First, the all-important disclaimer: though Chargers superstar linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested early Sunday morning on suspicion of choking and restraining his girlfriend, former reality TV star Tila Tequila,it has not been proven in any way, shape or form that Merriman did anything at all wrong — at least in a legal sense.
Merriman's Timing Couldn't Be Worse
At this point, with word just breaking on this otherwise quiet and sunny morning in America’s Finest City, it would be irresponsible of anyone to hazard any kind of a guess as to his potential guilt or innocence.
In terms of how this bolt out of the blue affects the Bolts, however, we may talking about an entirely different matter.
Before we go any further, a fairly well-worn prediction on how this story will develop from here:
Merriman will deny any wrong-doing and follow-up by saying that because of potential legal issues down the road he can say nothing further. With the season-opening game against the Oakland Raiders just eight days away, he will insist that it is the game of football that is his only concern. Merriman will apologize to his teammates, fans and the organization for the distraction.
The Chargers will say that they are closely monitoring the situation, and will wait to see what steps next take place in the legal arena before having any concrete ruling on Merriman’s status. They will stand behind their star player — at least until further notice. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will state much the same thing.
The players in the Chargers locker room will, to a man, also stand behind their teammate and pledge their unwavering support. No way this will cause any distraction at all as they get ready for Oakland, they’ll say.
Now, for the stone-cold reality of this situation: for Shawne Merriman to put himself in a situation where charges of this kind could even be a possibility is the most selfish, irresponsible and inexcusable move he could possibly make at this point and time — short of walking into a police station holding a bloody knife in one hand and a limp body in the other.
While it is true that we must wait for all the facts (or at least as many facts that will eventually come out) before rendering final judgment, there are at least a couple of early details from which we can at begin to form an opinion.
According to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a call at about 3:45 a.m. from a woman at Merriman’s Poway home who said she was choked by the player and physically restrained when she tried to leave.
We know that Merriman was taken into custody after Tequila signed a citizen’s arrest warrant, and we also know that Tequila (real last name: Nguyen) was taken to the hospital.
Quick question or two: would Tequila have been taken to the hospital if it had been readily apparent to deputies upon their arrival at Merriman’s home that she was just fine and in perfect physical condition? Would Merriman have been taken into custody had everything been in perfect order?
The answers are actually yes. Nevertheless, the perception persists that at least something was amiss when authorities arrived on the scene.
Merriman is, with no question, a fantastic NFL performer and athlete, one of the most disruptive defensive players in the game. But he has also managed to become rather disruptive to the Chargers.
Two seasons ago, he was suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s rules prohibiting the use of performance-enhancing substances. Prior to last season, he chose not to undergo off-season knee surgery, then discovered along with the rest of us that the knee wouldn’t hold up in the season-opener against Carolina, and as a result missed the rest of the year.
His constant branding of the “Light’s Out” image — complete with a sack dance on the field and myriad personal ventures off it — have contributed to the perception among some that Merriman is far more interested in advancing the cause of No. 56 than he is the team.
The current situation he finds himself in is further proof of his selfish nature. And, regardless of how it all turns out, it becomes the first big hurdle the Chargers will have to jump as they set sail on they hope will become a Super Bowl season.
– Ello
