Chargers' Merriman will forgo surgery, play with knee injury

When you have two ligaments tears you don't need a doctor to tell you it's not a good thing. It's given you should take care of them.Well, yeah, of course.

I'm sure the team is going to monitor the situation very closely, and that he will receive daily treatment -- maybe even to the point where the knee improves as the season goes on. I don't think this is going to be a "lets push it until it breaks" kind of deal.

That's what amazes me about the people who don't seem to think this is a big deal. When do we ever hear about someone attempting to play an entire season with 2 damaged ligaments? It's simple... 2 torn ligaments = need for surgery. Can you play on it? Sure. Is it a wise thing to do? Probably not.I think it's a BIG deal. Almost as big as Umeniorya's story. I remember saying that I think there is a legitimate chance his effectiveness will be compromised.

But Merriman is doing the RIGHT thing by putting the ball in the team's court. Yes, he could easily have said "I'm done" and sat out all year earning his paycheck, but he's willing to help the Chargers with a championship if it's worth it.

If AJ Smith thinks there is a reasonable risk that Merriman's career could end because of this injury, he WILL shut him down. I want to make that clear. I'm not saying the Chargers shouldn't consider ending Merriman's season anyway. I'm saying they definitely have considered it, and apparently, they don't see the same risk in the situation that the rest of us do.

If it was me, I would shut him down (based on the third hand information I have). But I would also expect my athlete to continue to prepare for the season until we tell him that he's getting the surgery. That last part is where Merriman is clearly in the right.

He wears Lavar's number and must have his mentality because it is absolutely crazy to risk his career so that he can get his money up. I understand that there is big money and people behind you that can replace you at a whim, but if takes his time, some team will take a chance on him, say like the Redskins and he would still get paid. It is insane to risk his career just to play this season. He would still get his money next year and he would certainly be better off. He should talk to the other 56 about coming back when you aren't ready to play from a knee injury.

Let me go on record as saying, if Merriman plays this year, he WILL injure his knee. Hopefully it's not catastrophic.

hopefully he is and then he will be cut and we can get hm like erasamus. (wishful thinking)

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080828/images/knee.gif

Nuff said.

Edit: Image is from the Link posted by Matty.

Thanks for the graphic Saden. No doubt about it. This guy is making a mistake. Jim Rome had a good quote earlier today - "There is a fine line between courage and stupidity, and Merriman is on the latter side of that line with this decision."

This guys is a steriod freak. Do you think he can make a smart decision about his health? Not a smart person.

ehhh..let him get hurt..hes not on our roster

dumb move. hes going to risk career ending injury if he plays.