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http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/ch ... notes.html

According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Merriman was not told anything different in South Florida from what he'd heard from previous orthopedists regarding his injuries or the prognosis. The recommendation from all the doctors has been that his best course of action would be to have surgery immediately to repair his torn PCL and LCL. That would force him to sit out the season.

The doctors Merriman has seen agree he can play in his current state, but they have advised him that he likely will not be able to play at the level to which he is accustomed.

Merriman, a Pro Bowler in each of his three NFL seasons, still wants to play.

So EVERY doctor he went to for opinions told him the same thing, go get surgery.


Now the breaking news on the wiretap says he will play

“I’m going to play,” Merriman told Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. ”I’ll deal with it when it’s time to get surgery.”

Is there something I'm missing here? I understand the 'love of the game' aspect, but this is a career threatening injury, and he dismissed the advice of all the experts who told him to get surgery...


Hopefully this works out for him, but this isnt the NBA with guaranteed contracts, in the NFL, teams can cut you and you'll be stuck with no guaranteed money or a contract if you're considered damaged goods.

He has a long and promising career ahead of him, why would he risk it for just one season?

Cliff Levingston is happy since he has San Diego's D in one of his fantasy leagues and Merriman is the lynch pin of that D from a fantasy standpoint, but man... he could go down with a more serious injury and never recover to where he was last year. Then, the Chargers could just cut him or really offer him a lot less money than he should've made pre-injury. For his health and the status of his career, he really should have surgery.

Does he honestly believe he will make a serious impact for the chargers with this kind of injury?

As much as I hate Merriman and the chargers I feel almost bad for them

He's an idiot. He's still young and can recover and continue to play. He's really taking a major risk.

T-minus two weeks until he ruins his career.

I cant wait until hes out of the nfl in 2 years

That's how much he wants to win.

How can you not applaud his bravery?

I doubt Merriman plays very long before he's forced to have surgery. However, he's showing how much heart he has, so he might be a bit off for playing, but I can respect him even more for it.

I don't see how this could be considered bravery or "showing heart". I see this as straight stupidity. I don't understand why he can't sacrifice one season to have the surgery and recover, rather than play on a busted knee and possibly destroy 8-10 more years of outstanding play?

Pats19andO wrote:I cant wait until hes out of the nfl in 2 years

Are you kidding me? You're wishing ill on a player because his team and you're favorite team have a dislike for each other? Fall back and realize it's just a game you're a fan of. Nothing worth wishing career ending injuries on someone.

Merriman is risking a lot by doing this. It's a brave move but at the same time one I have to question. I'm not a professional football player so I can't put myself in shoes, but common logic tells me to sit out.

Merriman AND the Chargers organization are beyond idiotic.

Goodbye, career.

Being a Raiders fan though, can't say I "wish him the best" or "goodluck" though. I hate that entire team.

Guy is an idiot, plain and simple. How is risking an entire career, for one season showing heart? I see a stubborn guy who does not want to have to go through surgery, which he is going to have to go through at some point anyways. Better now, than 2 months from now when he has done irreversable damage. You know blockers will be going for that knee. Especially in Denver.

Shawne Roidman is a complete moron, and while thats nothing new, its a bit surprising hes this stupid.

Don't the Chargers have good backups for Merriman's position. Their pretty formidable within the LB rotation

Da Schwab wrote:I don't see how this could be considered bravery or "showing heart". I see this as straight stupidity. I don't understand why he can't sacrifice one season to have the surgery and recover, rather than play on a busted knee and possibly destroy 8-10 more years of outstanding play?

Stupidity or not, it's still a sign that he has heart, but it may only last a game or two. I doubt he's able to make it anymore once the season starts. How do you not view this as a sign of heart? Players are always put under a microscope when they sit even for the smallest injuries, but he's giving it a good, and It's good to see him sucking it up to play.

I'm going to give him credit for this, but like I mentioned before, I only think it's going to last a game or two, and I think he knows exactly what he's doing.

If I'm SD, I tell him to sit out. Put him on PUP or IR and force his hands. This is pure stupidity on both the player and the team's part if he plays this season.

HMFFL wrote:

Da Schwab wrote:I don't see how this could be considered bravery or "showing heart". I see this as straight stupidity. I don't understand why he can't sacrifice one season to have the surgery and recover, rather than play on a busted knee and possibly destroy 8-10 more years of outstanding play?

Stupidity or not, it's still a sign that he has heart, but it may only last a game or two. I doubt he's able to make it anymore once the season starts. How do you not view this as a sign of heart? Players are always put under a microscope when they sit even for the smallest injuries, but he's giving it a good, and It's good to see him sucking it up to play.

I'm going to give him credit for this, but like I mentioned before, I only think it's going to last a game or two, and I think he knows exactly what he's doing.

When you sit with a injury that you could play on, of course. Im talking a mild sprained ankle, seperated shoulders, plenty of players play with those injuries, so when a player sits, uhh yeah...You question how much he cares.

This is a completely different issue. The guy is facing a potential career ending injury. He knows it, the fans know it, the chargers organization knows it. He still does not care, is this more of a glory thing for him? You bet it is...He definatly does not deserve credit for this. Everyone knows he is not going to play the entire season, everyone knows he is going to potentially hurt himself much worse, especally when all of the AFC west teams play some form of the zone blocking scheme. You get down low and cut guys. This is just complete lack of intelligence.

Its one thing playing through a injury. Its a completely different issue playing with a potentiallly career ending injury, especially when you are probably going to hurt the team overall, and in the long run more than helping them now. Teams are going to run at him, teams are going to cut block him, teams are going to really test his side of the field. If he is running around with one leg, and not himself, and there are backups that can do what he is doing what is the point of dragging this thing out? He is a glory whore, thats why!

I don't think he is a glory whore, I really think he's doing it for his teammates and his organizations. He's stupid though, because if he gets a career ending injury, the organization won't think twice in getting out of paying him.

NO-KG-AI wrote:I don't think he is a glory whore, I really think he's doing it for his teammates and his organizations. He's stupid though, because if he gets a career ending injury, the organization won't think twice in getting out of paying him.

I don't buy that for a second. I'll tell you why, anybody who is not borderline (Please Use More Appropriate Word) knows that he won't play half the season. No way, no how, not with a partially torn PCL and LCL. He has to know that, the organaztion has to know that, I just do not understand how its helping them, now or in the long run. If he played for the Broncos I would be absolutly pissed. The guy is 24 years old, and is risking an entire career for one season. We all know that when it counts, toward the end of the year he is not going to be there. He is going to smarten up, get the surgery, or injury himself further. Especially in the blocking schemes that the AFC west use, that is what they aim for, the lower portion of you're body. On top of that they are all run orientated teams. This won't turn out good.

so let me get this straight: you see the best surgeons in the country, they all tell u to get the surgery, but u put it off and try to play? does he think the doctors are lying to him? he is one hit away from a devastating injury that could end his career ....this is prolly the stupidest thing ive heard in a while...he should listen to the doctors, get the surgery, come back next year