Shawne Merriman announces retirement

Splat · 03-05-2013, 05:54 PM

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...is-nfl-career/

Quote:

Shawne Merriman, who burst onto the scene eight years ago as one of the NFL’s most feared pass rushers but saw his status as an elite player fall apart just as quickly, has announced his retirement at the age of 28.

“After a lengthy discussion with my agent, family and team, I have officially decided to put in my retirement papers today,” Merriman wrote on his personal website. “My retirement from the game I love so much and from the game that has brought me so many opportunities on and off the field has been decided with great thought for my future on and off the field. I retire today not because I don’t feel I can go out there and still play the game at a very high level, I am retiring because I want to retire on my own terms and leave while I know I can still physically play the game.”

I remember his rookie year he put Willie Roaf on his ass on his way to crushing Trent Green. I thought to myself "Holy **** we are going to have to deal with this guy for the next 10 years."

It's crazy how it all ended up playing out for him.

Bob Sanders Dreadlock · 03-05-2013, 05:56 PM

He had more sacks in his rookie year than he has the last 5 years. Almost the same for tackles as well.

BallerT1215 · 03-05-2013, 05:57 PM

Buddy Nix would have just kept re-signing him for as long as he wanted to play.

Punisher · 03-05-2013, 05:58 PM

vidae · 03-05-2013, 05:59 PM

He was still in the league?

SolidGold · 03-05-2013, 06:13 PM

poster child for steroid abuse in this era of the NFL

J-Mike88 · 03-05-2013, 06:16 PM

He said WHAAAT?

"I retire today not because I don’t feel I can go out there and still play the game at a very high level, I am retiring because I want to retire on my own terms and leave while I know I can still physically play the game.”

Don Vito · 03-05-2013, 06:27 PM

He is still only 28 which is crazy. It is insane to think about if he continued the trajectory he was on, juice or not. He seems like he has been washed up for 5 or 6 years at least.

K Train · 03-05-2013, 06:30 PM

i remember when the chargers UNLEASHED him in like game 6 of his rookie year against the steelers on SNF, he was amazing. Looks simply unstoppable.

It wasnt because he didnt juice anymore that he wasnt good, it was the juicing slowed his ability to heal on top of being able to play so hard and lift so much but too much strain on his muscles and ligaments.

Man he was looking like an all time great-to-be...such a shame

Caddy · 03-05-2013, 06:31 PM

It feels like so long ago that he was relevant.

Brodeur · 03-05-2013, 07:30 PM

He's still afraid of CM Punk.

Trogdor · 03-05-2013, 07:34 PM

Remember when Merriman promised that Dallas would regret taking Ware over him? Good times.

Perhaps if Merriman wasn't a habitual steroid user his body wouldn't of deteriorated so quickly. Certainly the poster-child for the modern steroids movement.

Prowler · 03-05-2013, 07:41 PM

Priest Holmes...I wish Merriman would have retired a decade ago...

bigbluedefense · 03-05-2013, 08:01 PM

I remember when he first came into the league, those first 2 years, I was like wow, this guy could be the 2nd best pass rushing OLB when his career is over. He was that good.

Then it all went downhill from there. Shame.

G Mobile · 03-06-2013, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K Train

i remember when the chargers UNLEASHED him in like game 6 of his rookie year against the steelers on SNF, he was amazing. Looks simply unstoppable.

It wasnt because he didnt juice anymore that he wasnt good, it was the juicing slowed his ability to heal on top of being able to play so hard and lift so much but too much strain on his muscles and ligaments.

Man he was looking like an all time great-to-be...such a shame

Yeah his body just fell apart on him.

Crazy to see him rise and fall so fast. He was elite for a minute there.

Saints-Tigers · 03-06-2013, 02:14 AM

So strange that he's only 28, and seems like he's been done for so long. 28 is so young, his life is barely started.

SuperMcGee · 03-06-2013, 03:08 AM

I liked him when he was here. Good rah rah guy at the least that came up with some plays.

OzTitan · 03-06-2013, 04:31 AM

The slightly more successful David Boston of defense.

FUNBUNCHER · 03-06-2013, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punisher

Merriman let it slip in an interview in the Washington Post before he was drafted that he was a 170# HS sophomore or freshman when he began playing football.

Somehow he gained 60# of muscle before he entered UMD as a freshman.

Just heard rumors that Merriman had been using for a loooong time before entered the NFL, and that the foundation of his football career was built on PEDs.

jrdrylie · 03-06-2013, 08:17 AM

It wasn't steroids that ruined him. It was Tila Tequila. He was great until he started running around with her.

TheRubberDuck45 · 03-06-2013, 09:17 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvUE...e_gdata_player

Don Vito · 03-06-2013, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrdrylie

It wasn't steroids that ruined him. It was Tila Tequila. He was great until he started running around with her.

I am going to have to side with you on this.

brat316 · 03-06-2013, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OzTitan

The slightly more successful David Boston of defense.

He didnt juice he just liked bodybuilding

killxswitch · 03-06-2013, 10:14 AM

If I remember right he played for months on a torn ACL instead of going on IR. It was a really stupid move. I don't know if he thought he was invincible or what. But he was not just a roid product. Roids do not turn scrubs into elite players. They enhance what is already there.

descendency · 03-06-2013, 10:19 AM

Supposedly, he had 1 good year without steroids. He got hurt and that was basically his career.