Shawne Merriman
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| Shawne Merriman | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | May 25, 1984 (age 22) |
| Place of birth |  Upper Marlboro, Maryland |
| Position(s) | Linebacker |
| College | Maryland |
| NFL Draft | 2005 / Round 1/ Pick 12 |
| Career Highlights | |
| Pro Bowls | 2006, 2007 |
| Awards | 2005 NFL Defensive ROY |
| Stats | |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 2005–Present | San Diego Chargers |
Shawne "Lights Out" 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. In the 2006 NFL season, Merriman was suspended for 4 games for a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy, assumedly for illegal steroids.
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[edit] NFL career
Shawne Merriman started off his 2004 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 did not break the starting lineup until week 7, but recorded 6 sacks in his first 4 starts. 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 8.5 sacks and make ESPN's midseason all-pro team. [1], prior to dropping an appeal against a NFL enforced 4 week suspension due to testing positive for steroids.
In the 2006 regular season, Merriman led the league in sacks with 17 while playing only 12 games. He also added 4 forced fumbles to his career (2 BUF, and 2 in DEN). Merriman finished third in the balloting for 2006 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year, behind Jason Taylor and Champ Bailey, after having tested positive for abusing steroids which is against the leagues drug abuse policy. Taylor commented that Merriman should not have been considered for the award because of his suspension. Merriman reportedly responded by sending Taylor a "Lights Out" t-shirt and a box of popcorn with a note essentially saying enjoy watching him in the playoffs.
Merriman, nicknamed "Lights Out," performed a dance to celebrate each of his 17 sacks.
[edit] 2006 drug suspension
On October 22, 2006, reports were made public by CNN 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 announcing 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] Career Stats
| Year | Team | G | Tackles | Sacks | INTs | INTTDs | FFums | DefTDs | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | San Diego | 15 | 57 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 2006–07 | San Diego | 12 | 62 | 17* | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| Totals | 27 | 119 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 13 | |
* First in NFL during regular season.[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 in the first half. 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. He also claims to have the phrase "extreme pain" written in Japanese.
Shawne Merriman is good friends with his Chargers' teammate 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 significant part of the Rivers-Manning Trade.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Jonathan Vilma |
Defensive Rookie of the Year 2005 |
Succeeded by DeMeco Ryans |
Categories: 1984 births | Living people | American football outside linebackers | American football linebackers | American sportspeople in doping cases | Doping cases in American football | People from Maryland | Maryland Terrapins football players | American Conference Pro Bowl players | San Diego Chargers players | NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award winners
