Friday column: He’s going to play, all right — play the fool

Shawne Merriman has proven he’s a great football player.

Now he’s proving something else.

Diagnosed with two torn ligaments in his left knee, the Chargers’ three-time All-Pro linebacker has decided to ignore the medical advice of several top surgeons to get the knee repaired now, which would force him to miss this season.

“I’m going to play,” Merriman said Wednesday in a text message to The San Diego Union-Tribune. “I’ll deal with it when it’s time to get surgery.”

The time to get surgery, Shawne, is now, before you do irreparable harm to your knee and your career.

Yes, I know you want to play. Yes, I know you don’t want to let your team down. Yes, I know you want to win a Super Bowl.

But you’re also 24 and have a long and potentially prosperous career ahead of you — a career you’re risking by playing on a bad knee.

Yes, I know your coach and general manager want you to play. Here’s a news flash, Shawne: To them, you’re the proverbial piece of meat — a replaceable part, no more, no less.

Don’t believe me? Listen to a former player, one-time Broncos offensive lineman Mark Schlereth, an 11-year veteran and now an ESPN analyst:

“The Chargers want him to play because of what? Because it’s in their best interests … (But) the bottom line is, is it in the best interests for the long-term career of Shawne Merriman?”

Schlereth’s answer, Shawne, is no:

“If he plays on that knee, he will get a lot of ‘atta-boys;’ it’s all about what a ‘warrior’ you are … and when the season’s over and he has to get that knee fixed and he gets to the contract-negotiation part, the business part of this game, they’ll say, ‘Dude, your sacks dropped from 12 and a half to seven. You weren’t the same explosive player. You limped around a little bit. You had to have surgery. We can’t make this investment in you right now; there’s too many unknowns.

“That’s exactly what will happen to him, and it happened to me.”

Shawne, pro football is a business — a cold-hearted one. Players are used up, then pushed out the door to make way for someone who’s a little younger, a little fresher, a little cheaper to pay.

(Tuesday, your team gave a second-year linebacker named Jyles Tucker a five-year contract extension. In other words, Shawne, your successor is already in place.)
Now, in truth, Shawne, though you’re a terrific player, you’re far from my favorite. You’re a bit of a blowhard and a trash-talker. But I hate to see anyone, even you, be taken advantage of. But it appears you’ve made up your mind.

That means the “atta-boys” are on their way; for your sake, I hope a crippling injury isn’t. Your bosses might call you “warrior,” but if you’ve bought into their propaganda, there’s a better word to describe you.

Sucker.

Contact Jim Gordon at gjames43@msn.com.