Shawne Merriman!

[George Cumby]

Merriman was picked 12th overall in 2005. Rodgers was 25th. Thompson didnt draft Rodgers over Merriman. However, it was reported that Thompson would've drafted Merriman or DeMarcus Ware if he could've traded up. Luckily Rodgers fell to the Pack.

Merriman is only 28. Given the bums playing OLB for the Pack, it wouldn't hurt to bring in Merriman for a look see or whatnot.

You miss my point, which is perhaps due to my poor wording.

In the great fan tradition of deconstructing a draft before it's time, there were many, not necessarily on this Board, who bemoaned the fact that Merriman was such a great player and Rodgers such a bum. It wasn't that it would have been possible to draft Merriman, only that SD had him and we had this schlub who would never amount to much.

That being said, as our esteemed colleague said, BUFFALO cut him. Not someone we need to waste our time with.

[rbaloha1]

The unbiased assessment is that you don't need to have watched Merriman to know he is through. Getting released from Buffalo is all you need to know.

Are you saying all players that are cut are done? What about -- Howard Green, Tramon Williams, Bruce Wilkerson, Andre Rison, Cullen Jenkins, John Kuhn, etc.?

[Joemailman]

Merriman hasn't had a good season since 2007. He suffered a knee injury in 2008, and hasn't done much sense. It's likely over for him.

[LegandofthePack15]

Let's look at Merriman since his PED suspension.

2007 - 15 games, 68 tackles, 12.5 sacks
2008 - 1 game, 2 tackles
2009 - 14 games, 36 tackles, 4 sacks
2010 - 3 games, 6 tackles
2011 - 5 games, 9 tackles, 1 sack

Those last 4 years of performance scream sign him!

Matthews had something like 6 sacks last season. Stats don't always tell the whole story.

Merriman has been injury-prone but he's now healthy.

[rbaloha1]

Matthews had something like 6 sacks last season. Stats don't always tell the whole story.

Merriman has been injury-prone but he's now healthy.

Exactly. Matthews barely missed sacks last season by a nano second. Combined big plays were almost the same as rookie year.

[LegandofthePack15]

- The Bums playing OLB for the Pack.

I think I made it clear in the first post that Matthews is an exception. I'm talking about guys like Walden, Zombo, So'oto, etc. The Packers are one Matthews hamstring injury away from having virtually no pass rush.

Merriman, if he can stay healthy, knows how to rush the qb.

Perry is still unproven.

[LegandofthePack15]

You miss my point, which is perhaps due to my poor wording.

In the great fan tradition of deconstructing a draft before it's time, there were many, not necessarily on this Board, who bemoaned the fact that Merriman was such a great player and Rodgers such a bum. It wasn't that it would have been possible to draft Merriman, only that SD had him and we had this schlub who would never amount to much.

That being said, as our esteemed colleague said, BUFFALO cut him. Not someone we need to waste our time with.

I think Buffalo has reverted back by to the 4-3. Merriman playing in the 4-3 is like Aaron Kampman playing in the 3-4.

[LegandofthePack15]

Are you saying all players that are cut are done? What about -- Howard Green, Tramon Williams, Bruce Wilkerson, Andre Rison, Cullen Jenkins, John Kuhn, etc.?

Well said.

[Gunakor]

Merriman, if he can stay healthy, knows how to rush the qb.

Perry is still unproven.

No, Merriman is done. Finished. Washed up. That happened several years ago. He's yesterday's trash. Cannot rush the passer even when healthy. I'll take an unproven Perry over a proven failure like Merriman any day of the week. Twice on Sundays. Hell, I'll take my chances with Zombo and Jones backing up Matthews and Perry before I trust Merriman in any role. Why are we even talking about this?

[LegandofthePack15]

No, Merriman is done. Finished. Washed up. That happened several years ago. He's yesterday's trash. Cannot rush the passer even when healthy. I'll take an unproven Perry over a proven failure like Merriman any day of the week. Twice on Sundays. Hell, I'll take my chances with Zombo and Jones backing up Matthews and Perry before I trust Merriman in any role. Why are we even talking about this?

Why are we talking abouth this, you ask. See the Packers' pass rush (or lack of) last season.

Merriman would provide depth. No way he's a "proven failure." The guy depicted Lawrence Tayloresque pass rushing abilities earlier in his career. Granted, that was eons ago but the guy's still 28 and he's a proven pass rusher.

An average Merriman is still better than Zombo, Jones, Walden, So'oto and the such.

[Lurker64]

Has Merriman actually had an effective season since getting busted for juice? Methinks PEDs had more to do with his good seasons than "knowing how to rush the passer."

[LegandofthePack15]

Has Merriman actually had an effective season since getting busted for juice? Methinks PEDs had more to do with his good seasons than "knowing how to rush the passer."

As TunderDan posted, Marriman had 12.5 sacks in 2007, post-suspension. His stats dwindled due more to injuries than ineffective plays.

[Gunakor]

Why are we talking abouth this, you ask. See the Packers' pass rush (or lack of) last season.

I noticed. I also have been noticing a lack of pass rush from Shawn Merriman for what's going on a half decade now. I don't see how a guy with a combined 7 sacks over the last 5 seasons is any better than the guys on our roster right now. You're basing your judgement of Merriman on nostalgia. That stupid lights out dance he did a half decade ago. Brad Jones had as many sacks as Merriman in 2009 (in 6 fewer starts), both Walden and Zombo had more sacks than Merriman in 2010. Merriman's career is bust. It's over. He's absolute garbage now. I'll take my chances with Zombo and Walden and Jones.

[Patler]

Are you saying all players that are cut are done? What about -- Howard Green, Tramon Williams, Bruce Wilkerson, Andre Rison, Cullen Jenkins, John Kuhn, etc.?

I'm not sure your examples are very relevant.

There is a difference between the release of an aging veteran who is a former dominant player but has been ineffective for 4 years, and the release of a young player who has not yet emerged or proven himself (Williams, Kuhn, etc.)

The situation of Merriman being cut in the middle of training camp, two weeks before a cut down date, at a time when teams can carry 90 players, is very different than cutdowns to meet 53 man player limits before and during the season, particularly when there is a conflict of sorts between the player and team. (Green, Rison, etc.)

There is a huge difference between a player a team gives up on in the middle of camp, and one who becomes a free agent because his contract has expired (Jenkins, Wilkerson, etc.)

Everything about the Merriman situation screams that his career is done. Injuries have made his last four years virtually nonexistent. His performance has been minimal even when he has played. The Bills need players, yet they gave up on him well in advance of the first cut down date.

To bring Merriman in, someone needs to be released. Frankly, I am more interested in seeing what the young unknowns have than looking at Merriman.

[Guiness]

He's young at 28. I think he lands somewhere at, or near, the vet minimum. The Bills had to cut him, for some reason they gave him a big contract (scheduled to make $4million this year) when it didn't seem anyone else was even going to sign him! There's also the problem that the Bills went to a 4-3 this year, leaving him without a position, they were trying to make a DE out of him.

He was hurt the last two years, but if he passes a physical he should land somewhere. Don't see it being here, but who knows. As far as seeing what other players have instead of looking at him, he's got a lot of potential if he can stay healthy