Shawn Merriman Is One Tough Cookie.....

Shawn Merriman is one tough customer. He's playing on two torn ligaments in his left knee. Let me tell you it's amazing to me that he can go out there in pads. Sure he won't be in as often as he would like because the Chargers coaching staff isn't going to let him sacrafice his career further by playing almost every defensive snap. At 6'4 272 pounds he's a beast when he is 100 percent.

Yet, I can't believe he's even playing. Not because of he may do more damage to his leg or as a lot of people think it's a foolish decision. The fact is a knee injury no matter how big or small is very painful. Most people who that kind of injury wouldn't even consider playing, yet Merriman went to 4 different doctors to get one to say it was alright to play. I just don't know how he's playing and running on such a badly injured knee.

I injured my left knee on August 19th. I was out playing golf with my Grandpa in Southern California. It was at the Qual Ranch Golf Course. I was on the 12th hold and the green is somewhat surrounded by a hill and my ball went over it and as I was searching for the walking down the hill, I did't notice the hole in the ground so I stepped on it and hurt my knee. Of course I went to the doctor who stated that it was a sprained knee and to take advil for it and in a week if it's not better then it's time to speak with a knee doctor.

The concern was not the ligaments, which Merriman has two ligaments that are torn. The issue is the cartilage could be torn. So, I went to the orthopedic doctor and since school is starting soon I'm trying to get it better as soon as possible. My left knee is definitely weaker then the right knee. I got a MRI and now I'm just waiting the results. There are two things that could happen the first one is that it's torn meaning arthroscopic surgery if it's not torn then it's physical therapy. I'm really hoping for physical therapy. Even with the knee injury it's hard to sleep with it because you can't really straighten your leg. Merriman maybe a fool to play on such an injured knee, but all I can think of is wow! I'm having a hard enough time with a sprained knee and he's playing on two torn ligaments.