LB Shawne Merriman says he's ready to earn the respect of his new Bills teammates.
Shawne Merriman has officially reported to his new team with a equally refreshing point of view on his play.
“I came in here with the plan to work as hard as I can to gain the team’s trust and the guys around me,” said Merriman via the Bills website. “Not be a guy walking in here with Pro Bowls, but earn these guys’ respect by working and I’m pretty sure I’m going to do that.”
Merriman was a three-time All-Pro and won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2005 during his six seasons in San Diego.
As of late he has not played like the same “Lights Out” player he had been early in his career. After recording 39.5 sacks in his first three years (he had 17 sacks in 12 games in 2006,) has has only added four sacks since.
A reconstructive knee surgery after tearing his PCL in 2008 has also set him back. If you ask Merriman, the recovery process is the sole reason for the recent decline in his production.
“I just think it’s foolish to think like that,” Merriman told me then. “Ask anyone who has come back off a major knee injury. It’s ridiculous for anyone to think you’re going to be the same right away. But the biggest thing for me is, I can’t just say what I’m going to do; I’m more anxious to get back doing it.”
One AFC Scout isn’t so sure Merriman will be as effect as he hopes.
“He’s got a little burst left, but he’s not nearly as explosive as he used to be,” the scout told NFL.com . “The strength is still there, but he moves like a 35-year-old. … I don’t know how he’ll hold up physically if he gets banged around against the run. His lower body just doesn’t have the explosiveness it used to.”
Merriman, however, is not concerned with the naysayers. He added that he is now in good shape and ready to become an impact player again.
“It’s beyond the importance of just playing football. What’s important to me is that I get back to transforming the game.”
Merriman will likely make his Bills debut in Week 10 as will not be up to speed on the playbook in time for the team’s Week 9 game vs. Chicago.
