56 Facts About Shawne Merriman

Shawne Merriman played college football for the Maryland Terrapins and was selected 12th overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2005 NFL Draft.

Shawne Merriman earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in his first season and recorded.

Shawne Merriman was hampered by injuries his next three seasons, and the Chargers waived Merriman midseason in 2010.

Shawne Merriman was picked up through waivers by the Buffalo Bills that season, but he only played minimally with the Bills due to continued injuries.

Shawne Merriman was released by the Bills before the 2012 season before they re-signed him mid-season.

Shawne Merriman retired at the end of the 2012 season.

Shawne Merriman earned his nickname "Lights Out" at Frederick Douglass High School, where he rendered four opposing players unconscious in one game, three in the first half and one in the second half.

Shawne Merriman battled injuries for the bulk of his sophomore season, but never missed a game.

Shawne Merriman broke onto the national scene his junior year, in which he was named to the ACC All-Conference team and earned the Iron Terp award for the "strongest pound for pound player" on the Maryland football roster.

Shawne Merriman was drafted in the first round in the 2005 NFL Draft out of the University of Maryland by the San Diego Chargers.

Shawne Merriman was selected using a pick acquired from the New York Giants as part of the Rivers-Manning trade during the 2004 NFL Draft.

Shawne Merriman started off his 2005 rookie year on the inactive list and completed a 10-day hold out from training camp.

Shawne Merriman did not break the starting lineup until week 7, but recorded 6 sacks in his first 4 starts.

Shawne Merriman recorded 2 sacks and 2 tackles for a loss, one of which stopped Peyton Manning for a 6-yard loss on 4th and goal.

On January 4,2006, Shawne Merriman was awarded with The Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

On February 12,2006, Shawne Merriman participated in the 2006 NFL Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Subsequently, Cornwell stated that he believed the substance his client tested positive for was the anabolic steroid nandrolone, and that Shawne Merriman claimed it must have been in a tainted nutritional supplement he took regularly.

However, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has tried to distance the policy from being associated with the player, stating that Shawne Merriman tested clean on 19 of 20 random tests for performance-enhancing drugs since entering the league.

At the start of his 2006 season after the 4-game suspension, Shawne Merriman again began his season with success, recording 3 sacks and an interception in his first 2 games.

Shawne Merriman went on to record 8.5 sacks and make ESPN's midseason All-pro team, prior to dropping an appeal against an NFL enforced 4-week suspension due to testing positive for steroids.

Shawne Merriman added 4 forced fumbles to his career.

Shawne Merriman finished third in the balloting for 2006 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year, behind Jason Taylor and Champ Bailey, after having tested positive for using steroids which is against the league's drug abuse policy.

Shawne Merriman reportedly responded by sending Taylor a "Lights Out" t-shirt and a box of popcorn with a note saying enjoy watching him in the playoffs.

In week 4 Shawne Merriman performed the dance after sacking Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard.

Shawne Merriman finished the season with 68 total tackles, with 54 solo and 14 assisted tackles, performing to his usual caliber by tallying 12.5 sacks.

Shawne Merriman's prowess was shown during the season when it was said that his 9.5 sacks through to week 13 was seen as a decline in performance, a quote to which Merriman took a great compliment.

Shawne Merriman was named to the Pro Bowl for a third consecutive year.

Shawne Merriman had been named First-Team All-Pro in his first 2 seasons, while earning a Second-Team All-Pro selection in his 3rd season.

Shawne Merriman was told by doctors that he could sustain a possible career-threatening injury should he choose to play without having surgery.

Shawne Merriman withheld his decision whether or not to play while seeking several different professional opinions, including that of well-known surgeon James Andrews of Birmingham, Alabama.

ESPN's Mike Tirico reported in the Chargers' Monday Night Football game that Shawne Merriman went to Miami, Florida to get a final opinion on his knee.

On March 4,2010, the San Diego Chargers announced that they would place their first and third round franchise tender on Shawne Merriman, thus retaining him as a Charger.

Shawne Merriman had re-injured his calf against Oakland and had been limited in the first five weeks of the season.

Shawne Merriman was put on waivers by the Chargers on November 2,2010.

Shawne Merriman had only four sacks in his last three seasons in San Diego.

Shawne Merriman was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills the day after his release from the Chargers.

Shawne Merriman signed a two-year contract extension worth $10.5 million with the Bills on January 1,2011.

On October 25,2011, Shawne Merriman was placed on Injured Reserve list for the second consecutive season after suffering a partially torn Achilles tendon.

Shawne Merriman finished the season with nine tackles and a sack in five starts.

Shawne Merriman signed a contract to return to the Bills on October 15,2012.

On September 6,2009, Shawne Merriman was arrested and charged with battery and false imprisonment.

In December 2009, Shawne Merriman filed a civil suit against Tequila, alleging intentional interference with contract, unfair competition, and trademark infringement.

Shawne Merriman claimed that Tequila improperly used his own "Lights Out" logo and disrupted negotiations for T-shirts to be marketed by Wal-Mart.

Shawne Merriman failed to respond to the suit at all, and a default judgment was entered in his favor for $2 million.

Shawne Merriman was present when Fattorini passed out and a friend of hers called 911.

Shawne Merriman was not wearing underwear, though she had been earlier that night.

On October 10,2007, Shawne Merriman was chosen as the cover athlete for EA Sports' NFL Tour video game.

Shawne Merriman appears in Keri Hilson's "Knock You Down" music video and made a special appearance at WWE's One Night Stand 2008 on June 1,2008, where he hit superstar Chavo Guerrero with a Singapore Cane.

Shawne Merriman is featured in the Nike football "Leave Nothing" advertisement.

Shawne Merriman made a cameo in season 7 of HBO's Entourage.

Shawne Merriman appeared on Cartoon Network's Destroy Build Destroy along with Antonio Gates.

Shawne Merriman appeared on GNC's Athlete Tour 2010 under his MusclePharm sponsorship.

Shawne Merriman appeared on WGR Sports Radio 550's "Schopp and the Bulldog" in Buffalo, New York on July 27,2012.

Shawne Merriman visited the show's studio at Bills' training camp in Rochester, New York.

Shawne Merriman showed off his tattoos in PETA's "Ink Not Mink" campaign, encouraging people not to wear animal furs.

Shawne Merriman was expected to face Mike Bourke in the inaugural WBKFF event on November 9,2018.