Attention NFL QBs, there will be no sleeping with the lights on this season.  Just when things were looking grim for Shawne Merriman’s 2008 season, the Charger linebacker announced that he will in fact suit up this season and play.

Lights Out went fishing for answers. He saw four separate specialist who unanimously agreed that he should go under the knife and sit out the 2008 season. Specialist people, not doctors from Kaiser Permanente (anyone who has Kaiser knows what I mean). It is now obvious that he was looking for one of them to say that it was okay for him play. He didn’t get that answer. It looks like none of it matters now.

This is a HUGE gamble. Talk about “all in”,this is the definition of it. When a man is willing to put his career on the line for his teammates like this, it shows exactly what he is made of. I don’t think there is anyone in that locker room that would have held it against him if he had sat out the season. If we know Merriman like we think we do, he’s going to go balls out, even if it kills his career. And for that, we will all owe him.

Chargers management will also need to take note. For them to even mention ruling out signing him to an extension after his contract is over is absolutely ridiculous. There is a little bit time before that bridge wil need to be crossed. That is getting a little bit ahead of ourselves, but after reading those remarks in the San Diego Union Tribune, it has to be mentioned. We don’t want anything to come back and bite us in the ass. I’m just going to throw out names of a few players that we once had or could have had, but for whatever reason decides not to keep or pick up: Junior Seau (guess who made the game changing tackle at the goal line during last years AFC Championship game?), Rodney Harrison (he’s still the ultimate enforcer in the secondary), and hometown guy John Lynch (he wanted to sign with the Bolts when he was released from Tampa Bay…what has he done? Only been the Pro Bowl starting safety for the AFC every year).

Don’t be nervous for him. If he can’t play, then he won’t.  Just believe and have faith.  I expect we will see the Shawne Merriman who all know and love. And the opposition, they are hoping to not see the Merriman they love to hate. QBs and HATERS beware. Light Out isn’t going anywhere.