Wile_E_Coyote
10-31-2006, 10:52 AM
Report: Merriman to drop appeal, serve four-game ban
ESPN.com news services
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2644175
San Diego Chargers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=sdg) linebacker Shawne Merriman (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=7188) plans to drop his appeal and serve a four-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance, The New York Times reported Tuesday.
The Times reported that a deal between Merriman's lawyer and the NFL was being worked out Monday night. According to a person briefed on the discussions, the deal would allow Merriman to appear at team headquarters on Wednesday to address his teammates, the newspaper said. Normally, a suspended NFL player is barred from his team's facilities. The Times reported that if Merriman does not drop the appeal by noon Tuesday, he must proceed with the appeal, scheduled to be heard Nov. 7.
"I don't know what is going to happen yet and someone has already said I'm thinking about dropping the appeal and what not, but I still have to find out what is going on myself," Merriman told reporters on Monday. "I haven't decided anything yet. I'll find out sometime today [Monday] or tomorrow [Tuesday] what I am going to do, if I am going to do anything at all. It's just all part of the process."
Since his appeal is set for Nov. 7, Merriman was able to play Sunday against the St. Louis Rams and would get to play in this Sunday's home game against the Cleveland Browns (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cle), unless he decides to drop it.
Merriman said the positive drug test stems from a tainted supplement, and not many people give him a chance of avoiding a four-game suspension.
If he dropped his appeal, Merriman would miss the Chargers' next four games, against the Cleveland Browns (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cle), Cincinnati Bengals (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cin), Denver Broncos (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=den) and Oakland Raiders (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=oak). He would be eligible return against the Buffalo Bills (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=buf) on Dec. 3.
Asked if his heel injury would affect his decision, he said with a wink: "Yeah, my heel is hurt so bad I think I will probably be out three-to-four weeks."
Then he added: "No, my heel is fine. I'm just trying to stay off it a little bit today."
"I just want to stay on the field. That is all I'm considering right now," said Merriman, the 2005 Defensive Rookie of the Year who has a team-high 8½ sacks. "Obviously I want to be back as soon as possible if anything is going to happen at all. But assuming that something might happen, I have to do what's best to get back on the field as soon as possible."
Merriman said he'd feel cheated if he didn't get to state his case. "But at the same time its not about me proving a point or proving anything anymore. It's about me playing football."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
ESPN.com news services
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2644175
San Diego Chargers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=sdg) linebacker Shawne Merriman (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=7188) plans to drop his appeal and serve a four-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance, The New York Times reported Tuesday.
The Times reported that a deal between Merriman's lawyer and the NFL was being worked out Monday night. According to a person briefed on the discussions, the deal would allow Merriman to appear at team headquarters on Wednesday to address his teammates, the newspaper said. Normally, a suspended NFL player is barred from his team's facilities. The Times reported that if Merriman does not drop the appeal by noon Tuesday, he must proceed with the appeal, scheduled to be heard Nov. 7.
"I don't know what is going to happen yet and someone has already said I'm thinking about dropping the appeal and what not, but I still have to find out what is going on myself," Merriman told reporters on Monday. "I haven't decided anything yet. I'll find out sometime today [Monday] or tomorrow [Tuesday] what I am going to do, if I am going to do anything at all. It's just all part of the process."
Since his appeal is set for Nov. 7, Merriman was able to play Sunday against the St. Louis Rams and would get to play in this Sunday's home game against the Cleveland Browns (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cle), unless he decides to drop it.
Merriman said the positive drug test stems from a tainted supplement, and not many people give him a chance of avoiding a four-game suspension.
If he dropped his appeal, Merriman would miss the Chargers' next four games, against the Cleveland Browns (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cle), Cincinnati Bengals (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cin), Denver Broncos (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=den) and Oakland Raiders (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=oak). He would be eligible return against the Buffalo Bills (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=buf) on Dec. 3.
Asked if his heel injury would affect his decision, he said with a wink: "Yeah, my heel is hurt so bad I think I will probably be out three-to-four weeks."
Then he added: "No, my heel is fine. I'm just trying to stay off it a little bit today."
"I just want to stay on the field. That is all I'm considering right now," said Merriman, the 2005 Defensive Rookie of the Year who has a team-high 8½ sacks. "Obviously I want to be back as soon as possible if anything is going to happen at all. But assuming that something might happen, I have to do what's best to get back on the field as soon as possible."
Merriman said he'd feel cheated if he didn't get to state his case. "But at the same time its not about me proving a point or proving anything anymore. It's about me playing football."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.