Simply Dumb

There is a very fine line between toughing your way through an injury and well, ending up on this site. The San Diego Union Tribune reports star Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman has a torn posterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament in his left knee.

The team advised him to get surgery immediately after they got eliminated from the playoffs. He opted not to because – well, only Shawne really knows why he didn’t. Not one, two or three but four doctors have advised him he needs the surgery yesterday and can risk his career by playing.

Merriman has waved them all off and said he’s going to play as long he can with the injuries. Apparently the Chargers’ doctors are playing along with this ridiculous course of action. Who are these doctors, exactly? Dr. Johnny Fever? Dr. J? Dr. Pepper?

The other four doctors he consulted warned Merriman that he could end up wearing his knee down to the point where it’s bone-on-bone if he plays. And it doesn’t take a medical degree to know that opposing players are going to test that knee at every opportunity. They’re really not doing their jobs if they don’t.

By the way, NFL contracts are not guaranteed money. Merriman would make $3.7 million in 2009 if he’s able to play. That knife is not going away, Shawne. Shut it down before you regret it.

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