San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman has ignored the doctors. Is he ignoring good sense as well? We’ll see.
But Merriman, a Maryland native and former Terps star, is about to put his career in jeopardy by playing with two torn knee ligaments — two doctors have told him this could result in a career-ending injury.
“I’m going to play,” Merriman told the San Diego Union-Tribune via text message. “I’ll deal with it when it’s time to get surgery.”
With him, the Chargers rank as a Super Bowl contender. Without him, they’re much more ordinary.
Merriman has sought four opinions on his knees; he said he has torn both the posterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments. Every doctor has recommended surgery.
If he had surgery now, Merriman would miss the season. Here’s another risk: his contract is up after next season.
If he’s not careful, his career could go the way of one of his former idols, ex-Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington, whose career was sharply derailed by a knee injury.
