What about Bob?

Foxsports' Jay Glazer is reporting that Merriman has told teammates he's going to undergo season-ending surgery to repair two torn knee ligaments.

Wise move.

I was talking to a former NFL team doc Sunday night about Pats QB Tom Brady's knee, and we also discussed Merriman. The doc said: "Oh, we'll be talking about him at some point in the very near future. Trust me on that one. He's done. I'll bet my house on it."

Good thing Merriman saw the light before it was too late.

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.

... from himself.

After seeing four orthopedic surgeons, all of whom recommended that he repair two slightly torn knee ligaments, Merriman says he will play this season, despite the risks.

Wow.

If the Chargers don't step in and convince Merriman to get the surgery, regardless of how it impacts the team on the field, they're nuts. Unless there's something we don't know as far as Merriman's condition is concerned, there's no way in the world they should risk a 24-year-old franchise pass rusher like this.

He has told team officials that he has a torn posterior cruciate ligament as well as a torn lateral collateral ligament.
Ouch.

He's still uncertain whether to undergo surgery, but docs have told them if he plays, he could risk a season-ending injury - or perhaps a career-ender.

Our San Diego writer pal Jay "Bubba" Paris sheds some light on what Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman faces as a result of what is reported to be a torn posterior cruciate ligament. Bubba spoke to a North Carolina doc.

Chilkoot has passed along this beautifully written ode to former Chargers defensive back Terrence Kiel, who died in a car accident last month. It's penned by Buzz Bissinger, who created a major stir in the blogosphere not long ago by ripping most bloggers to shreds on an HBO special with Bob Costas.

Thanks for that, CC. Well done.

It's still uncertain whether he will play, sit out a certain period of time for rehab, or undergo surgery that would end his season.

If he's done for the year, it'd be a major blow to a team that has legitimate Super Bowl aspirations this season.

Our guess is that Charlie Chilkoot is keeping his fingers and toes crossed in hopes that his Chargers will not be without their best pass rusher. Indications are the Chilkoot has finally thawed out from his trip out East for the AFC Championship Game in Foxboro, where his beloved Bolts were ousted by Patriots.

That's what the Chargers' Pro Bowl linebacker told the North County Times yesterday after consulting with renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.

Exactly what ligament issues he's referring to remain to be seen, but the team seems to think he'll be in the lineup on opening day.

From the sound of it, Merriman might have stretched a knee ligament. Depending on which knee ligament, he may or may not need surgery on it. If it's the medial collateral ligament, it can be repaired on its own with rehabilitation. If it's an ACL, that's another story.

Former Lawrence High schoolboy star Shane Olivea, who looked as if he had a promising career with the Chargers, was released today.

Then again, so were several other Chargers players. And prominent players from other teams as well. Also whacked by San Diego: All Pro fullback Lorenzo Neal and safety Marlon McCree.

It wasn't bad enough for the Chargers that they saw their Super Bowl hopes go up in flames right before our man Charlie Chilkoot's eyes. Now center Nick Hardwick is whining about Richard Seymour being a cheap shot artist.

“Richard Seymour is the biggest (expletive) I've ever come across in football,” Hardwick said. “They've got 10 good football players on that team. Richard Seymour is a dirty, cheap little pompous (expletive).”

Hardwick and Seymour went at it just about the whole game.

"He's cheap and dirty, and the head man just let him get away with it the whole time,” Hardwick said. “They've got 10 great players, and when Jarvis Green is on the field they have 11 great players that compete how you're supposed to compete. But that Richard Seymour is the biggest (expletive) I've ever played."

Safe travels back to San Diego, Mr. Chilkoot.