After reading my last post, there may be a few people out there that think I have some splainin' to do, and perhaps even owe Lights Out an apology. Not so fast. Granted, I have to give Shawne a little bit of credit for announcing today that he would be forgoing season ending surgery and trying to play through his knee injury in 2008/2009. I'm happy that the Bolts will have him on the field, if only for a few games. The team will certainly be better for it, but that was never my point. I have never argued that the Chargers would play better football if Shawne was off the field. What I said was that he's creating a bit of a scene in Chargerville, and causing some tension in the front office and possibly the locker room, and that's not going to go away because he's making what some pundits will surely claim a "courageous" or "warrior-like" decision to play through the pain. I'm here to say that it's only going to make matters worse.

Here's why: Shawne will start the season with the Chargers and probably play pretty damn good. He'll knock a quarterback or two on their ass, make a few big hits, and generally make a nuisance of himself on the football field, which will all benefit the Chargers. Fans will briefly forget abou this injury ordeal. BUT, can anyone think of anything else this will benefit? Shawne Merriman, that's who.

My guess is this. Although Shawne has gotten 3 professional opinons stating he should undergo season ending reconstructive knee surgery, nobody besides Lights Out himself has come out saying that if he defies those opinions and keeps playing he's risking his career. In fact, the Chargers brass and medical team have said they expect him to be ready for the September 7th season opener against the Panthers, which essentially means they don't think his injury is career threatening. Do they think he could further hurt the knee? I'm sure they think that's a possibility. But do they think his career will be over if he aggravates the injury? I think not.

What I'm saying is this: Shawne is still acting under his own best interests. He knows that he's not likely to finish the season with this injury, but he also knows that there is very little chance that his career is over if he further hurts the knee. Therefore, in an attempt to brand himself as a team guy/tough guy, he will play until the knee gives out (I'm betting week 3 or4 is when this will happen), at which point he'll get the season ending surgery he was already advised to get, rehab for most of the season, and come back next year and kick ass in his contract year. Then in 2010 he'll be gone, hopefully, in his mind, with a reputation as one of the toughest, baddest men in professional sports, and therefore worthy of a massive free agent contract.

Now I'm not saying that being selfish in this situation is wrong. In fact, I feel quite the opposite. It's no secret that professional sports is a business, and in that business there are lot's of selfish decisions made on both sides of the table. Fine. What I do have a problem with in this situation is Shawne's posturing, under the guise of being a "team guy." I'd be much happier if he'd just come out and say, "You know what? I have a contract that's about to expire and the Chargers don't look like they are about to renew it. I need to look out for myself right now, so I can get as much money as I can when I become a free agent in two years. There are no guarantees in the NFL and I have a family to support. I hope you can all understand that." I know I'm being awfully idealistic here, but why can't honesty prevail for once? Is that really too much to ask? I suppose so. After all, this is professional sports.

More to come on this subject in the coming days and weeks.


Cheers,
TWF