Mr.Bottomtooth
12-30-2006, 11:03 AM
Merriman responds to Taylor's criticism
FOXSports.com
Posted: 12 hours ago
Let the war of words begin.
Shawne Merriman added some thoughts of his own when responding to criticism from fellow NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate Jason Taylor, telling the North County Times, "I sent (Taylor) a 'Lights Out' hat and a 'Lights Out' T-shirt and a bag of popcorn so he can watch us in the playoffs."
On Wednesday, the Dolphins defensive end said that the Chargers linebacker should not be considered for the NFL's defensive award, saying, "you really shouldn't be able to fail a test like that and play in this league, to begin with. To make the Pro Bowl and all the other awards, I think you're walking a fine line of sending the wrong message.
"A performance-enhancing drug is, obviously, what it is," Taylor said. "You enhance your performance by doing that. You fail that test, I think it's not right, it's against the rules and ultimately I think it's sending the wrong message to the youth in America and the people who look at this game not only as entertainment but also to learn lessons from it."
Merriman quickly defended himself after Taylor's comments went public.
"He has a right to his opinion,'' Merriman added. "I've watched Jason Taylor for many years and he's a great pass rusher and a great player. So he's entitled to his opinion. As for my suspension, I went about all the right things I was supposed to do in sitting out the four games.''
Merriman leads the NFL with 16 sacks in 11 games for the AFC West champion Chargers (13-2). He has four forced fumbles and has one interception. With a win over the Cardinals on Sunday, the Chargers will clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
On Adam Schein's Afternoon Blitz on Sirius NFL Radio, Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey also added his two cents on the Merriman issue.
"I hate to throw him further under the bus than he already is," Bailey said. "But fact is he used a performance enhancing drug, whether he knew it or not. I don't like anybody getting anything special when they get caught cheating. It kind of ruins the integrity of the game. Yes he did his time, but it is still the same season. It's kind of hard. I love the guy to death; the way he plays, his attitude. But he took a performance-enhancing drug. It's hard to get away from that."
Bailey, too, is a possibility for the top defensive player award. Bailey has a league-leading nine interceptions and 20 pass breakups.
Taylor, however, appears to be the concensus choice, recording 13 1/2 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and two interceptions — both returned for touchdowns.
While Merriman has been a dominant force on arguably the NFL's best team, the Chargers went 4-0 during the linebacker's suspension.
"If I wasn't having the kind of season I'm having, this wouldn't even be a conversation," Merriman said Wednesday. "The NFL will always have the level of integrity. That's what makes the NFL. In my situation, everything happened in an appropriate way. I sat out my four games, my money was taken away from me, my four games were taken away from me, and I came back and played my rear off."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6317616
FOXSports.com
Posted: 12 hours ago
Let the war of words begin.
Shawne Merriman added some thoughts of his own when responding to criticism from fellow NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate Jason Taylor, telling the North County Times, "I sent (Taylor) a 'Lights Out' hat and a 'Lights Out' T-shirt and a bag of popcorn so he can watch us in the playoffs."
On Wednesday, the Dolphins defensive end said that the Chargers linebacker should not be considered for the NFL's defensive award, saying, "you really shouldn't be able to fail a test like that and play in this league, to begin with. To make the Pro Bowl and all the other awards, I think you're walking a fine line of sending the wrong message.
"A performance-enhancing drug is, obviously, what it is," Taylor said. "You enhance your performance by doing that. You fail that test, I think it's not right, it's against the rules and ultimately I think it's sending the wrong message to the youth in America and the people who look at this game not only as entertainment but also to learn lessons from it."
Merriman quickly defended himself after Taylor's comments went public.
"He has a right to his opinion,'' Merriman added. "I've watched Jason Taylor for many years and he's a great pass rusher and a great player. So he's entitled to his opinion. As for my suspension, I went about all the right things I was supposed to do in sitting out the four games.''
Merriman leads the NFL with 16 sacks in 11 games for the AFC West champion Chargers (13-2). He has four forced fumbles and has one interception. With a win over the Cardinals on Sunday, the Chargers will clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
On Adam Schein's Afternoon Blitz on Sirius NFL Radio, Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey also added his two cents on the Merriman issue.
"I hate to throw him further under the bus than he already is," Bailey said. "But fact is he used a performance enhancing drug, whether he knew it or not. I don't like anybody getting anything special when they get caught cheating. It kind of ruins the integrity of the game. Yes he did his time, but it is still the same season. It's kind of hard. I love the guy to death; the way he plays, his attitude. But he took a performance-enhancing drug. It's hard to get away from that."
Bailey, too, is a possibility for the top defensive player award. Bailey has a league-leading nine interceptions and 20 pass breakups.
Taylor, however, appears to be the concensus choice, recording 13 1/2 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and two interceptions — both returned for touchdowns.
While Merriman has been a dominant force on arguably the NFL's best team, the Chargers went 4-0 during the linebacker's suspension.
"If I wasn't having the kind of season I'm having, this wouldn't even be a conversation," Merriman said Wednesday. "The NFL will always have the level of integrity. That's what makes the NFL. In my situation, everything happened in an appropriate way. I sat out my four games, my money was taken away from me, my four games were taken away from me, and I came back and played my rear off."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6317616