without him. He really didn’t taper off much after the suspension. In the three games prior to his injury he racked up 6 sacks and put up 12.5 for the year. In 2006 he had 17, but in four less games but keep in mind that Wade blitzed far more than Cottrell.

The backups are good, we may find out how good. The most likely player will be Jyles Tucker. He filled in for him after Merriman got hurt originally. That week against the Raiders he picked up 3.5 sacks, had a forced fumble and was the AFC defensive player of the week. He obviously won’t put up numbers like that every week, but in training camp he seems to show some real chops. The other OLB is Marques Harris, he is pretty athletic, you may have seen him do flips after a sack, usually makes the highlight reels. He is quick, but doesn’t get the sack numbers, he will likely back up Tucker and Phillips now. Both are a step down, but the real question is if Merriman goes for the full reconstruction. There is no doubt that when healthy he is a game changer.

While I didn’t see a decline after the suspension, Merriman was hampered after his injury, in the last five games he had just two sacks and a handful of tackles, the defense was still fairly stout. During that stretch San Diego gave up a total of 55 points or just 11 per game. No matter how you slice it though, you just can’t replace a pro bowler.

I say 13-3 and no Super Bowl…I say Super Bowls in 2009 and 2010. :)

they ran the table going 6-0 to end the season, 8-1 in their last nine games.

Hit him high and low away from the play and after the whistle. They were fined, but fines are really just pocket change these days.

But this morning that is all the locals were talking about. There is real concern here about his status after next season. Some in the media think he is more valuable than McNeil, Phylis, and Chambers. All those guys contracts expire after the 2009 season also. I think only the tip of the iceberg has been hit. The other big thing about this is, the Chargers medical staff never detected the tear. It was Dr. Andrews that did. I see some sort of suit in the future especially if Merriman believes the medical staff cost him money as a free agent. Stay tuned. . . .

He loves the media, a whole lotta hot dog in him; I kinda like that but it does drive the fans from other teams nuts. It isn’t that the Chargers don’t want to keep him, but they have too much talent going FA all at once, and Merriman isn’t really the kind to take less to stay with the team. Dielman and Castillo have already signed for less than they likely could have made elsewhere, my guess is they are after Rivers next. If the CBA doesn’t get cleared up we may get to keep him till 2010, or he could get franchised, that would probably be a bargain. If the CBA doesn’t happen and then we franchise him, maybe 2011 (I can dream can’t I?).