Bills Release Shawne Merriman

Added on Aug 20, 2012 by Scott in

NFL

The rollercoaster career of pass rusher Shawne Merriman may have finally derailed for good. The once All-Pro linebacker has been released by the Bills, ending his extremely brief and incredibly unproductive days in Buffalo. A spate of injuries to his knees, feet and Achilles transformed the athletic phenom known as “Lights Out” into a shadow of his former self. Safe to say, retirement may be his only alternative.

After recording 39.5 sacks in his first three seasons with the Chargers, the 12th overall pick in the 2005 draft tore a pair of knee ligaments in 2008 and underwent reconstructive surgery that caused him to miss the entire season. His attempts to play prior to surgery were heavily scrutinized, especially after he ignored the advice of highly respected doctors.

Despite missing 30 games from 2008 to 2010, the Bills jumped at the opportunity to sign the damaged goods Merriman following his release by the Chargers in November 2010. An Achilles injury during his first workout in Buffalo led to him being placed on IR.

Undeterred, the Bills front office handed Merriman a two-year deal worth $10.5 million, $5 million of which was guaranteed, in January 2011. Five games into the 2011 season, he shredded his Achilles again and finished another season on IR. His two years with the team ended with nine tackles and one sack in five starts.

At this point, it’s unlikely Merriman will be able to catch on with a new team. The speed and ferocity that made him one of the league’s most feared sack artists are gone. Even though he’s only 28, his legs are shot. Taking a chance on him would constitute a waste of a roster spot.

Merriman has become another cautionary tale for those dreaming of entering the NFL spotlight. Long-term success is not a guarantee and injuries are an unfortunate inevitability for every player. He lived life on top for a few years, but that was then.

Source: NFL.com