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Merriman knows fire perils
By Kevin Acee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 25, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. – Shawne Merriman's tiny apartment burned to the ground twice when he was a child, a candle lit for warmth starting both blazes. He ran from his home once with only the clothes he was wearing.
Advertisement “As soon as I smelled it, I smelled that smell before,” he said of waking up to smoke Monday. “I knew immediately what it was.”
The Chargers linebacker was much less frantic Monday as he left his Scripps Ranch home – the one with the giant wooden doors and theater in the midst of its 3,000 square feet. With help from his uncle and a friend, he packed some mementos and drove away three of his five luxury cars.
But those are not the things that were on his mind as he left, unsure he would return to the 2-year-old home. That's why he and other players were empathetic as they spoke of their fellow San Diegans.
“When you lose everything, you lose everything, no matter who you are,” he said. “I can go buy 10 more houses. I can buy 20 more houses. But what's in that house I can't replace – the memorabilia, scrapbooks, baby pictures, awards.”
Work to do
It's a good thing the Chargers got a little jump on preparations for the Texans during the bye week. Norv Turner could tell his team was a little behind yesterday.
“We did a lot of good things in practice,” he said. “There are some things you could tell we've been off. We had a bye last week and we didn't get a practice Monday like we normally do. We have some catching up to do.”
While his mantra to his team and media was shutting out distractions, Turner acknowledged that is easier said than done.
“We're asking a lot of our guys,” he said. “Like everyone in San Diego, this thing has affected a lot of people. I like the way our guys handled today. . . . They're human. It's hard to say, 'Now just focus on football.'”
None of the 24 players who were evacuated lost his home.
The team helped players get their families out of town or into alternative lodging.
“That's why Monday and Tuesday were important,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. “They let us take care of everything that was important. That way, once that's situated, we can focus on the game. Fortunately, everyone was able to do that.”
Nuts 'n' Bolts
Defensive tackle Jamal Williams (knees) did not practice but is expected to play against the Texans. Receiver Buster Davis (ankle) and cornerback Drayton Florence (knee) were limited in their work. Guard Mike Goff (thumb) worked with a gigantic cast to protect his surgically repaired thumb. He will play.
Turner was contacted by the Cardinals about being their head coach before he took the Commanders job in 1996. He also interviewed to be offensive coordinator in 2001 before taking the job as the Chargers' coordinator.
Texans' Schaub works out
Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub practiced, but is still listed as day to day with a bruised hip. While Schaub participated in a good portion of practice, backup Sage Rosenfels took most of the snaps in team drills.
Schaub was injured when Tennessee's Albert Haynesworth delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit.
By Kevin Acee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 25, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. – Shawne Merriman's tiny apartment burned to the ground twice when he was a child, a candle lit for warmth starting both blazes. He ran from his home once with only the clothes he was wearing.
Advertisement “As soon as I smelled it, I smelled that smell before,” he said of waking up to smoke Monday. “I knew immediately what it was.”
The Chargers linebacker was much less frantic Monday as he left his Scripps Ranch home – the one with the giant wooden doors and theater in the midst of its 3,000 square feet. With help from his uncle and a friend, he packed some mementos and drove away three of his five luxury cars.
But those are not the things that were on his mind as he left, unsure he would return to the 2-year-old home. That's why he and other players were empathetic as they spoke of their fellow San Diegans.
“When you lose everything, you lose everything, no matter who you are,” he said. “I can go buy 10 more houses. I can buy 20 more houses. But what's in that house I can't replace – the memorabilia, scrapbooks, baby pictures, awards.”
Work to do
It's a good thing the Chargers got a little jump on preparations for the Texans during the bye week. Norv Turner could tell his team was a little behind yesterday.
“We did a lot of good things in practice,” he said. “There are some things you could tell we've been off. We had a bye last week and we didn't get a practice Monday like we normally do. We have some catching up to do.”
While his mantra to his team and media was shutting out distractions, Turner acknowledged that is easier said than done.
“We're asking a lot of our guys,” he said. “Like everyone in San Diego, this thing has affected a lot of people. I like the way our guys handled today. . . . They're human. It's hard to say, 'Now just focus on football.'”
None of the 24 players who were evacuated lost his home.
The team helped players get their families out of town or into alternative lodging.
“That's why Monday and Tuesday were important,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. “They let us take care of everything that was important. That way, once that's situated, we can focus on the game. Fortunately, everyone was able to do that.”
Nuts 'n' Bolts
Defensive tackle Jamal Williams (knees) did not practice but is expected to play against the Texans. Receiver Buster Davis (ankle) and cornerback Drayton Florence (knee) were limited in their work. Guard Mike Goff (thumb) worked with a gigantic cast to protect his surgically repaired thumb. He will play.
Turner was contacted by the Cardinals about being their head coach before he took the Commanders job in 1996. He also interviewed to be offensive coordinator in 2001 before taking the job as the Chargers' coordinator.
Texans' Schaub works out
Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub practiced, but is still listed as day to day with a bruised hip. While Schaub participated in a good portion of practice, backup Sage Rosenfels took most of the snaps in team drills.
Schaub was injured when Tennessee's Albert Haynesworth delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit.