PFT
LIGHTS OUT FOR MERRIMAN
According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, the NFL has suspended Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman four games for violating the league's steroids policy.
A source told Mortensen that the report was "definitely for steroids . . . not one of those supplement deals." The policy, officially known as the "National Football League Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances," is more commonly violated when a player takes a supplement that includes a banned ingredient, such as ephedra.
We're also intrigued, frankly, by the fact that Mortensen cited both league and "team" sources in support of his report. Per the NFL's steroids policy, "[a]ny Club or Club employee that publicly divulges, directly or indirectly, information concerning positive drug tests or other violation of this Policy (including numerical summaries or specific names of persons) or otherwise breaches the confidentiality provisions of this Policy is subject to a fine of up to $500,000 by the Commissioner." Though Mort's report doesn't mention anyone on the team by name, the mere fact that someone spilled the beans should be enough to draw a fine.
Back to Merriman, the suspension does little to alleviate concerns that the Chargers are one of the thuggiest teams in the NFL. On the field, the absence of Merriman is another blow to a defense reeling from injuries, both from incidents on the field (Igor Olshansky) . . . and incidents off of it (Steve Foley).
Maybe, in the end, the Cowboys knew what they were doing when they surprisingly passed on Merriman in the 2005 draft.
