Buffalo Bills claim Shawne Merriman off Waivers
Former Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne ‘Lights Out’ Merriman’s contract was officially waived by the San Diego Chargers this week but Merriman has already been claimed by the Buffalo Bills. Merriman was placed on injured reserve three weeks ago due to a minor
injury. The Chargers had expressed their desire to release Merriman after he recovered and was able to play football again.
Merriman had 39 sacks to his credit in his first three Pro Bowl seasons. In his last three, that number fell to just four sacks in 18 games. He was injured in 2008 and missed the entire season. Injuries again ensured that Merriman wouldn’t be able to live
up to his reputation in 2009 and in 2010 he was left out again due to a calf injury. He was placed on injured reserve in mid October.
Once a player is waived, the team with the worst record in the league has the right to claim his contract. The Buffalo Bills with a 0-7-0 record are the worst team in the league. Before the Bills laid claim to Merriman, speculation was rife that both the
Baltimore Ravens and the Miami Dolphins wanted to take him in.
Currently third in the league with a 5-2-0 record, the Ravens could only have gotten Merriman if all other franchises except the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons passed over the linebacker. Friend and mentor of Merriman, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis,
said that he had spoken to him after he was waived. “Well, of course I want him here,” Lewis answered when asked if he wanted to see Merriman on Baltimore’s roster. “But the list in long and we just have to wait it out and see what happens.”
The Miami Dolphins were much higher up in the priority list to claim Merriman. The Dolphins made a claim for Merriman and could have acquired him too if the Buffalo Bills didn’t have priority.
Bills’ new general manager Buddy Nix wanted Merriman and got him for Buffalo. The move is baffling in some ways. The Bills have the one of the worst rush defences in the league but surprisingly, the Bills do pretty well against the pass. Having gone without
a single win so far means that it basically pointless even trying to make the playoffs and one linebacker isn’t going to change the team anyway. The one year ‘quick fix’ won’t actually fix anything. Also, Nix had said earlier that he was not interested in
acquiring high profile players but wanted instead to focus on the draft to rebuild the team. The fact that Buffalo has claimed Merriman speaks volumes of their desperation.
“We think Shawne can help our defense,” Nix said. He said that Shawne was an impact player in the 3-4 defence and that it was a good time for the Bills to try to improve themselves with the addition. Nix and Merriman go back to 2005. He worked in the Chargers’
front office when Merriman was drafted by San Diego.
The Bills locker room is excited and looking forward to playing together with “Lights Out” Merriman. That won’t happen this week though when Buffalo would face Chicago Bears. Merriman would probably feature in the November 14th game against the
Detroit Lions. Against the Lions, Merriman’s impact on the defence could be significant enough to earn the Bills their first win of the season since the Bills don’t have much of a chance of beating Chicago.
Buffalo’ linebacker Chris Kelsay said that the Bills needed more playmakers on the team. “If he can come in here and do that for us, we'll welcome him with open arms.” The mood is optimistic all around. Safety Donte Whitner said that getting Merriman would
be ‘huge’ for the Bills.
That is of course Merriman decides to join the Bills. San Diego might not be one of NFL’s front runners but the team at least isn’t at the very bottom either. Merriman must be asking himself what he did in a previous life to deserve this. Playing for Buffalo
is not what he wanted but he would still take what he can get and continue to play football. We would probably see him action in the Ralph Wilson Stadium next Sunday.
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