Merriman to play, Chargers to let him.

In an act of complete lunacy, San Diego LB Shawne Merriman (he of the torn PCL and LCL) has opted to play this season, foregoing surgery on his injured knee until next season, or as he puts it 'when it's time to deal with it'.

The team is apparently allowing him to play. despite the risk to Merriman's long term health. He has previously been warned that playing on the knee could end his pro football career if he injures it again. Of course, as The Union-Tribune put it, 'Take this to the bank: Merriman will not be a Charger after his contract expires at the end of the 2009 season.'

Put's another spin on the team allowing him to play doesn't it? San Diego's future is not intertwined with Merriman, and the team is already considering life without him, so it makes sense for the team to get as much as possible out of one of the best pass rushers in the league, before they lose him for nothing.

Merriman's injury 'requires surgey'

Shawne Merriman met with the media earlier to clarify the situation around the knee injury that threatens to derail his - and San Diego's - 2008 season. The three time pro-bowler, entering his fourth season with the Chargers, revealed that he is suffering from not one, but two seperate issues.

A widely circulated report from the team website stated that first and foremost, Merriman is suffering from a torn Posterior Cruciate Ligament. However today, Merriman elaborated, and confirmed that in addition, he has a torn Lateral Collateral Ligament.

“The combination makes it kind of difficult,” Merriman said. “It makes your knee feel very unstable. It’s something that I’ve been trying to deal with, hoping it would get better by now.”

- Chargers Linebacker Shawne Merriman

Merriman will likely have surgery in the very near future, but is still seeking opinions on how severe the surgery will need to be to solve the problem - if it can be solved at all.

*Update*

According to ESPN.com, Merriman described the doctors as 'surprised' that he had played with the injury for so long, and also revealed that he has been warned that if he opts to forego surgery and play this year, he will likely suffer a career ending injury.

Merriman battling to save career

In what is a stark reminder of the realities of life in the National Football league, San Diego Chargers LB Shawne Merriman has confirmed that he has a serious knee injury that could see him miss not just this season, but potentially jeopardise the rest of his career.

As yet, the only details known are that it is a loose ligament in his knee, and that Merriman is waiting to hear from specialist Dr James Andrews as to whether he will require reconstructive surgery, which would at minimum mean he would miss the entire 2008 season. The risks inherent with such an operation mean that even should he come back, there is no guarantee that the knee will be stable enough to allow him to perform to NFL levels.

At just 24, Merriman has commited to working with Fox Sports this season, something that indicates that he is already considering the implications of losing this battle. As an articulate and bright guy, Merriman should have no difficulty adapting to the TV lights, but it is unusual to see a player do so at such a young age. It's hard not to assume at this point that Merriman has been told that there is a high probability that he may not play in the NFL again.