Filed under: Ravens, AFC North
Thanks to free agency, professional athletes are closer to each other more than ever before. So, for a great player such as Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis to have many athletes' numbers from around the NFL, it's not shocking to discover that newly acquired Bills linebacker Shawne Merriman had spoken to the future Hall of Famer."I spoke to Shawne last night," said Lewis, according to The Baltimore Sun. "I speak to Shawne a lot. It's always a tough situation any time you find yourself in the situation that he's in. But I think this gives him an opportunity. It gives him an opportunity to hopefully go to a team that can really use his talents, and show what he can do, and that's get after the quarterback."
Merriman was claimed off waivers on Wednesday by the Bills -- who have to pay Merriman the remainder of his $3.269 million contract tender -- after his former team, the San Diego Chargers, placed him on injured reserve on Oct. 13 with a minor-injury designation. When Merriman recovered from his injury and was active, the Chargers had to release him.
Merriman passed his physical on Tuesday and was placed on the same waiver-wire with wide receiver Randy Moss, who was claimed by the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday.
Although Lewis would not have minded the 26-year-old Pro-Bowl linebacker joining him in purple and black, his services probably aren't needed in Baltimore. The Ravens lack a solid pass rush, but because of the blitz packages and schemes they present, they are good enough to confuse opponents. As complicated as the Ravens defense is, Merriman's chances of learning their system in a timely fashion in the middle of the season probably would have been unlikely.
"It's a long list that I didn't know about that he has to go through before we can make any move," said Lewis before Merriman was claimed. "It's kind of hard to say 'Would I want him here?' Well, of course I want him here. But the list in long and we just have to wait it out and see what happens."
Lewis serves as a mentor to countless athletes, and many through college like he did for Merriman when he was at the University of Maryland. Merriman is an outstanding talent who needs some support during an up-and-down, injury-plagued career and Lewis is the right person to get him focused again.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/11/03/ray-lewis-offered-shawne-merriman-encouraging-words-during-rough/
Mariah OBrien Marika Dominczyk Marisa Coughlan Marisa Miller Marisa Tomei
No comments:
Post a Comment