When I heard Shawne Merriman had been arrested for allegedly choking his reality TV show companion, I was surprised -- I was surprised that I wasn't surprised. This is going to take some explanation.
We don't really know these guys. We see them in press conferences and hear them on the radio, but truly, we don't know them or the kinds of people they are. That being said, I believe Merriman would not hit a woman, a completely inexcusable offense regardless of the circumstances.
Here is a guy who was homeless at times in his life and goes out of his way to help people currently in that situation. As aggressive as he is on the field, he just doesn't seem like the kind who takes that attitude off the field.
However, it is his "off the field" life that has ended his "on the field life" with the San Diego Chargers.
This is the final year of Merriman's contract. Rumor was, the Bolts were not going to re-sign him anyway. That's not so much because they didn't want to pay him the kind of money he'll be asking for, as it is they were sick of his antics off the field.
Judging beauty pageants, working out at Muscle Beach with ESPN cameras in tow, the blue mow hawk. I've even heard rumors Lights Out is up for a guest spot on HBO's series Entourage. It all suggests Shawne Merriman puts himself ahead of the team. General Manager A.J. Smith was upset anyway. Now this.
We don't know what really happened in that house, but the bottom line is, Merriman put himself in another no-win situation. Partying into the night usually leads to nothing but trouble. Trying to chase fame has hurt him, and his team. There's no chance the Chargers will try and bring him back now. They'll take their compensatory draft pick and hand Larry English the keys to their pass rush.
