PDaDdy Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 The Merriman extension has been nothing short of a disaster. And now he's got a roster bonus due. With Mario in the fold and Kelsey and Carrington expected to stick around he might be on the way out. Of course, pro football being a bottom-line business, Merriman understands that there’s no guarantee he’ll be part of the Bills’ 2012 playoff push. On Monday, the organization must decide whether to pay the former Pro Bowl player a $1 million roster bonus or allow him to become a free agent. Merriman has played just five games since the Bills claimed him off waivers from the San Diego Chargers and underwent season-ending surgery on his Achilles tendon last October. The pass-rushing menace who led the NFL with 17 sacks in 2006 – the same year the Houston Texans made Williams the No. 1 overall pick in the draft – believes he has finally overcome a series of health problems that sent his career on a downward trajectory. “People have seen me play on one leg for going on three years now,” Merriman said. “So it’s gonna be a good season. People talk about our switch to a 4-3 [defense], but that’s not a factor. For the people who know football, the difference between a 3-4 and a 4-3 is whether my hand’s down or I stand up – that’s all it is. I want to stay. Whether I stay or not, honestly, that’s almost impossible to figure out.” sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ms-silver_mario_williams_stevie_johnson_bills_031612 In for a penny in for a pound. I was originally going to say that I wouldn't be surprised at all if he gets cut but then I started to think about it more. We have already used a bunch of money on him because various bonuses were based on being ON the team not PLAYING for the team. Compared to the money we have already invested/wasted $1 million is a significant number but shouldn't make the difference on whether we keep him or not. If we were going to cut him I think the time to do that would have been after he went on IR again last year. We may as well bet into it and spend the additional million to see if Shawn "Good Gamble" Merriman ever pays off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob's House Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 It's worth the gamble. If healthy he's every bit the player MW is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 What's a million to Ralph after Williams deal? PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DefenseWinzChampionshipz Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Merriman will not be cut. At least not to save a million dollars. My guess is they're going to have him start the season and before the trade deadline if he isn't injured and is playing above average? He stays the year and maybe even gets a new contract with us. Nix loves him and wants to see him make a comeback for this team just as all the other Merriman fans. After all he's done off the field you cant let him go for just a million. There is absolutely noone that you can get to play for just a million bucks that will be better than Merriman so why should the Bills downgrade by letting him go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eme123 Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 If you really think clearly at this situation the best thing to do is to part ways with him and save the million. Two serious knee injuries is hard to overcome. Its near impossible for him to gain back the elite pass rushing abilities he had 5 years ago. We are better off trusting our young guys and letting them grow. I really liked the way he played at the beginning of last year. Again thats 5 games he has played in two years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrod81 Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 The Bills finally obtained some credibility for landing free agents. I think Nix is smart enough to realize that cutting Merriman to save $1m would do more harm to this franchise down the line. Even if he doesn't make it through camp due to injury, he will be there to mentor the young guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smward8 Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I think he stays at least through trainig camp, unless there is something about his recovery that isn't public. He was double teamed every time he was on the field last year, and being held (watch clips of the first Pats* game). He can be a force, and on obvious passing downs could mak a huge difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KOKBILLS Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 It's worth the gamble. If healthy he's every bit the player MW is. Exactly... It was always a gamble anyway...But now, with Mario...well...I'm not going to expect anything from Merriman...But just for a second imagine what this Bills Pass Rush will be like on 3rd Down if he's healthy...The potential payoff is well worth the gamble... Because this Defense could be flat out nasty if Merriman returns to form...Just nasty... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaenon Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Merriman makes $4M this year with $3M guaranteed. The $1M bonus is nothing in this case and he will not be cut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBillsForever Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 A one million roster bonus is NOTHING. You bring him into training camp and see how his recovery goes from there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreakPop Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 After what they gave Kelsey, Fitz and now Mario. $1 million is nothing but pocket change. It's like being at the carnival where all the games are $5 bucks a pop and then your kid asks if you have one more $1 to play I Got It which are like $.50 per game. You say sure what the heck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob's House Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 If you really think clearly at this situation the best thing to do is to part ways with him and save the million. Two serious knee injuries is hard to overcome. Its near impossible for him to gain back the elite pass rushing abilities he had 5 years ago.We are better off trusting our young guys and letting them grow. I really liked the way he played at the beginning of last year. Again thats 5 games he has played in two years. That thinking was more appropriate over the last 2 years when we were in rebuild mode. Now the expectation is to win this year. The rookies will get their experience as necessity dictates, but now is the time to put the players on the field that give you the best chance to win.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rico Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I can't see them cutting him either, he's not a misfit like Ruben Brown, he's bought good karma to the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PastaJoe Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 If he got cut, with our luck he would sign with the Patriots, and end up being Comeback Player of the Year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 (edited) This will be a good test of the new Litmann era. In previous years, Shawne would be as good as gone. But hopefully this year they'll take the risk and bring him back. If you look at replay of last years first six games you'll see that he was the best outside rusher on the team. Even if he didn't get sacks he was the focal point of the OL protection. You can argue that Mario will be the better option now because he will actually get sacks. But Bills had trouble getting to QB once 56 was double teamed. A 90 - 56 tandem will be a matchup nightmare for OLs. The best analysis I heard of the Mario signing was that it negates the effectiveness that many TEs (wonder whoski?) Have vs Bills. The TEs will have to pitch in more at the line, taking them out of the passing game. A hobbled Merriman is still better than anyone on Bills roster. The only question should be if he can last a season. Edited March 17, 2012 by GG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DefenseWinzChampionshipz Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 It isn't even a question. Merriman stays. If we were trying to catch a big fish and it took one more million to catch the fish Nix would have still cut someone else besides Merriman because he knows just like we do that by having the big fish with Merriman, Dareus and Kyle is just an amazing if not borderline insane line to have. Merriman is a pro athlete. Mario has played LE at Houston. Now hear this one out. We all are not expecting 60 plays a game from Merriman but if he can get anywhere from 15-20 snaps, we take Kelsay out the huddle when Merriman comes on the field. We put Mario at LE and Merriman at RE with Dareus and Kyle manning the middle. I mean damn. I had to take a deep breath before I get too anxious just thinking about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpberr Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 This is an easy answer. You keep him. I don't think the tendon was properly operated on the first time nor did Merriman properly recover from that first surgery, which was the equivalent of a patch job. Everything was rushed by the Chargers and the player, so the problem was never properly resolved when he came to the Bills and re-injured it. Twice. Now it has been repaired properly with the appropriate amount of rest and therapy. I have full expectation that you have a Shawne Merriman at 100% for opening day. You have not seen a fully healed Merriman for years. Now you will. There is no way the Bills are cutting him. It is akin to the injury to Kyle Williams. If you take the time to properly repair and recover from the problem, you are good to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UpperDeck Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 This is an easy answer. You keep him. I don't think the tendon was properly operated on the first time nor did Merriman properly recover from that first surgery, which was the equivalent of a patch job. Everything was rushed by the Chargers and the player, so the problem was never properly resolved when he came to the Bills and re-injured it. Twice. Now it has been repaired properly with the appropriate amount of rest and therapy. I have full expectation that you have a Shawne Merriman at 100% for opening day. You have not seen a fully healed Merriman for years. Now you will. There is no way the Bills are cutting him. It is akin to the injury to Kyle Williams. If you take the time to properly repair and recover from the problem, you are good to go. Didn't even think about Kyle's operation. He said his foot had been bothering him for a long time. Just think how dominant he'll be with it at 100%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I originally didn't like the signing because it reeked to me of desperation- like the TO signing. Throw into the fact that he was a walking steroid before getting busted (and any professional athlete will state that only the stupid ones get caught), and he's never been the same. But as a Bills fan, and removing said players previous reputation aside, I would love to see him atleast come back to a serviceable, consistent pass-rush threat, even if it is situational. This is an easy answer. You keep him. I don't think the tendon was properly operated on the first time nor did Merriman properly recover from that first surgery, which was the equivalent of a patch job. Everything was rushed by the Chargers and the player, so the problem was never properly resolved when he came to the Bills and re-injured it. Twice. Now it has been repaired properly with the appropriate amount of rest and therapy. I have full expectation that you have a Shawne Merriman at 100% for opening day. You have not seen a fully healed Merriman for years. Now you will. There is no way the Bills are cutting him. It is akin to the injury to Kyle Williams. If you take the time to properly repair and recover from the problem, you are good to go. I agree with your overall point and find the idea of the Bills cutting him when Nix has publicly stated that he is in the fold after the signing of Mario Williams that $1 million in bonus is a fart in a bucket for modern sports. Really meaningless. I will also agree that modern science and surgery have advanced greatly. But I diverge from your thinking because I don't see it as a given. Tendons and ligaments are tough to fix and return to full ability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T master Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 OK i know that Merriman hasn't been what we all had hoped but he has shown flashes of what he use to be although it being in very short period of time .. If you all look at last year & think of when our D started to go down hill is when Merriman had to go out on IR . Then other teams could start focusing on & double teaming other players which put our D back to what we saw in the later part of the season .. The Bills won't get rid of Merriman for the simple fact that they are on the hook this year for like 3.5 mill weather he plays or not , so that would be really stupid if the powers that be just let him walk with out seeing IF the surgery helped & if nothing else they might be able to get a little bit of a return on there money .. I think Merriman has been more of a plus than a lot of fans b/c by him coming i think it may have helped in some way to in the end land Mario .. And if he can come back to half the guy he was he would still be some thing that other teams will have to plan for . With him on one side & Williams on the other MAN !!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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