I respect Merriman's courage to go out there on a bum knee and try and contribute. But once he got on the field, I'm sure he realized he couldn't play as before. So it was smart for him to shut it down and get the surgery he needs. SD has plenty of weapons and I think their D is still going to be strong. I'd consider them the favorites to go to the SB even without Merriman. Maybe even moreso since he won't be a defensive liability now and his replacement is 100% healthy.
There is more to this than courage...... If the guy was placed on IR prior to the season starting he would only receive half his salary but if he is on the 53 man roster opening day he gets the full paycheck. It wasn't courage it was a money grab.
Are you sure IR players out-of-season get 50 % of their salary and in-season get 100% ? If they do, Merriman's decision seems very, very suspicious.
I had a friend that played in the league and he had a very injury plagued career and this is what he told me. He also said it was a very little know rule but he had this happen to him.
At least he didn't completely blow out his knee and ruin his career... Get his surgery...Probably be back in 8-12 months, then he slides right into his contract year...Cha-Ching.
Guys, this is looking more and more like our year! i know its early, but EVERY thing has been been falling in place for us this whole offseason and the preseason. When were you this excited after week 1 of the season??
Cool that you know an ex-player ! I searched on the web and couldn't really find any conclusive salary info either way. Here's an example of 100% pay with IR before the first game: Charlie Batch, who broke his collarbone during the Steelers' first exhibition game on Aug. 8 and later needed surgery, was placed on the injured reserve list Saturday and must sit out the season. He will be paid his $1.355 million salary in the final season of the Pittsburgh native's contract. Here's reduced pay for a rookie in Green Bay who went on IR before the first game: Jansen will be paid $200,000 in base salary on injured reserve, down from the $295,000 that he would have made on the roster. So I'm just not clear what the current rules are.
Yeah I never found any conformation on what he told me either. It could be bs but I don't really know. As with Jansen there was a decrease in his salary though. As far as the knowing the player I actually know a few, a guy who won a ring with the niners and a guy who won a national title and played 10 years in the league. It's weird but once you get over the fact that these guys are amazing athletes once retired they are great to watch games with on Sundays. The one guy I know really well can tell you exactly what play is going to be run, which direction and who the primary target will be just by looking at the formation. It's amazing. We may actually go to the Seahawks/Jets game later in the year as he used to play for the Seahawks.
Kind of the understatement of the year....Stout Veteran team who won a Superbowl in this decade with essentially the same parts...wish we could say the same about our beloved Jets! But yes the future is looking brighter for the Jets! May have to reimburse a 2nd for Favre!
Yeah, it's official (I've learned to not trust espn as a source.) http://www.chargers.com/news/press-releases/press-release-20080909.php Curious if playing one game helps or hurts Merriman at all either in terms of his contract (aren't veterans guaranteed the full salary if they play one game? I think that's the case unless they agree to a 'split' salary like Jerry Jones was trying to get Terry Glenn to agree to sign) and getting one year closer to free agency. Of course, coming off an injury as a free agent may hurt his next contract instead of getting him a big pay day.
Yes that would be Mezzavo but it isn't him although there is a possibilty they played together. I believe Mezz was a DB though and my friend played offense.
he was a dumbass for even playing....hes young as hell, he needs to just rehab and get better..... stupid.
I actually was going to make a thread regarding this, but i'll just give my two cents here. For the last 4 years or so, the dominant teams - NE, Pitt, Indy - have always come out strong. And more recently, Jax and SD. Every one of those teams except Pitt looked rusty and unprepared on Sunday. All of them except for Pitt and NE lost (NE may not have even won if Bowe caught that TD pass that bounced off his hands). My point is, if there's any year - in recent years to present - where the AFC is truly up for grabs, it's this year. With Favre at the helm, and all of these injuries (Brady, Merriman, Manning recovering) I think we now at least have a chance to make a serious run. having said that, it's only Week 1 and to quote The Wolf, "Let's not start suckin each other's dicks just yet."
don't forget they are also missing Stephen Cooper for the first 4 games -- that is a lot of tackling power gone from their D
