The 26-year-old linebacker was placed on injured reserve with a calf injury and a “minor-injury designation” recently, and the Chargers told the “lights out” linebacker that once healthy, he will be released.
In 2006, Merriman was suspended four games for testing positive for steroids. Despite missing an entire quarter of the season, he ended up with 17 total sacks. He had 39 1/2 total sacks in his first three seasons combined.
When healthy, the 12th overall pick from Maryland in the 2005 draft can take over a contest, and this Patriots defense certainly could use the help at outside linebacker. But is it worth taking a flier on an off-field headache who has had just 44 tackles and four sacks in his last 18 games?
The Pats aren’t afraid to welcome in so-called “troublemakers” (Randy Moss, Bryan Cox and Corey Dillon, to name a few) and at 26, Merriman has plenty of time to save his career. But does he have the drive?
Would you like to see him in New England?
Should the Patriots take a flier on Shawne Merriman?customer surveys
