Shawne Merriman ended his dispute with the San Diego Chargers as he signed a one-year deal worth $3.2 million and returned to the team for pre-season training.
'Lights out' ends hold out after signing new San Diego deal
Shawne Merriman ended his dispute with the San Diego Chargers as he signed a one-year deal worth $3.2 million and returned to the team for pre-season training.
The star linebacker had sat out two weeks of training camp to show his displeasure at the contract, and with the continuing reports of the Chargers looking to trade him away during the off-season.
However, Merriman says he never wanted to leave San Diego and now believes enough is enough and he needs to get back into training for the new season.
Merriman will not be available for San Diego's opening pre-season game against Chicago on Saturday, but he should return to face Dallas next weekend.
After 39.5 sacks in his first three seasons, Merriman struggled in the last two after a season-ending knee injury in 2008 and a number of other problems in his comeback season last year.
Get ready
"There's a point where you have to come in and get ready for the season, and that's what it's about at the end of the day," said Merriman after signing his deal. "I think it was time for me to come in and get ready.
"You can't show up Game 1, Game 2, whatever, and expect to be ready. The only way to emulate football is to play football.
"I didn't accomplish anything at all (by holding out) because I always knew that I was wanted here and that was one of the biggest reasons for getting some things sorted out. But just the whole business part of it you just hate to deal with. I'm just so glad that that's behind me now where I can go out and play.
"Everybody's on the trading block, so I don't think that was a question at all. I think it was more of it being talked about so much. At no point in time did I want my conversation on where I'm going to play or what's going to happen be bigger than us getting ready for a game.
"At some point, it got there. That's what I wanted to stay away from. But I'm happy to be back here for another year, to come out and finish what we started with these guys. There's no better way to do it."
Concerns
Merriman had voiced his concerns to general manager AJ Smith, who is known not to be a fan of the player's celebrity lifestyle off the field, but in the end the two came to an agreement.
"We obviously have the same goals," Merriman added. "Trying to accomplish the same things, and sometimes in between, things get a little mixed up and they shouldn't be. But ultimately we have the same goals, to come out and be a championship ballclub."
The Chargers have dominated the AFC West in the last three years but have not been able to go as far as their talent-laden roster had suggested - which should be all the way to the Super Bowl.
If Merriman, who is known as 'Lights Out' for his fearsome hitting, is back to his best he can again be a frightening figure for opposing teams and coach Norv Turner could finally get his team to the big game.
"I know what he brings to our football team - he brings another outstanding football player with a real competitive attitude," Turner said. "I think (that) rubs off on everybody and that will help everybody else."
