Shawne Merriman Has a Big Decision to Make

↵Next week, Chargers talisman and all-around swell guy ↵Shawne Merriman will see a specialist in Miami for a third ↵opinion on his two torn ligaments. The North County ↵Times reports the last doc Merriman saw -- the ↵infamous Dr. James Andrews, according to other ↵reports -- saw if Shawne plays on the injury, his ↵career could be at risk.
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↵Of course, Merriman fears nothing and wants to keep playing ↵now instead hitting surgery.↵↵⇥“I’ve been seeing some really great doctors ↵⇥over the past few days and they’ve all said the same things ↵⇥about the injury. [They’re] kind of surprised that I’ve ↵⇥been playing with it up to this point. .. [Playing this ↵⇥year is] first and foremost. That’s what I want to do. ↵⇥That’s why this decision is even out there still and not ↵⇥already made, because I want to play, period. The question ↵⇥is what should I do? How long should I play with ↵⇥it?”↵↵If two doctors have already said stop, I’m guessing the ↵answer to that last question would be “not at all.” ↵Merriman’s incredibly important to S.D.‘s hopes this ↵season, but he’s important in 2009 and 2010 and 2011, too. ↵He’s too good a player to toss off a career because he’s ↵too obsessed to take a breather and let his body heal.↵