NFL

Merriman Says He Will Play

Posted Aug 27, 2008 3:00PM By Bruce Ciskie (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Chargers, AFC West, NFL Injuries

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After consulting with every doctor this side of Doogie Howser, Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman has made a rational, well-researched decision.

Or maybe he's continuing to prove that he's absolutely crazy.
"I'm going to play," Merriman said via text message to the Union-Tribune. "I'll deal with it when it's time to get surgery."
You read that correctly. Merriman, after being told by at least five doctors (counting the one employed by the team) that he needs knee surgery, is going to put off the surgery and play for the Chargers this season.

Merriman has two torn knee ligaments, and he's already acknowledged that he could be risking his career by continuing to play.

There's no question that every NFL player faces a certain amount of risk every time they put the pads on and play. It's a wonderful sport, but it's also extremely violent and unpredictable.

There's another part to this story, too.

I find myself agreeing more and more often with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, and I think he absolutely nailed this one:
We think the team has an obligation to step in and to persuade Merriman to shut it down; instead, the team has issued a press release proclaiming that Merriman will play.

With it looking increasingly unlikely that the Chargers will keep Merriman beyond the 2009 season, when his rookie contract expires, it looks like they're prepared to take advantage of his willingness to take long-term chances with his body, given that the franchise's window to win a Super Bowl is as wide as it's ever gonna get - and could begin closing soon.

... Regardless of the team's motivation, it's shameful that the organization is willing to let him play when it's clear that he shouldn't be taking such a huge risk with the present and future condition of a fairly important joint.
Bottom line is that no employer should allow its allegedly valuable employee to cause this kind of risk to his/her body when there is an alternative. This isn't like a public safety officer (a cop or a fireman, for example) putting his/her life on the line by responding to a call for help. Those people sign up for such duty and are paid to put themselves at such risk.

Merriman is a football player. He's not being paid to knowingly and willingly put his career on the line by playing with a known injury to a major part of his body. This goes beyond the assumed risk that every player has to deal with every day.

Instead, Merriman is making a bad decision that could cause irreparable harm to his body, and his employer is standing by and watching him do it.

Obviously, the Chargers can't force Merriman to have the surgery, but they don't appear to be making much of an effort to persuade him to do it.

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