Report: Former NFL star Shawne Merriman joining WWE

[big dog cowboy]

Report: Former NFL star Shawne Merriman joining WWE
April 11, 2014

Shawne Merriman is joining a long list of football players turned professional wrestlers.

WWE commentators John Layfield and Michael Cole announced Tuesday that Merriman is “joining the WWE family.”

The 29-year-old spent eight years in the NFL, split between the San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills, as a defensive end and outside linebacker.

Merriman, nicknamed “Lights Out” in the NFL, tried out for the WWE in November, but he was not offered a contract at the time. He appeared on the WWE Network’s WrestleMania preshow Sunday.

Read more: http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/...g-former-san-diego-chargers-linebacker-041114

Rick Stewart / Getty Images North America
Shawne Merriman spent eight years in the NFL, split between the San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills, as a defensive end and outside linebacker.

 

[joseephuss]

So he hasn't given up the PED use.

 

[jobberone]

Best of luck to him.

 

[trickblue]

'member the comparisons we went through YEARS of...

 

[joseephuss]

'member the comparisons we went through YEARS of...

The Jessica Alba/Jessica Biel comparisons? Everyone was a winner with those.

 

[Stryker44]

Was he banned from the NFL? At 29, he should still be playing football.

 

[jrumann59]

Was he banned from the NFL? At 29, he should still be playing football.

After he got nailed PEDs he fell off the map and had a lot of nagging injuries. Pro Wrestling is not the profession you want to get into if you have disdain for nagging injuries.

 

[joseephuss]

That isn't true. He was busted in 2006(his 2nd year in the league) and had to miss 4 games at the start of that season. He came back and had a good remainder of the 2006 season putting up 17 sacks in 12 games. He also had a good season in 2007 totaling 12 1/2 sacks. It was after that when he finally fell off the map and he had to deal with more than just nagging injuries. He had major reconstructive knee surgery in 2008 and missed most of that season.

I truly never thought he quit using PEDs. He just stopped getting caught, but it didn't matter because his body gave up on him and he also never grew as a player. He didn't develop any passing rushing moves. Once his body started failing, he just couldn't compensate for his physical failings with technique or a variety of moves.

 

[erod]

Don't let that investment in PEDs go to waste, I suppose.

 

[dogunwo]

'member the comparisons we went through YEARS of...

So who would you rather have, Merriman or Ware?

 

[dogunwo]

That isn't true. He was busted in 2006(his 2nd year in the league) and had to miss 4 games at the start of that season. He came back and had a good remainder of the 2006 season putting up 17 sacks in 12 games. He also had a good season in 2007 totaling 12 1/2 sacks. It was after that when he finally fell off the map and he had to deal with more than just nagging injuries. He had major reconstructive knee surgery in 2008 and missed most of that season.

I truly never thought he quit using PEDs. He just stopped getting caught, but it didn't matter because his body gave up on him and he also never grew as a player. He didn't develop any passing rushing moves. Once his body started failing, he just couldn't compensate for his physical failings with technique or a variety of moves.

He may not have been able to recover from those injuries anymore after the PED use ceased.

 

[joseephuss]

He may not have been able to recover from those injuries anymore after the PED use ceased.

Do you really think the PED use ceased? I don't. I think he was still on something.