" luck in that tenure though.)
I tend to think that EVERY NFL linebacker is injured to the point where they can sit. I think every player over 3 years is carrying around a duffel bag full of pain killers just to get on the field.
It's been reported that it's relatively likely that Merriman won't be a Charger after 2009, due to his contract. If that's the case, letting him play seems particularly mercenary of Norv and AJ Smith.
That said, I tend to see reports about Merriman as something akin to press releases. Since arriving in San Diego, he's been fairly active in the press, playing them to his advantage in his rookie signing, steroids accusation and game preparations. He's a great player, but sometimes I doubt his truthiness.
Given that, if he thinks he can play, I'd say let him. I don't think he's dumb enough to sacrifice his career to a team that's stated he might not be around over 2 years.
Elhondo's right. Lights Out won't be a Charger after 2009; AJ Smith is notorious for believing that LBs can be replaced, even at the highest levels. Also, Merriman has been pissing off the front office for a while now, with off-field commercial stuff; Smith questions his commitment.
But heck, the Chargers won't be the Chargers for much longer anyway. San Antonio, anyone?
Oh, and regarding this:
Remember, he does play two games against the Raiders' offensive line.
I yield to no one in my deep and abiding hatred of the Raiders, but the O-line to worry about is Denver's. They're the only ones in the League who are actually taught to go after a guy's knees, even when he's engaged.
What I don't understand is why anyone is behind Merriman playing, let alone Turner. Where is his family? Where is his agent? Even Chargers fans should be begging Merriman to have the surgery and sit out the season.
Is it just me or does Merriman remind you guys of Boobie Miles in Friday Night Lights, the movie? Something tells me he's gonna play and end up driving a garbage truck in Odessa, Texas
Ta-Nehisi...
Frankly , no freaking idea why he doesn't do it. But so far he hasn't. Then again, Norv doesn't seem like the Tuna-style ass kicking, name taking tyrant coach type.
Peter N. , I think we are, and the local sports radio def. is.
It's pretty simple: Norv Turner has Norv Turner's interests in mind, which are rather short term in nature; these are in conflict with Shawn Merriman's long term interests.