Urlacher speaks on Merriman, well kind of...

by Adam T on Dec 29, 2006 6:32 AM CST in News

Recently, fellow defensive player of the year candidate and good friend of Brian Urlacher, Jason Taylor spoke out about how giving Chargers player Shawn Merriman the award would be "To make the Pro Bowl and all the other awards, you're walking a fine line of sending the wrong message".

Recently, Urlacher was asked for his thoughts on Merriman and all though he deftly dodged the question, I think there is not doubt how he feels.

"There are so many good players," Urlacher said when asked about repeating. "Champ Bailey, Jason Taylor -- and I put myself in that category. Lance Briggs. People don't talk about Lance. The dude has four caused fumbles, two picks, a sack, 180 tackles. How can you not mention Lance?

"Who else had a good year? [Green Bay's Aaron] Kampman has 15½ sacks. I don't know what the criteria are. You must not have to be on a winning team. They don't care about wins and losses, obviously."

One of Urlacher's running mate, Hunter Hillenmeyer wasn't as coy in his answer.

If you give a guy that tested positive for steroids the defensive player of the year award, what's that do for the credibility of the thing?

The point is we all know there is steroid use in the NFL, maybe even on vast levels and to some extent they will never be able to stop it or even test for it, but when everybody on the field is a great athlete and you go outside acceptable means to gain an unfair advantage that is called cheating. If the NFL rewards cheating, than why ban steroids?

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To Jason Taylor:

If you play in the NFL it's okay to do steroids! In fact, you should do 'roids because you become a better player and people love you even more. This is a fact. And if you don't believe me, Jason, just look at the guy who you're talking about. Shawne Merriman . He does steroids. He gets suspended for four games (four weeks!). And then he gets to play again. In baseball you get 50 games, which works out to be about 8 weeks. A baseball suspension is twice as harsh as an NFL suspension. The media doesn't give you a free pass in baseball either.

Of course, if known juicer Shawne Merriman played baseball, he'd be public enemy #1. And his career would be just... about... over...

Just check out what happened to Rafael Palmeiro whose career came to an end after a positive steroid test. Palmeiro's chances of making the Baseball Hall of Fame stand some where between nil and none despite his 3,000 hits and 500 home runs.

But Merriman? The media can't give him enough love. Hell he might even win the NFL Defensive player of the year EVEN THOUGH HE TESTED POSITIVE FOR STEROIDS THIS YEAR! But it's the NFL. They can do no wrong. Even after they switch all their games to Direct TV and charge 400 bucks for the season. We will still worship at the alter of bad football.

by SouthernSlam on Dec 29, 2006 9:54 AM CST reply actions

Palmeiro

> Palmeiro's chances of making the Baseball Hall of Fame stand some where between nil and none despite his 3,000 hits and 500 home runs.

Yeah, but he sure had some fun along the way, didn't he?

by Danimal on Dec 29, 2006 11:55 AM CST up reply actions

Who didn't...

take a ride on the Cindy Sandberg train?

I have read that it was also (but not limited to) Dave Martinez.

by Chad @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 29, 2006 12:53 PM CST up reply actions

I think it's odd

That Urlacher knows Lance Brigg's stats to the number in every category...

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Dec 30, 2006 12:19 AM CST reply actions

They compete...

They have little gentlemen's bets over their stats. Last year Urlacher beat out Briggs in total tackles by 1 or 2.

by Chad @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 30, 2006 11:55 AM CST up reply actions

The NFL cares little about

'roid abuse. If they did, the policy would be much tougher, wouldn't it? I'm going to guess that Merriman was just the unlucky one who thought the stuff was out of his system before the test -- he probably used for most of the off-season, then stopped when he thought the stuff would clear his system -- or, he actually was using at the time of the test and is really dumb.

It's too bad, because he's a damn good player and doesn't need the crap.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Dec 30, 2006 9:14 PM CST reply actions