Shawne Merriman

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Shawne Merriman
Date of birth	May 25, 1984
Place of birth	Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Position(s)	Linebacker
College	Maryland
NFL Draft	2005 / Round 1/ Pick 12
Awards	2005 NFL Defensive ROY
Statistics	NFL.com DatabaseFootball
Team(s)
2005-Present	San Diego Chargers

Shawne Merriman (born May 25, 1984 in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, USA) is an American football defensive end/linebacker for the San Diego Chargers of the NFL. He was selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft out of the University of Maryland, College Park. Merriman and his agents (the Poston Brothers) made headlines when he became the first player to miss the rookie orientation, due to being uncomfortable with the injury clause.

1 NFL Career
2 2006 Steroid suspension
3 Lights Out Dance
4 Career statistics
5 Personal
6 References
7 External links

[edit] NFL Career

Shawne Merriman started off his 2005 rookie year on the inactive list as a result of nagging injuries during training camp and his 10 day hold out from training camp. He didn't break the starting lineup until week 7, but recorded 6 sacks in his first 4 starts. In 2005, his rookie season, Merriman was honored by being voted into the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. He was voted into the Pro Bowl as an OLB having played the pass-rushing OLB position for the San Diego Chargers in their 3-4 defensive scheme. This is the same position he played in college.

Merriman's best game of the year came in week 15 when the Chargers handed the Indianapolis Colts their first loss of the season. Merriman recorded 2 sacks and 2 tackles for a loss, one of which stopped Peyton Manning for a 6 yard loss on 4th and goal. It was during this game that Shawne Merriman garnered much national media coverage and in the following week made the Pro Bowl.

On January 4, 2006, Merriman was awarded with the The Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He received 28 1/2 votes of a panel of 50 NFL sportswriters and broadcasters. He beat the likes of Seattle Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who received 16 1/2 votes. Other players to receive votes were Cincinnati linebacker Odell Thurman, with 4, and Dallas linebacker Demarcus Ware, with one.

On February 12, 2006, Merriman participated in the 2006 NFL Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii. Although in a losing effort, Merriman made 3 tackles and forced one fumble. “I enjoyed myself the whole entire week,” said Merriman. “I topped it off today by playing the entire game with all the guys I grew up watching. It’s going to be my first of many if I just keep working hard.”

In 2006, Merriman again began his season with success, recording 3 sacks and an interception in his first 2 games. Merriman went on to record 8 sacks and make ESPN's midseason all-pro team. [1], prior to dropping an appeal against a NFL enforced 4 week suspension.

[edit] 2006 Steroid suspension

On October 22nd, 2006, reports were made public by ESPN that Merriman would face a 4 game suspension for violating the NFL's Steroid policy.[2] ESPN's Chris Mortensen cited a source that claimed the suspension was "definitely for steroid use and not a 'supplement-type' suspension.'" Mortenson's report later came under scrutiny from Merriman's attorney, David Cornwell, who called the report "irresponsible and erroneous." Under NFL league policy, no player's suspension proceedings are to be announced before the suspension takes place. Subsequently Cornwell stated that he believes the substance his client tested positive for was the anabolic steroid nandrolone, and that Merriman claims it must have been in a nutritional supplement he took regularly.^[1] Days later, Merriman held a press conference announced he was dropping his appeal, and would sit out four games, stating "Yes, I did something unknowingly, but at the same time I did something that was against the policy...". While refusing to identify the supplement that he claims led to the positive test, he stated it was an over-the-counter supplement, and he claimed that he took it for 1 1/2 years, but never had it checked by the team's training staff. "We're not allowed to say what product yet because there's a high, high possibility that we'll be going after the manufacturer." he said. [3]

[edit] Lights Out Dance

Merriman's distinct "lights out dance" which he often executes whenever he makes a big defensive play developed from a high-school football game in which he knocked 4 opposing players unconscious. His teammates gave him the nicknames shortly thereafter and it stuck for the rest of his career. The dance involves Merriman pretending to switch the tattoo of a light switch on his right forearm on and off [4].

[edit] Career statistics


Year	Team	G	Tackles	Sacks	INTs	INTTDs	FFums	DefTDs	PD
2005-06	San Diego	15	57	10	0	0	2	0	4
Totals		15	57	10	0	0	2	0	4

[edit] Personal

Merriman has a number of tattoos. His favorite is that of a light switch being turned off. This tattoo is on his forearm and the text "Lights Out" adorns it. This has been his nickname since a high school game (in his sophomore year, no less) during which he knocked four of his opponents out. He is also responsible for giving Kansas City Chiefs' running back Priest Holmes a season-ending (and possibly career-threatening) concussion in Week 8 of the 2005 season.

Shawne Merriman is good friends with his teammate for the Chargers' Luis Castillo. The San Diego media has contrasted their seemingly opposite personalities: Merriman a flamboyant player with a penchant for the spotlight and Castillo a low key personality who shuns the spotlight.

On April 29-30, 2006, just one year removed from being chosen in the 2005 draft, Merriman served as a commentator on ESPN for the 2006 NFL Draft.

Left college after his junior season. In 2004, Merriman began an annual coat drive to benefit shelters in his native Prince George's County, Maryland.

His draft pick was the last major part of the Eli Manning for Phillip Rivers deal from the 2004 NFL Draft h