SAN DIEGO -- Star outside linebacker Shawne Merriman pulled the plug on his 2008 season on Tuesday when he told the San Diego Chargers he'll have surgery on the two torn ligaments in his left knee.

The loss of Merriman, whose hard hits earned him the nickname "Lights Out," is a big one for a team that has Super Bowl expectations.

Merriman's decision came two days after he barely resembled the player who had an NFL-high 39½ sacks in the past three seasons and played in three straight Pro Bowls.

Merriman didn't immediately return e-mails and telephone calls seeking comment.

"Shawne informed me he did not feel right and thought it best to shut it down," Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said in a statement. "The road to winning the AFC West just got more difficult, but not impossible. Nothing is impossible. Shawne is a great player and an inspirational leader. He will be missed. We wish him a successful surgery and a speedy recovery."

Merriman had only two tackles in a shocking 26-24 loss to Carolina at home on Sunday. Even though Merriman appeared to be a non-factor, coach Norv Turner said he thought the linebacker looked "explosive and very physical."



Late in training camp, Merriman said that the posterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in his left knee were torn.

He spent several days getting opinions from four doctors from outside the organization, all of whom recommended he have surgery. But on Aug. 27, he announced that he was going to play, saying, "If you give a football player a decision to play, you know, I'm going to play."

But, he acknowledged, "I'll have the surgery at any point. Nobody knows. I kind of left it on the table when to have it. Not even doctors can tell me that."

Rehab is expected to be six to seven months.

Merriman has said he's had pain in the knee since late in the 2006 season. He also injured the knee during a game at Tennessee on Dec. 9. He sat out the following Sunday, but played in the last three regular-season games and the Chargers' three playoff games, including a loss to New England in the AFC championship game. He also played in the Pro Bowl.

Merriman had offseason arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage in the knee.

Second-year pro Jyles Tucker is expected to take Merriman's spot.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press


ESPN - Merriman to undergo knee surgery, miss 2008 season - NFL (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3578588)


Not surprising at all.

Is there a reason he did not have the surgery back in January when the problem was first known?

Is there a reason he did not have the surgery back in January when the problem was first known?

I think he gave the reason when he said....

If you give a football player a decision to play, you know, I'm going to play."

This is going to be one of the most interesting seasons in a while, I think. The top QB and league MVP out, the top linebacker and one of the top defensive players in the NFL out, and the 2007 sack leader is out. It's only week one.

I got to watch the SD/Carolina game and I was shocked he lasted the whole game without having to be taken out on a stretcher. He looked pretty good actually, but this really was the right decision in my opinion. Too bad he didn't have the surgery in January though-he might have been able to play at some point late in the season if he had.

He really should have gotten it taken care of right away. I guess even if he had the surgery in Jan, he still likely wouldn't have come back until very late in the year, and that was only if they didn't put him on reserve right away.

I guess he really didn't have that much to lose by waiting. But it wasn't like it was suddenly going to be healed just waiting.

He was juiced up.

A guy at my fantasy draft a couple weeks ago said that he was holding off on the surgery in order to get a roster bonus or something to that effect. He basically said this is exactly what would happen, but I don't really understand why.

Would he 'qualify' to get a ring IF the Chargers were to win the Super Bowl if he started the season on IR?

Would he 'qualify' to get a ring IF the Chargers were to win the Super Bowl if he started the season on IR?

Totally up to the Chargers.

The Pats give rings to guys in the mailroom

Totally up to the Chargers.

The Pats give rings to guys in the mailroom

Ah ok cool. I thought perhaps you had to be on the team for at least one game to get a ring.

Kind of screwed the Chargers from getting a player to fill the void when he was gone. At least if he did it in January, it would allowed the team the ability to get someone who could help fill the gap.

Would he 'qualify' to get a ring IF the Chargers were to win the Super Bowl if he started the season on IR?

I couldn't see why not; IR or not, he is still on the team.

I got to watch the SD/Carolina game and I was shocked he lasted the whole game without having to be taken out on a stretcher. He looked pretty good actually, but this really was the right decision in my opinion. Too bad he didn't have the surgery in January though-he might have been able to play at some point late in the season if he had.


Looked good during the game...probably couldn't move the next day.

Best thing he could have done for his career is to shut it down. No way he could play a full nfl season with a post cruciate/lat collateral tear. When he said he was going to ignore FOUR opinions and play, I thought he was nuts.

seemed selfish to me. took up a roster spot on the 53 man roster, where sd had to cut a guy they wouldnt have had to if he shut it down a week ago.

Looked good during the game...probably couldn't move the next day.

I guess you guys were watching a different game than I was. I thought he looked horrible. He was limping through plays and he didn't have a single secondary move. It was bull rush, period. No spin move. No swim move. Nothing that involved lateral movement.I think he broke down the pocket two times all game. Jake was sacked one time in 41 pass attempts.

The Panthers attacked and abused him on the ground, with a lot of their runs going to his side. Coaches and players who know he's not going to spin or move side to side quick would have really exposed him as the season went on.

He's making the right call to get this thing fixed. He's a special player. Besides, the Chargers have LB depth. The guy nobody has ever heard of isn't a bad football player. (that would be Jyles Tucker, a guy who will likely end the year with 8-10 QB sacks)

The Pats give rings to guys in the mailroom

The Pats should have sent rings to the Bills, Jets, and Dolphins as a thank you for being so horrible.

seemed selfish to me. took up a roster spot on the 53 man roster, where sd had to cut a guy they wouldnt have had to if he shut it down a week ago.

Trying to play through pain isnt selfish and shows some heart and desire. Its not like they cant just up and call a guy that they cut to come back if they choose to do so.

Now if he did it for a roster bonus that opinion changes....

Hmmm...if something happens to Big Ben or Peyton this week, it's official...the NFL is launching a conspiracy to get Favre to the Super Bowl. :D

Trying to play through pain isnt selfish and shows some heart and desire. Its not like they cant just up and call a guy that they cut to come back if they choose to do so.

Now if he did it for a roster bonus that opinion changes....

how do you figure. what could he possibly know this week that he didnt know last week, that he couldnt have figured out in practice or a pre-season game. FIVE doctors told him to get surgery. him not making it through the season is not a surprise.

Trying to play through pain isnt selfish and shows some heart and desire. Its not like they cant just up and call a guy that they cut to come back if they choose to do so.

Now if he did it for a roster bonus that opinion changes....

I am not sure I am buying this one either. If Merriman was struggling as Troy says he was, he probably costs his team more than he helped his team.

how do you figure. what could he possibly know this week that he didnt know last week, that he couldnt have figured out in practice or a pre-season game. FIVE doctors told him to get surgery. him not making it through the season is not a surprise.

Its pretty simple. Your the man on the team, you try and act like it and play through it. I didnt see the Chargers begging him not to play on their "D". Seems like they wanted him to try and try he did.

He didnt take the easy way out and say screw it im done, my next contract after this season is more important. He didnt give up on the season and his teammates right away. He went out their put it on the line and realized that he couldnt do it.

Having 4 ACL knee surgeires myself I can guarantee that in practice and in pre season or whatever he was doing with the team he wasnt going full blown. In the real game he was. So ya I can see him not testing it hard so that he had the opportunity to give it a go in season. One set back in practice blows that, and he wouldnt even had the chance to play in the game.

IMO that is heart, desire and determination.

IMO that is heart, desire and determination and stupidity.
Corrected. Maybe he thought the drugs could dull the pain enough to play?

Corrected. Maybe he thought the drugs could dull the pain enough to play?

Cant argue with the stupidity comment. Drugs have helped him in the past so I could see him thinking it might work for a bit. I wouldnt think he would have thought it would go all year like that though.