If You Were A Charger Player (1 Viewer)

[Joe Bryant]

I know this is barely shark pool material but thought I'd see how it goes.

Shawne Merriman was a guest on the NFL Network's Total Access Show.

I know it's Tuesday and I know the Chargers facility isn't that far from the studio. But it's still a time consuming thing. From getting all dressed up to traveling to preparing to sitting through makeup and all that.

I think I'd be locked in the film room studying the Broncos if I were in Merriman's position.

Too harsh?

J

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

I'd say too harsh. Tuesday is an off day for NFL players, alot of them do tv/radio shows Monday night or tuesday. How long do you relly think it takes to do the show?

 

[jonessed]

I know this is barely shark pool material but thought I'd see how it goes.Shawne Merriman was a guest on the NFL Network's Total Access Show.I know it's Tuesday and I know the Chargers facility isn't that far from the studio. But it's still a time consuming thing. From getting all dressed up to traveling to preparing to sitting through makeup and all that.I think I'd be locked in the film room studying the Broncos if I were in Merriman's position. Too harsh?J

It's an off day for the players. Seems like a perfectly reasonable thing to do.

 

[pizzatyme]

More importantly, how can he feel comfortable showing his face in public?

Dude should be reading "How to turn the lights out" for Dummies.

 

[smcindoe]

More importantly, how can he feel comfortable showing his face in public?

He wants to remind NFL quarterbacks what he looks like?

 

[pizzatyme]

More importantly, how can he feel comfortable showing his face in public?

He wants to remind NFL quarterbacks what he looks like?

 

[BoltBacker]

????

I'm going to go out on a limb and say I've seen a few players spend time in front of a camera during the week of a game with nary a mention of it.

Every week.

For as long as I can remember.

 

[pizzatyme]

????I'm going to go out on a limb and say I've seen a few players spend time in front of a camera during the week of a game with nary a mention of it.Every week.For as long as I can remember.

Do you happen to remember if their teams were 1-3 at the time?

 

[mrspree15]

More importantly, how can he feel comfortable showing his face in public?

He wants to remind NFL quarterbacks what he looks like?

He has 3 sacks

 

[jonessed]

????I'm going to go out on a limb and say I've seen a few players spend time in front of a camera during the week of a game with nary a mention of it.Every week.For as long as I can remember.

Do you happen to remember if their teams were 1-3 at the time?

No. Players with losing records aren't allowed to be on TV. It's never been done in the history of the NFL. This is a non-issue and I can't imagine Joe doesn't know that.

 

[pizzatyme]

More importantly, how can he feel comfortable showing his face in public?

He wants to remind NFL quarterbacks what he looks like?

He has 3 sacks

1 for each loss. Go tell the world how good you are!

 

[mrspree15]

More importantly, how can he feel comfortable showing his face in public?

He wants to remind NFL quarterbacks what he looks like?

He has 3 sacks

1 for each loss. Go tell the world how good you are!

What are you talking about? He was implying that Merriman wasn't doing too well. 3 sacks in 4 games seems fine by me. We already know that the Chargers haven't been good.

 

[BoltBacker]

????I'm going to go out on a limb and say I've seen a few players spend time in front of a camera during the week of a game with nary a mention of it.Every week.For as long as I can remember.

Do you happen to remember if their teams were 1-3 at the time?

Never kept track. What was McNabb's record when he did the HBO interview complaining black QB's are treated unfairly? I do recall at least one raider conducting an interview in front of a camera last season... does that count? Are you being serious or this schtick????

 

[Pocket Joker]

Same garbage that we see with Cincy. Poor teams continue poor performance, and still dedicate interviews.

These guys will NEVER be winners, b/c they care more about the fame than being champs.

Glad I'm a Pats fan!

 

[pizzatyme]

The OP was asking if we thought this was acceptable behavior to the Shark Pool given the fact that the team is 1-3 on the year.

It seems as though some believe that it is okay since it has happened before. Others will think it not okay to do this.

Funny thing is that the early returns are in that those who are Charger supporters are okay with it. Surprising!

What I'm trying to get across is that I feel it unacceptable.

If the Colts were 3-1, that's one thing. If they're 1-3, then no way in hell I want Manning out hamming it up for the cameras. Make sense now?

 

[Joe Bryant]

????I'm going to go out on a limb and say I've seen a few players spend time in front of a camera during the week of a game with nary a mention of it.Every week.For as long as I can remember.

Do you happen to remember if their teams were 1-3 at the time?

Never kept track. What was McNabb's record when he did the HBO interview complaining black QB's are treated unfairly? I do recall at least one raider conducting an interview in front of a camera last season... does that count? Are you being serious or this schtick????

No shtick,It just seemed like an odd guest to be on Total Access. I would have expected a player on his bye week. I guess mabye I'd be panicking if I were a Charger but I'd throw the idea of "off day" out the window. I'd be camping out in the film room and be the most miserable SOB to be around you'd ever see until I got this thing back on track. I think lots of NFL players are like that. The last thing I'd do on a Tuesday is drive to the NFL Network studios, get the suit on, sit through makeup, go through a produciton meeting, prep for the interview, then do the show.But I also think that may be too harsh. That's sort of why I asked the question.J

 

[BoltBacker]

Same garbage that we see with Cincy. Poor teams continue poor performance, and still dedicate interviews. These guys will NEVER be winners, b/c they care more about the fame than being champs. Glad I'm a Pats fan!

So you have the cameras sent to you instead of you going to the cameras. Interesting.

 

[Sheriff66]

Same garbage that we see with Cincy. Poor teams continue poor performance, and still dedicate interviews. These guys will NEVER be winners, b/c they care more about the fame than being champs. Glad I'm a Pats fan!

 

[BoltBacker]

????I'm going to go out on a limb and say I've seen a few players spend time in front of a camera during the week of a game with nary a mention of it.Every week.For as long as I can remember.

Do you happen to remember if their teams were 1-3 at the time?

Never kept track. What was McNabb's record when he did the HBO interview complaining black QB's are treated unfairly? I do recall at least one raider conducting an interview in front of a camera last season... does that count? Are you being serious or this schtick????

No shtick,It just seemed like an odd guest to be on Total Access. I would have expected a player on his bye week. I guess mabye I'd be panicking if I were a Charger but I'd throw the idea of "off day" out the window. I'd be camping out in the film room and be the most miserable SOB to be around you'd ever see until I got this thing back on track. I think lots of NFL players are like that. But I also think that may be too harsh. That's sort of why I asked the question.J

Let me ask you this Joe, the conference championship is the biggest game in the career of many players in the NFL. You would think that an NFL player would be devoting more time to preparing for that game than almost any other in his life. Have you ever seen a player give an interview in a studio before a conference championship game? Did it bother you if you had because he was wasting time?

 

[Chase Stuart]

I'm sure Merriman gets paid for this.

 

[Joe Bryant]

????I'm going to go out on a limb and say I've seen a few players spend time in front of a camera during the week of a game with nary a mention of it.Every week.For as long as I can remember.

Do you happen to remember if their teams were 1-3 at the time?

Never kept track. What was McNabb's record when he did the HBO interview complaining black QB's are treated unfairly? I do recall at least one raider conducting an interview in front of a camera last season... does that count? Are you being serious or this schtick????

No shtick,It just seemed like an odd guest to be on Total Access. I would have expected a player on his bye week. I guess mabye I'd be panicking if I were a Charger but I'd throw the idea of "off day" out the window. I'd be camping out in the film room and be the most miserable SOB to be around you'd ever see until I got this thing back on track. I think lots of NFL players are like that. But I also think that may be too harsh. That's sort of why I asked the question.J

Let me ask you this Joe, the conference championship is the biggest game in the career of many players in the NFL. You would think that an NFL player would be devoting more time to preparing for that game than almost any other in his life. Have you ever seen a player give an interview in a studio before a conference championship game? Did it bother you if you had because he was wasting time?

Yes, I'd be bothered to see a player devote a huge chunk of the day to being on a TV show before a game that big. I think people are not realizing what a time committment this is to be in studio. This isn't Chargers cam in the weightroom. This is a big deal.And it's not a mandatory "media day" type thing like before the Super Bowl where everyone has to go. This is time you could be spending preparing. Worse, it's time others may be preparing while you're not.I would think Shanahan loved seeing it. And that's not what I'd want. J

 

[bizwan65]

????I'm going to go out on a limb and say I've seen a few players spend time in front of a camera during the week of a game with nary a mention of it.Every week.For as long as I can remember.

Do you happen to remember if their teams were 1-3 at the time?

Never kept track. What was McNabb's record when he did the HBO interview complaining black QB's are treated unfairly? I do recall at least one raider conducting an interview in front of a camera last season... does that count? Are you being serious or this schtick????

I believe McNabb taped that interview just before the season started.

 

[BoltBacker]

????I'm going to go out on a limb and say I've seen a few players spend time in front of a camera during the week of a game with nary a mention of it.Every week.For as long as I can remember.

Do you happen to remember if their teams were 1-3 at the time?

Never kept track. What was McNabb's record when he did the HBO interview complaining black QB's are treated unfairly? I do recall at least one raider conducting an interview in front of a camera last season... does that count? Are you being serious or this schtick????

No shtick,It just seemed like an odd guest to be on Total Access. I would have expected a player on his bye week. I guess mabye I'd be panicking if I were a Charger but I'd throw the idea of "off day" out the window. I'd be camping out in the film room and be the most miserable SOB to be around you'd ever see until I got this thing back on track. I think lots of NFL players are like that. But I also think that may be too harsh. That's sort of why I asked the question.J

Let me ask you this Joe, the conference championship is the biggest game in the career of many players in the NFL. You would think that an NFL player would be devoting more time to preparing for that game than almost any other in his life. Have you ever seen a player give an interview in a studio before a conference championship game? Did it bother you if you had because he was wasting time?

Yes, I'd be bothered to see a player devote a huge chunk of the day to being on a TV show before a game that big. I think people are not realizing what a time committment this is to be in studio. This isn't Chargers cam in the weightroom. This is a big deal.J

I will admit I don't know the travel time devoted to it. That's what we're talking about right, the only difference between the two is really the travel time to the studio? For that I'd need to know the address of the studio and his house to have any real idea of the time commitment involved. And the mode of travel. And the time of day of that travel. Without that we're pretty much just guessing.

 

[-OZ-]

????I'm going to go out on a limb and say I've seen a few players spend time in front of a camera during the week of a game with nary a mention of it.Every week.For as long as I can remember.

Do you happen to remember if their teams were 1-3 at the time?

Never kept track. What was McNabb's record when he did the HBO interview complaining black QB's are treated unfairly? I do recall at least one raider conducting an interview in front of a camera last season... does that count? Are you being serious or this schtick????

No shtick,It just seemed like an odd guest to be on Total Access. I would have expected a player on his bye week. I guess mabye I'd be panicking if I were a Charger but I'd throw the idea of "off day" out the window. I'd be camping out in the film room and be the most miserable SOB to be around you'd ever see until I got this thing back on track. I think lots of NFL players are like that. But I also think that may be too harsh. That's sort of why I asked the question.J

Let me ask you this Joe, the conference championship is the biggest game in the career of many players in the NFL. You would think that an NFL player would be devoting more time to preparing for that game than almost any other in his life. Have you ever seen a player give an interview in a studio before a conference championship game? Did it bother you if you had because he was wasting time?

Yes, I'd be bothered to see a player devote a huge chunk of the day to being on a TV show before a game that big. I think people are not realizing what a time committment this is to be in studio. This isn't Chargers cam in the weightroom. This is a big deal.And it's not a mandatory "media day" type thing like before the Super Bowl where everyone has to go. This is time you could be spending preparing. Worse, it's time others may be preparing while you're not.I would think Shanahan loved seeing it. And that's not what I'd want. J

I hear you Joe, but it's Merriman, he'll be fine. If it were Rivers, I'd be concerned. Not that he's quite the same caliber, but how much time did the original LT spend preparing?

 

[ThePittbully]

I know this is barely shark pool material but thought I'd see how it goes.Shawne Merriman was a guest on the NFL Network's Total Access Show.I know it's Tuesday and I know the Chargers facility isn't that far from the studio. But it's still a time consuming thing. From getting all dressed up to traveling to preparing to sitting through makeup and all that.I think I'd be locked in the film room studying the Broncos if I were in Merriman's position. Too harsh?J

I thought this was really odd as well

 

[Joe Bryant]

????I'm going to go out on a limb and say I've seen a few players spend time in front of a camera during the week of a game with nary a mention of it.Every week.For as long as I can remember.

Do you happen to remember if their teams were 1-3 at the time?

Never kept track. What was McNabb's record when he did the HBO interview complaining black QB's are treated unfairly? I do recall at least one raider conducting an interview in front of a camera last season... does that count? Are you being serious or this schtick????

No shtick,It just seemed like an odd guest to be on Total Access. I would have expected a player on his bye week. I guess mabye I'd be panicking if I were a Charger but I'd throw the idea of "off day" out the window. I'd be camping out in the film room and be the most miserable SOB to be around you'd ever see until I got this thing back on track. I think lots of NFL players are like that. But I also think that may be too harsh. That's sort of why I asked the question.J

Let me ask you this Joe, the conference championship is the biggest game in the career of many players in the NFL. You would think that an NFL player would be devoting more time to preparing for that game than almost any other in his life. Have you ever seen a player give an interview in a studio before a conference championship game? Did it bother you if you had because he was wasting time?

Yes, I'd be bothered to see a player devote a huge chunk of the day to being on a TV show before a game that big. I think people are not realizing what a time committment this is to be in studio. This isn't Chargers cam in the weightroom. This is a big deal.J

I will admit I don't know the travel time devoted to it. That's what we're talking about right, the only difference between the two is really the travel time to the studio? For that I'd need to know the address of the studio and his house to have any real idea of the time commitment involved. And the mode of travel. And the time of day of that travel. Without that we're pretty much just guessing.

There's more I think. I don't think Merriman goes on a show as big as Total Access just winging it. I'd say there's at least an hour or two of production meeting stuff. Terrell will say this, you say this etc. Then there's time you spend being ready to talk about the stuff they ask you. That's probably an hour or so minimum. And then there's a half hour of makeup. And say an hour driving each way. That's a pretty big chunk of your Tuesday gone. Whereas the Charger cam thing is just a fraction of that.J

 

[tommyGunZ]

Tuesday is an "off day". Off means off. Merriman isn't married, and doesn't have family in the area. If he's doing NFL Network stuff instead of lounging at the beach, getting drunk playing Playstation, or going out clubbing, I'm happy as a Charger fan.

These guys work on Saturdays and Sundays. They can't spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week working out and studying film. It wouldn't be healthy. And let's be honest, how much "study" does Merriman really need before playing the Broncos this week? 10 hrs? 14 hrs?

 

[Family Matters]

I can understand the message of Joe's post but I also think that's somewhat misguided criticizm. Certainly if it's me I am going too take the time to find out how to right the ship. That's my priority as a player. OTOH-this is an entertainment business as well. The NFL is as good as it is because it's great entertainment. And that means media (TV/Radio/Internet) and need access to players in order to feed that part of the business.

So no I don't have a problem with it. The biggest issue is going to be what the coaches do or adjustments made in order to get the players in the right positions and fired up. Of course they used to have a coach that very good at that. But I digress.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Tuesday is an "off day". Off means off. Merriman isn't married, and doesn't have family in the area. If he's doing NFL Network stuff instead of lounging at the beach, getting drunk playing Playstation, or going out clubbing, I'm happy as a Charger fan.These guys work on Saturdays and Sundays. They can't spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week working out and studying film. It wouldn't be healthy. And let's be honest, how much "study" does Merriman really need before playing the Broncos this week? 10 hrs? 14 hrs?

I guess that's the difference. "Off" doesn't mean off. Not for everyone. Especially when you're 1-3 and off to a disastrous start. There was a good feature a couple of years ago (maybe last year?) following (I think) Keenan McCardell around for a week. He laughed about how some considered Tuesday an "off" day. It's not an "off day" for the ones that will give anything for a win.How many hours of study does Merriman need? I dunno. How much does he really need to know about the Broncos offense? I'd say he could easily put in three times as much work as you're suggesting. I guess it just depends on the player.J

 

[fatness]

I don't think it's an issue. Tuesdays are generally off days for NFL teams, and many players are actually off on their off days, not doing team-related work.

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday ---- there'd be reason to wonder if it's a problem. Not on Tuesday.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Tuesday is an "off day". Off means off. Merriman isn't married, and doesn't have family in the area. If he's doing NFL Network stuff instead of lounging at the beach, getting drunk playing Playstation, or going out clubbing, I'm happy as a Charger fan.These guys work on Saturdays and Sundays. They can't spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week working out and studying film. It wouldn't be healthy. And let's be honest, how much "study" does Merriman really need before playing the Broncos this week? 10 hrs? 14 hrs?

I guess that's the difference. "Off" doesn't mean off. Not for everyone. Especially when you're 1-3 and off to a disastrous start. There was a good feature a couple of years ago (maybe last year?) following (I think) Keenan McCardell around for a week. He laughed about how some considered Tuesday an "off" day. It's not an "off day" for the ones that will give anything for a win.How many hours of study does Merriman need? I dunno. How much does he really need to know about the Broncos offense? I'd say he could easily put in three times as much work as you're suggesting. I guess it just depends on the player.J

Perhaps I underestimate the complexity playing of DE against a division opponent that a team plays twice a year. What's he going to study for 30-40 hours? The Broncos have played 4 games, meaning the Bronco offense has been on the field for what, 250 plays? At 10 seconds per play, that's 40-50 minutes of game tape, tops. Even if he breaks it down, and watches each play 10x, that's 10-15 hours tops. And that's on top the film sessions he'll be putting in with the team.What is Keenan McCardell doing for 80 hrs a week, or however many hours he claims to work per week?

 

[WhoDat]

I know this is barely shark pool material but thought I'd see how it goes.Shawne Merriman was a guest on the NFL Network's Total Access Show.I know it's Tuesday and I know the Chargers facility isn't that far from the studio. But it's still a time consuming thing. From getting all dressed up to traveling to preparing to sitting through makeup and all that.I think I'd be locked in the film room studying the Broncos if I were in Merriman's position. Too harsh?J

Off day but...but...No excuse or real excuse for a player or especially a top flight player, like Merriman, to personally turn down or have the team deny a request for interview. If there was ever a day easier than others to get solid one on one time, then Tuesday is the day or at least that was my experience, which was with the Saints during some decent and really bad years. Technically, everyone involved knows the player is available that day. Makes it hard to deny access for special requests. Mall openings, local TV spots, commericals, random public appearances, in-depth one on one canned conversations with local/national media...nearly all took place on Tuesdays during the NFL season. If you needed R. Jackson to cut a ribbon in the fall, your best bet was to arrange the ceremony on a Tuesday. I would hedge my bet that Total Access rarely gets denied interview requests, if ever, but even they know the easiest day of the week to pin down a team's star player and I would guess Merriman probably did not have too much say so in denying that interview.

 

[pizzatyme]

So Shawne, tell us what it takes to become a 1-3 team?

Response- Well, we put a lot of hours in studying game films, working on our techniques, etc.

And Shawne, what are your plans in January? Can you come back and help us break down the playoff contenders? Also, maybe do that dance for us?

Response- Well, it is a long season, and anything can happen, but I'll be here ready to get my mug on screen any way possible.

 

[gkza]

Same garbage that we see with Cincy. Poor teams continue poor performance, and still dedicate interviews. These guys will NEVER be winners, b/c they care more about the fame than being champs. Glad I'm a Pats fan!

Typical Boston fan. Your are what you hate...I know... Brady hasn't been on the cover of every non sports pub on the market. He is on Page6 here in NY rocking a Yankees lid. ESPN hasnt been doing the life & times of Randy moss on an hourly basis.then there was the camera thing. but whatever, right?

 

[DanFouts]

No problem here. I don't think the problems with the Chargers are due to Merriman...

Now if Norv, Cottrell, Jammer, or Vincent Jackson showed up...........then...........

 

[PantherPower]

I agree with ya Joe.

 

[Wilbur Wood]

To me the discussion has been off track.

It is all about "perception". The reality is that players care much less about wins and losses than the fans.

As a 1-3 Bengals fan do I really want to hear Chad Johnson running his mouth with Adam Schein every Friday?

Do we want to hear a winless Reggie Bush every week on Sirius Radio?

Do Chargers' fans want to see a seeming less effective Shawn Merriman (any changes to your training methods Shawn?) show his face on TV after getting torched by the Pats and Chiefs?

No, we don't. Not unless they are "living with pain" the way Trevor Hoffman was in the interview following his blown save vs. the Rockies. The last thing most fans want to see is the above characters "fooling around", acting cool on TV/Radio when their teams are in the toilet.

Go to a movie, read a book, walk your dog on your day off, but DON'T be doing the Mr. Cool routine in the spotlight during the week.

 

[Kevin Ashcraft]

Tuesday is an "off day". Off means off. Merriman isn't married, and doesn't have family in the area. If he's doing NFL Network stuff instead of lounging at the beach, getting drunk playing Playstation, or going out clubbing, I'm happy as a Charger fan.These guys work on Saturdays and Sundays. They can't spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week working out and studying film. It wouldn't be healthy. And let's be honest, how much "study" does Merriman really need before playing the Broncos this week? 10 hrs? 14 hrs?

I guess that's the difference. "Off" doesn't mean off. Not for everyone. Especially when you're 1-3 and off to a disastrous start. There was a good feature a couple of years ago (maybe last year?) following (I think) Keenan McCardell around for a week. He laughed about how some considered Tuesday an "off" day. It's not an "off day" for the ones that will give anything for a win.How many hours of study does Merriman need? I dunno. How much does he really need to know about the Broncos offense? I'd say he could easily put in three times as much work as you're suggesting. I guess it just depends on the player.J

More than anything else, I think this is about principle and perception. For any of you who have played football, even on a HS level, you know how tight-knit a football locker room is. When I see a team who is 1-3, the most under-performing team in the NFL, I think there needs to be a bunker mentality in that locker room. If I am Shawne Merriman, I would think it would be in my team's best interest if I shut my mouth, as did everyone else on the team, and at least created the perception that they were preparing extra harder for Denver.Also, as to "principle" -- Does Merriman think he is a "team spokesman"? Even if he talked to NFL Network using words like "We, ""us", "the team", etc. do the other players want him representing them when they are 1-3? If I am in that locker room, I do not want ANYONE doing media sessions, even if it a 3rd teamer. This is a desperate time, so we need to focus all our efforts on reviving this TEAM.And....do players have Tuesday 'off'? Yes. Does that mean they stop preparing? NO.There are many thing Merriman could have been doing....even outside of studying film. How about hanging out with his other defensive players as they try to create more camaraderie on a unit that has been pretty bad lately.But to the people saying that there is not much film to study, as the season is young....think deeper. Merriman could spend the day analyzing how Shanahan and the Broncos have game-planned against him in past matchups, alerting himself to trends in what they do to scheme against him. There are all sorts of things to study. Why do you think guys like Peyton Manning live in the film room?I'm with Joe, I saw it live and I thought it was not a good thing that he was on there.

 

[Iwannabeacowboybaby!]

Probably too harsh to critisize, Joe. If you were a fan and you heard that Merriman passed up the opportunity so that he could stay home or went into where the Chargers practice to study tape or do whatever.........sure that would make you happy.

On the flip side, it is his day off and doing that on his day off is fine.

So, to harsh to complain about.

 

[TD Ryan]

Why is it so unhealthy and unimaginable that every waking second of your life is football between August and January?

After that, you get half a year to do whatever you want.

But from training camp thru SuperBowl, football is your life and you are paid well for it.

Odds are your career will only be 5 or so years long... so this is the tradeoff. You'll have plenty of free time after your career is over.

My perception of winning teams, winning players, and winning coaches is that they live, eat, and breathe football once the season starts. They barely have time for family during peak football season.

I understand the players need to market themselves and maximize their earning potential. But that's what the bye week and off season should be for.

 

[Aaronstory]

I know this is barely shark pool material but thought I'd see how it goes.Shawne Merriman was a guest on the NFL Network's Total Access Show.I know it's Tuesday and I know the Chargers facility isn't that far from the studio. But it's still a time consuming thing. From getting all dressed up to traveling to preparing to sitting through makeup and all that.I think I'd be locked in the film room studying the Broncos if I were in Merriman's position. Too harsh?J

It may be harsh, but correctly so.

 

[Despyzer]

Joe, will you be starting similar threads every time a player from a team with a losing record makes any kind of public appearance?

 

[Sidewinder16]

Joe, will you be starting similar threads every time a player from a team with a losing record makes any kind of public appearance?

This wasn't just "any kind of public appearance". Merriman was a guest host on a one hour TV show. It wasn't a spot interview where he says "Yeah, we really need to turn this around" for 3 minutes and then goes about his day. Personally, I think Joe is underestimating Merriman's time commitment here.That said, I'm not quite as down on Merriman for doing this as Joe seems to be. For appearances sake, as has been mentioned by a few, maybe it would have been better for him not to do the show this week, but I don't really think it's going to hinder his play on Sunday.Antwan Randle-El did the same thing last week (guest hosted Total Access). As a Redskin fan, it didn't bother me at all because it was their bye week and the coaches had told them to go away and rest up for a week. If ARE were doing it this week, I'd probably have a slight problem with it, again, just for the appearance that it gives, that he has nothing better to do this week than get an hour of face time on NFLN.

 

[Buck Bradcanon]

To me the discussion has been off track.It is all about "perception". The reality is that players care much less about wins and losses than the fans.As a 1-3 Bengals fan do I really want to hear Chad Johnson running his mouth with Adam Schein every Friday?Do we want to hear a winless Reggie Bush every week on Sirius Radio?Do Chargers' fans want to see a seeming less effective Shawn Merriman (any changes to your training methods Shawn?) show his face on TV after getting torched by the Pats and Chiefs?No, we don't. Not unless they are "living with pain" the way Trevor Hoffman was in the interview following his blown save vs. the Rockies. The last thing most fans want to see is the above characters "fooling around", acting cool on TV/Radio when their teams are in the toilet.Go to a movie, read a book, walk your dog on your day off, but DON'T be doing the Mr. Cool routine in the spotlight during the week.

bingo. this is exactly the way i see it.I don’t even care if he agreed to this a month ago. Call them and say cant do it guys.. My focus is in getting this thing back on track right now.im with Joe on this one

 

[The Kansas Comet]

Same garbage that we see with Cincy. Poor teams continue poor performance, and still dedicate interviews. These guys will NEVER be winners, b/c they care more about the fame than being champs. Glad I'm a Pats fan!

:X

Back on topic, I don't have a problem with Merriman doing that. It's his off day - there are plenty of worse things he could be doing. If it were Norv Turner or Ted Cottrell doing it instead, I imagine Charger fans would be more upset.

 

[Paddy O'Seanessy]

I know this is barely shark pool material but thought I'd see how it goes.Shawne Merriman was a guest on the NFL Network's Total Access Show.I know it's Tuesday and I know the Chargers facility isn't that far from the studio. But it's still a time consuming thing. From getting all dressed up to traveling to preparing to sitting through makeup and all that.I think I'd be locked in the film room studying the Broncos if I were in Merriman's position. Too harsh?J

It was on his way to his HGH connection -- cheating *******.

 

[Despyzer]

Joe, will you be starting similar threads every time a player from a team with a losing record makes any kind of public appearance?

In this case, a lack of a response is a good enough of a response for me.

 

[tommyGunZ]

bump to get Joe's reaction to the Chargers defensive performance today.

 

[Despyzer]

bump to get Joe's reaction to the Chargers defensive performance today.

Prediction: (1). Some humility in that it didn't turn out the way he anticipated. (2). Perhaps some reference to Merriman's modest stats. (3). Insistence that his premise is still sound.

 

[Tau837]

Didn't see this thread earlier in the week or I would have posted that most of the reaction in here is overblown IMO. Of course, my opinion would be dismissed as a Chargers fan.

After today, it should be obvious that it didn't make a difference in terms of his ability to prepare, which was really what the OP questioned.