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Turmoil on defense. Growth on offense.
Merriman still weighing his appeal, which has AFC West implications
By Jay Posner
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 31, 2006
As of last night, Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman was still considering when to drop his appeal and begin his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's steroid policy.
An announcement could come as soon as today, meaning Merriman would not play Sunday when the Chargers host Cleveland.
“Whatever decision I make will be the best for the team and myself,” Merriman said yesterday before leaving Chargers Park to speak with his advisers.
Merriman tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone earlier this month but said he was the victim of a tainted supplement. If he goes through with his appeal, which is set for one week from today in New York, the earliest his suspension could begin would be the Nov. 12 game at Cincinnati.
But Merriman is unlikely to win his appeal, and there's a chance a decision would not come until after the Bengals game. Should that happen, his suspension would not begin until Nov. 19 at Denver, making him ineligible to return until after the Dec. 10 rematch with the Broncos. No one connected with the Chargers wants Merriman to miss both games against the team with which San Diego is tied atop the AFC West.
Assuming he drops the appeal this week, Merriman would miss games against the Browns, Bengals, Broncos and Raiders. He would be eligible to play again Dec. 3 at Buffalo.
“Every game is just as important to me,” said Merriman, who is tied for the league lead with 8.5 sacks. “But at the same time, we do have (AFC West) games coming up, (AFC West) games to play which are very important, so you always have to factor that into everything.”
Merriman said he would feel cheated if he didn't take the opportunity to state his case to the league, but he added, “It's not about me proving a point or proving anything anymore. It's about me playing football.”
Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer said he did not know what Merriman would decide, and he refused to concede the linebacker's absence would be a setback for the team.
“It may have a greater impact on the opponent,” Schottenheimer said. “We're going to go play. They may indeed look at it in a little different perspective but it won't have any effect on us, I don't believe.”
Schottenheimer also said Merriman's decision would not impact whether linebacker Shaun Phillips plays against Cleveland. Phillips missed Sunday's 38-24 victory over St. Louis – a game in which Merriman had three sacks – with a strained calf.
“They're two totally separate issues,” Schottenheimer said. “We've got a long season to play and the last thing we want to do is put any player in a position where he's being thrust back in there because of the numbers. We'll have to find a way to win in their absence.”
Phillips said yesterday he was feeling better and was hopeful of playing Sunday, although he hasn't tested his ability to “explode” off the line of scrimmage. Phillips said he's about 80 percent healthy, and he'd feel comfortable playing if he could get to 90 percent.
Another injured starter, defensive end Igor Olshansky, said he was “planning on playing” against Cleveland. Olshansky missed the past two games after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. He also missed one full game and all but three plays of another last month with a knee injury.
Merriman came out of Sunday's game with a bruised heel, and he had his right foot in a protective boot yesterday. He joked it was “hurt so bad I think I'll probably be out 3-4 weeks,” but quickly added he felt fine.
Nuts 'n' Bolts
The Chargers said about 1,200 tickets must be sold by 1:15 p.m. Thursday in order to lift the local TV blackout for Sunday's game.
Recapping the Rams game, Schottenheimer said he thought the offensive line probably played its best game of the season. Schottenheimer also gave partial credit to nose tackle Jamal Williams for forcing Stephen Davis' critical fumble, which Marlon McCree returned 79 yards for a touchdown. The official statistics credited Jacques Cesaire with the forced fumble.
LaDainian Tomlinson showed up for his regular Monday meeting with reporters wearing a gorilla mask. Asked about reports Tomlinson had “lost a step,” the “gorilla” said, “I don't know. As a gorilla, I don't think he's lost a step. I don't think I could catch him.”
Last week, Tomlinson said his favorite mask while growing up was Jason from the “Friday the 13th” movies. “I know it's kind of basic,” he said, “but I'm telling you, there's something about that white mask and you seeing that face, you don't want to go up against Jason.”
Staff writer Kevin Acee contributed to this report.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20061031-9999-1s31chargers.html
Merriman still weighing his appeal, which has AFC West implications
By Jay Posner
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 31, 2006
As of last night, Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman was still considering when to drop his appeal and begin his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's steroid policy.
An announcement could come as soon as today, meaning Merriman would not play Sunday when the Chargers host Cleveland.
“Whatever decision I make will be the best for the team and myself,” Merriman said yesterday before leaving Chargers Park to speak with his advisers.
Merriman tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone earlier this month but said he was the victim of a tainted supplement. If he goes through with his appeal, which is set for one week from today in New York, the earliest his suspension could begin would be the Nov. 12 game at Cincinnati.
But Merriman is unlikely to win his appeal, and there's a chance a decision would not come until after the Bengals game. Should that happen, his suspension would not begin until Nov. 19 at Denver, making him ineligible to return until after the Dec. 10 rematch with the Broncos. No one connected with the Chargers wants Merriman to miss both games against the team with which San Diego is tied atop the AFC West.
Assuming he drops the appeal this week, Merriman would miss games against the Browns, Bengals, Broncos and Raiders. He would be eligible to play again Dec. 3 at Buffalo.
“Every game is just as important to me,” said Merriman, who is tied for the league lead with 8.5 sacks. “But at the same time, we do have (AFC West) games coming up, (AFC West) games to play which are very important, so you always have to factor that into everything.”
Merriman said he would feel cheated if he didn't take the opportunity to state his case to the league, but he added, “It's not about me proving a point or proving anything anymore. It's about me playing football.”
Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer said he did not know what Merriman would decide, and he refused to concede the linebacker's absence would be a setback for the team.
“It may have a greater impact on the opponent,” Schottenheimer said. “We're going to go play. They may indeed look at it in a little different perspective but it won't have any effect on us, I don't believe.”
Schottenheimer also said Merriman's decision would not impact whether linebacker Shaun Phillips plays against Cleveland. Phillips missed Sunday's 38-24 victory over St. Louis – a game in which Merriman had three sacks – with a strained calf.
“They're two totally separate issues,” Schottenheimer said. “We've got a long season to play and the last thing we want to do is put any player in a position where he's being thrust back in there because of the numbers. We'll have to find a way to win in their absence.”
Phillips said yesterday he was feeling better and was hopeful of playing Sunday, although he hasn't tested his ability to “explode” off the line of scrimmage. Phillips said he's about 80 percent healthy, and he'd feel comfortable playing if he could get to 90 percent.
Another injured starter, defensive end Igor Olshansky, said he was “planning on playing” against Cleveland. Olshansky missed the past two games after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. He also missed one full game and all but three plays of another last month with a knee injury.
Merriman came out of Sunday's game with a bruised heel, and he had his right foot in a protective boot yesterday. He joked it was “hurt so bad I think I'll probably be out 3-4 weeks,” but quickly added he felt fine.
Nuts 'n' Bolts
The Chargers said about 1,200 tickets must be sold by 1:15 p.m. Thursday in order to lift the local TV blackout for Sunday's game.
Recapping the Rams game, Schottenheimer said he thought the offensive line probably played its best game of the season. Schottenheimer also gave partial credit to nose tackle Jamal Williams for forcing Stephen Davis' critical fumble, which Marlon McCree returned 79 yards for a touchdown. The official statistics credited Jacques Cesaire with the forced fumble.
LaDainian Tomlinson showed up for his regular Monday meeting with reporters wearing a gorilla mask. Asked about reports Tomlinson had “lost a step,” the “gorilla” said, “I don't know. As a gorilla, I don't think he's lost a step. I don't think I could catch him.”
Last week, Tomlinson said his favorite mask while growing up was Jason from the “Friday the 13th” movies. “I know it's kind of basic,” he said, “but I'm telling you, there's something about that white mask and you seeing that face, you don't want to go up against Jason.”
Staff writer Kevin Acee contributed to this report.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20061031-9999-1s31chargers.html