The Chargers' All Pro linebacker has two torn knee ligaments, and has been advised by four different doctors to undergo surgery rather than risk a career-threatening injury by playing on it. Merriman has decided to play, because he believes the Chargers have a realistic chance to go to the Super Bowl.
I'll be weighing in on this for Sunday's newspaper, but I'm curious to see if there are any thoughts one way or the other out there.
Charlie Chilkoot, you're up.
Comments (13)
Four words...
Dick Butkus..artificial knee
I'll go with Idiot/moron, he is like 24 years old, there is no reason he should be jeopardizing his career for the possiblity of a superbowl.
Its definitly going to be something he will regret, will be funny when contract times comes, and he doesnt get what he thinks he will get because of this injury.
After all its a business
Everyone loves Favre and his record consecutive games streak which never would have happened if not for all the painkillers he popped. He got lucky enough to never have one of his multitude of injuries turn into a serious one and was applauded as a tough guy. Meaning? The ends will justify the means. If Merriman stays healthy and puts in a big season while leading SD to the SB, he'll be a hero. O/w he's an idiot.
merriman is an idiot. he's a roid rager who has no common sense i hope he blows his knee out week one and his career ends
BBiB!
Does your tush hurt sitting on the fence like that? :)
joe:
Wow.
It's tough for the athletes. Ownership has no qualms about running the team like a business, which they without a question do. The athletes that realize this and exercise the only options they have (eg holding out) get criticized for being selfish. This kind of mentality leads them to do very foolish things like Merriman is doing. He is trying to display his team first mentality, most likely thinking that when the time comes ownership will remember his actions. Unfortunately he could not be more wrong. Ownership will have no problem using him up this year in the hopes of getting that championship and then making the financially prudent decision next year. Cutting a hobbled star asking for millions on favor of the younger cheaper alternative. The glorification of professional sports, by fans and the media, often times clouds the reality of the business. This is their job. Ask yourself this question: If showing up to work sick for a year would mean that you would never be able to work again, would you still do it for the good of the company? I doubt it.
I think he is crazy to not sit out this year..When your 24,25 missing 1 year to play another 7-10 years makes sense to me..
Bob quick question from your column in todays paper..Is that really true that LT and Simms were gunna get on a helicopter from manhatten to Giants stadium and land on the field for NBC?That would be cool as Heck..They gotta do that..Whats the chances they do that?..Or Strahan does that?..They should have Giants flags hanging from the helicopter as they fly..THat would be some opening for the champs....
Football players generally have an excess of testosterone, and I would say a linebacker has it the worst. No doubt his career is at risk, so I wouldn't blame him if he decided to have the surgery and save it for another day. But it isn't something he wants to do. If he ends up trashing the knee and ending his career, his decision will look pretty stupid. If the brace does the job and he is able to contribute to his team getting to the top of the football world, he'll be considered a hero. I like his chances for the latter.
It turns out that the torn LCL happened in the Chargers game against Tennessee last year, on a cheap shot by Kevin Mawae and David Stewart. They retaliated for a non-hit on Vince Young, where he took a dive like he was a soccer player. Pretty classless.
I don't see how idiot and hero are mutually exclusive.
Who cares? He doesn't care what we think... the Chargers don't care what we think... It's his body. If he wants to play, then let him play. If/when he takes a shot that does him in, he will be the one who has to look in that mirror everyday.
Merriman is his own man. He'll live with the consequences of his decision. So will the Chargers. They're deep enough.
Uh LT???
"I don't see how idiot and hero are mutually exclusive."
Does the word "Pacman" mean anything to you?
Merriman is an idiot. I'm sure he feels like he owes the Chargers (and himself) something after the whole steroid thing, but this is just dumb. The Chargers would have absolutely no problem cutting him if he was too injured to play at a high level, so why should he risk his long-term health for a team who won't appreciate it?
Idiot. He and the Chargers both. They're sacrificing who knows how many years for a one-shot chance at something this year that is by no means assured -- especially since it's unlikely that the Merriman with two torn ligaments is going to be the same kind of impact player as the healthy Merriman was. This is burtally short-sighted thinking.
Now, if he had torn the ligaments in the playoffs, and this was the Super Bowl, and he decided to play in one game rather than an entire season ... well, that's a different story.