Merriman to undergo knee surgery, miss 2008 season

[Teddy Roosevelt]

San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman's season is over after he tried to play the season opener Sunday with two torn knee ligaments.

The Chargers announced Merriman will be placed on injured reserve to undergo total reconstructive knee surgery that will include the repair of his lateral collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments.

"Shawne informed me he did not feel right [on the field] and thought it best to shut it down," Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said. "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."

The knee problem dates to the end of the 2007 season.

Before the season started, Merriman decided to play rather than have his damaged left knee repaired.

"To be as simple as possible, I just want to play football," Merriman said previously. "That's what it comes down to. I know what's on the table, I know what's on the line. I put a lot of work in this, and I want to play."

He likely will be looking at a rehab of six to seven months.

With his nonstop energy and spasmodic sack dance, the player known as "Lights Out" has been the face of the Chargers' defense the past three seasons. He has 39˝ sacks in that span, more than any other NFL player, and has played in three straight Pro Bowls.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3578588

[Lunatic]

MAJOR BLOW..I'm liking my Titans chances to do extremely well this year

[Teddy Roosevelt]

MAJOR BLOW..I'm liking my Titans chances to do extremely well this year

Chargers without Merriman > Titans
Your QB still can't throw more TDs then interceptions in a season.

[Lunatic]

MAJOR BLOW..I'm liking my Titans chances to do extremely well this year

Chargers without Merriman > Titans
Your QB still can't throw more TDs then interceptions in a season.

Without Merriman
our defense > chargers D
and after that week 1 loss to a horrible team
i dunno....
chargers gotta bounce back strong and show there still that team; beat the broncos on the road will redeem themselves
we beat a great team against jax.
chargers lost to a horrible team (once again, home game)

[OchoCinco]

finally he got some sense and thought about the long term effects

[Man On The Moon]

It's tough when you're not roiding...

[OG Hack Wilson]

smart

[eS El Duque]

Well...doesn't really help out any in the west..maybe just the broncos lol

["THE" MoSav]

MAJOR BLOW..I'm liking my Titans chances to do extremely well this year

Chargers without Merriman > Titans
Your QB still can't throw more TDs then interceptions in a season.

Without Merriman
our defense > chargers D
and after that week 1 loss to a horrible team
i dunno....
chargers gotta bounce back strong and show there still that team; beat the broncos on the road will redeem themselves
we beat a great team against jax.
chargers lost to a horrible team (once again, home game)

WHOA!! The panthers with a healthy Jake ARE FAR FROM HORRIBLE, that defense is still really good too as long as they arent on the field all game...I think ur really underestimating Carolina...They are gonna fight NO and TB all year for that division title, and once Smith comes back WATCH OUT! Remember Jake had 8 tds and 1 int in 3 games last year and they started 2-1 before he went down