Shawne Merriman was finally put on waivers by the Chargers on Tuesday and there has been some speculation the 49ers will claim him. Greg Manusky coached him in San Diego and likes him, or liked him a few years ago. He’s not the same player now as he was then.
Claiming Merriman would necessitate releasing probably Travis LaBoy, who has not exactly set the world on fire this season. In fact, of the outside linebackers, the one playing the best is old reliable Manny Lawson, the one everybody keeps trying to replace. Lawson is not a sack master, but he makes plays and he makes them every game. LaBoy, Ahmad Brooks, and Parys Haralson all are quite capable of disappearing on any given game day. More likely to vanish than they are to appear. Not an impressive trio.
So maybe the Niners will take a flyer on Merriman. Why not? What’s to lose? We’ll find out by two o’clock today.
The other big name on the waiver wire is Randy Moss. Claiming this worm would be a stunner. The Vikes cut him loose after four games mostly because he was an incredible asshole to some caterers who had brought food to the team last Friday. One of the greatest talents to ever play in the NFL and one of the biggest jerks, too.
I can only imagine the Vikings blogosphere these days. They traded a 3rd round pick for Moss, then cut him after four games. That is a severe case of bozoitis. Their coach Brad Childress has become more of a laughingstock around the league than Wade Phillips or even Mike Singletary. That team is headed straight for the sewer system.
Where this team is headed is anybody’s guess right now. Five of the final eight games are against division teams, teams we beat last year. If the 49ers win them all, things could get interesting. But they would pretty much have to win them all, and when has this team ever done something they had to do? “Close, but no cigar” seems to be the franchise motto these past few years. And nothing going on right now leads me to think this year will be any different.
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NoFear’s Fotos
This is the touchdown play following Walker’s reception between Dawkins and Bailey on the one yard line early in the fourth quarter.
I found it interesting because of the way it was defensed and the versatility of the formation and the play possibilities from it.
Why we would want Merriman or Moss is beyond me. San Diego is 2nd in sacks with 25 and Merriman has a grand total of zero of them. Only an absolute idiot would want Moss. The only teams that should even consider that ingrate are the ones that have a winning record and can get him the ball. And even then, I would still pass.
Merriman’s been injured, so that would explain his lack of sacks. And SD obviously doesn’t need him, but maybe he could help us. It would make a little news and give the fans some juice, if nothing else. They could use a little juice now that the Kool-aid glass is empty.
Merriman has really never been the same guy since he hurt that knee. Explosion is everything in a pass rusher and his seems to have been left back in 2007.
A guy playing on his rep who hasn’t been able to stay healthy and used to do steroids is the very definition of a longshot bet. I would not claim him as I don’t want to be on the hook for that salary when it probably comes to naught. Now if he clears and you can get him cheap, that’s another consideration. You would bring him in expecting him to do little this year but hoping another off-season might bring back some of his old form. That’s like buying a lottery ticket: not that expensive, big potential payoff.
Moss on the other hand is a PITA we don’t need. We already have enough underachievers here.
Without steroids and with a bad knee, all you get from Merriman is a name. Big whoopie! We’d be better off with Whoopie Goldberg, at least she could make us laugh when as continue to lose.
It would make Rob happy, though. Doesn’t that count for something?
Yeah, the talk of these guys coming here is daft. The most likely place for Moss is StL, but even then, why take the chsnce to have a jerk-off like Moss messing with your rookie QB?
Looks like Bills are claiming Merriman. Don’t imagine he’s too thrilled about going from SD to Buffalo.
Looks like Kentwan Balmer is now the starting DE in Seattle, replacing an injured Red Bryant. This should be interesting.