Chargers' Merriman will forgo surgery, play with knee injury

[oldirtyku]

Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman will forgo knee surgery and play this season for the San Diego Chargers despite the fact he has two torn ligaments in his left knee.
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"I'm going to play," Merriman texted the San Diego Union-Tribune. "I'll deal with it when it's time to get surgery."
Merriman said Saturday that he has been told by doctors that he could suffer a possible career-ending injury if he attempts to play without having surgery.

Merriman said he has tears in both the posterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments. He said doctors agree that he needs surgery to repair the damage.

The Chargers open the regular season Sept. 7 against the Carolina Panthers.

Merriman has made the Pro Bowl in each of his three NFL seasons. He has 39½ sacks in that span, more than any other NFL player.
Information from The Associated Press was

 

[NewMoney]

i guess the 4th opinion also told him surgery was necassary(sp)

guy has alot of heart, but this is pretty stupid if u ask me. Guy is only going into his 4th season and the chargers wont look back when cutting him if he has a career ending injury.

Hard to blame a guy who no doudt luvs playing but someone needs to talk some sense into him.

 

[oldirtyku]

i guess the 4th opinion also told him surgery was necassary(sp)

guy has alot of heart, but this is pretty stupid if u ask me. Guy is only going into his 4th season and the chargers wont look back when cutting him if he has a career ending injury.

Hard to blame a guy who no doudt luvs playing but someone needs to talk some sense into him.

He is a dumbass and the chargers are as well for letting him play. Rather have him for 8-10 more years vs. 1 year.

 

[Harvey Dent]

Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb move

 

[MattMillen+]

I respect the guys heart but at some point doesn't he have to think about his future?

 

[quinnsft34]

Fuck this piece of shit and all this heart talk. If the guy would have layed off the juice those ligaments wouldn't be so fragile. I hope his leg falls off.

 

[nhoj]

Who needs to walk at age 36 these day with all the option golf cart wheelchair. Do what you gotta do to keep from working at McDonalds.

 

[dominicdg]

I really dont believe he is as hurt as he say he is. If those things were hurt that bad or torn like they say he would have a hard time walking. And he is talking about trying to tackle Larry Johnson and Run DMC. We will see.

 

[krk1030]

Fuck this piece of shit and all this heart talk. If the guy would have layed off the juice those ligaments wouldn't be so fragile. I hope his leg falls off.

You got some problems, you take this way too serious.

 

[OTK]

I don't really know how bad the injury is because I'm not his doctor, but if the guy wants to play and is willing to put his body on the line I say let him and don't look back. Merriman is the top defensive player in the NFL and SD's chance to win is now, not 3 years from now. Absolutely no reason for SD to sit down their top player.

 

[midman2161]

I don't really know how bad the injury is because I'm not his doctor, but if the guy wants to play and is willing to put his body on the line I say let him and don't look back. Merriman is the top defensive player in the NFL and SD's chance to win is now, not 3 years from now. Absolutely no reason for SD to sit down their top player.

1) Merriman is not the best defensive player at his position, let alone the NFL

2) Assuming he has 10 more years left in his career, San Diego has 9 important reasons to sit him down- If their goal is to win the Super Bowl and they feel he is vital for getting there, then 9/10 odds are better than possibly 1/10

 

[oldirtyku]

1) Merriman is not the best defensive player at his position, let alone the NFL

2) Assuming he has 10 more years left in his career, San Diego has 9 important reasons to sit him down- If their goal is to win the Super Bowl and they feel he is vital for getting there, then 9/10 odds are better than possibly 1/10

Who is better?

 

[midman2161]

Pat Willis and DeMarcus Ware.. my main problem wasn't with him saying he was the best defensive player in the nfl though, it was more of him thinking there is absolutely no reason to have him sit it out

 

[texansfan]

I don't think the coaches care really. The Chargers are built to win now. Does anyone think that the Chargers organization is going to give a shit about him in about 5 years?

 

[RupertPupkin]

Pat Willis and DeMarcus Ware.. my main problem wasn't with him saying he was the best defensive player in the nfl though, it was more of him thinking there is absolutely no reason to have him sit it out

Willis has played 1 year and is a great tackler , but only got to the QB 4 times in 16 games ...

Merriman and Ware are the rare type of LB's that actually get to a QB and change a game , and their stats are very similar , I would give the slight edge to Merriman , but Ware hasn't missed a game , so its about even. As for one being clear cut over the other, that is very debatable.

Merriman in 2006 had 17 sacks in 12 games ... ( might have had a shot at alltime record barring his suspension .)

Ware and Merrimen have both played 3 years in the NFL ....

Ware drafted #11 overall
48 games (48 starts )- 33.5 sacks , 11 Forced Fumbles , 166 tackles

Merrimen drafted # 12 overall
42 games( 37 starts ) - 39.5 sacks , 8 forced fumbles , 146 tackles ...

 

[OTK]

Pat Willis and DeMarcus Ware.. my main problem wasn't with him saying he was the best defensive player in the nfl though, it was more of him thinking there is absolutely no reason to have him sit it out

Not a chance. Both are beasts, but neither are close to Merriman. IMO this guy is the best defensive player in the NFL by a very wide margin. He takes over games. The year he got suspended for 4 games he still led the league in sacks and almost won defensive POY in just 12 games. That's damn impressive.

And 1) You are assuming he plays with SD his entire career, which is probably unlikely. 2) SD needs to win now because LT will be done in a couple years and after him they really have nothing special on offense outside of Gates. Who knows if Gates will still be there soon too, depending on his contract situation. SD needs to win pretty much this year or next or they most likely won't win for a while. If I'm a coach I don't give a shit if Merriman hurts himself more and ruins his career, it's worth the risk to win a Super Bowl. Shawn is more than capable of making his own decisions and if he says he can play, you let the guy play.

 

[RupertPupkin]

Not a chance. Both are beasts, but neither are close to Merriman. IMO this guy is the best defensive player in the NFL by a very wide margin. He takes over games. The year he got suspended for 4 games he still led the league in sacks and almost won defensive POY in just 12 games. That's damn impressive.

And 1) You are assuming he plays with SD his entire career, which is probably unlikely. 2) SD needs to win now because LT will be done in a couple years and after him they really have nothing special on offense outside of Gates. Who knows if Gates will still be there soon too, depending on his contract situation. SD needs to win pretty much this year or next or they most likely won't win for a while. If I'm a coach I don't give a shit if Merriman hurts himself more and ruins his career, it's worth the risk to win a Super Bowl. Shawn is more than capable of making his own decisions and if he says he can play, you let the guy play.

Also Merriman is 6'4 275 , which for an LB is unheard of ... Ware is a big boy too , but gives up 30 pounds to Sean. Merriman is a fukking freak.

 

[midman2161]

this thread gets bumped when merriman goes down in week 5 and needs career ending reconstructive knee surgery

 

[RupertPupkin]

this thread gets bumped when merriman goes down in week 5 and needs career ending reconstructive knee surgery

Bump it for him , not for us ....