Lights On

I wanna get my two cents in on this before the official kickoff of the season. As any football fan knows, Charger Linebacker Shawne "Lights Out" Merriman has decided to play football this season, despite a fairly serious knee injury, a combination of a torn PCL and Torn LCL in his left knee. Merriman criss-crossed the county seeking the opinions of 4 of the best orthopedic surgeons about how to proceed. All four doctors told him to get immediate surgery, which would have ended his season before it began. The worry is that by playing on the damaged knee Shawne could do further damage to it, possibly irreversible damage. As a young man entering what should be the prime of his career, a worsening of the injury could be devastating to his ability to play football at a high level. In a sense, he would be sacrificing one season in order to save the next 5-10. Were he an aging veteran it might not be that big a deal, but Merriman is set to be one of the stars in the NFL for years to come if he stays healthy.


Given Merriman's contract situation, where he has only 2 more years remaining before free agency, shutting down for the season makes financial sense as well. If he gets healthy and has a strong 2009 season, teams will be throwing money at him from all directions, enough to set him up for life. This is his chance for a huge payday. If, on the other hand he gets hurt worse and can't play at his usual level, or if there are questions about his health, then he stands to lose a lot of money when his current contract runs out.

Despite all these factors, the Chargers have cleared Merriman to play, and Shawne himself has decided that he feels good enough to play this year and will put off surgery until the end of the year. Analysts and former players have urged him not to play and questioned the Chargers' decision to clear him.

I'm torn over this. I'm a Charger fan and a Merriman fan. I still remember listening to his very first San Diego Interview on Draft Day 2005. I was running and listening to draft coverage on my walkman while Mikey and Eddie of The Mikey Show introduced us to Shawne Merriman. In the years since Shawne has made 3 Pro Bowls, lead the league in sacks, been DROY and in the running for DPOY. He's become a celebrity, a Charger Fan favorite, a defensive captain and leader for his team. He's a flashy guy, but whats often lost is his dedication to numerous charities.

It hasn't all been great. As much as we Charger fans love Shawne, he's reviled by much of the rest of the league. He's hated for his flashyness. He's hated for his screwy "lights out" dance, which is often imitated in mocking fashion by opponents. He was suspended 4 games in 2006 for testing positive for a banned substance, something which has fueled the hatred against him from all corners. Despite passing all his other tests, despite not gaining a pound since college, despite his grueling workouts and continued success under intense scrutiny, to millions of haters he'll always be "Mer-ROID-man". His accomplishments will always be questioned, fairly or unfairly, and his failures will always be cheered by haters from every corner. No doubt many of these same "fans" are secretly hoping for his knee to explode now that he's made the decision to play.

Whatever the detractors may think or say, Shawne is our guy. He's the face, heart, and soul of our defense. Which is why this situation carries such mixed feelings for a fan like me.

I want the Chargers to win the Super Bowl. For the city, for the fans, and most of all for LT. Knowing the contract and age situations, the window is NOW. Next year is a possibility, though in football you should never look that far ahead. After next year the window may be shut and shut for a long time. Having Shawne play now, assuming he really can stay healthy and play at his high level, is a big piece of the Super Bowl puzzle. Losing him for this year would be tough. A lot of "experts" have claimed that Merriman's absence won't be as big as expected, but I just don't buy it. I'd rather have him than not have him, and anyone who says otherwise shouldn't qualify for "expert" status.

Sadly, I believe he won't be a Charger after 2009 given the size of his potential contract and the other players the Chargers have to resign at the same time. So I have a selfish reason to want him to play this year, since he likely only has two more seasons with the Bolts.

At the same time, I'm a Shawne Merriman fan, and I'd hate to see him ruin his chance for a big payday, jeopardize his career and maybe even his place in Canton someday. Even if he won't always be a Bolt, he has a lot to give this game still providing his health holds up.

When its all said and done, Merriman is a grown man making a tough career decision. True he's risking a lot, but the fact is that football players play football. Injuries are a part of the game and can happen anywhere, anytime. NFL player are not conditioned to be timid about such things, and are trained to play through pain and fear. A highly competitive guy like Merriman is no different, so it shouldn't be too surprising that he wants to play.

Shawne's also a tough SOB, a man who grew up homeless for a time, playing tackle football in the street. It would be cliche to call him a "warrior", and overly dramatic given the real warriors who serve in harms way, but in the context of football that's what he is. The fact that he's willing to push through pain and put a lot on the line in order to not let his teammates down should be applauded. I just hope we are applauding him in February as he's hugging the Lombardi Trophy, not in September as he's being carted off the field and onto IR.