After his three-sack day against the St. Louis Rams, Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman planned to speak with his advisers last night and discuss the possibility of dropping the appeal of his four-game suspension.
JIM BAIRD / Union-Tribune
Linebacker Shawne Merriman (56) is already on to new business after sending Rams receiver Torry Holt to the turf after a short gain.
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Merriman, who tested positive for the banned steroid Nandrolone earlier this month, maintains he was the victim of a tainted supplement. But he also knows he is unlikely to win his appeal based on the NFL's clearly stated policy that players are responsible for what they put in their body.
Merriman's appeal is to be heard Nov. 7, two days after the Chargers' next game. Dropping the appeal, which could happen as early as today, would mean Merriman would miss Sunday's game against the Browns and the three that follow it. If Merriman saw the appeal through to the Nov. 7 hearing, and the NFL took its time ruling on the appeal, there would be the possibility the suspension would not start until Nov. 19 and would encompass two games against AFC West rival Denver.
“I want to do what's best for the team,” Merriman said. “I don't know what is going to happen yet.”
Merriman yesterday dropped St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger three times to move into a tie for first in the league with 8½ sacks for the season. He also hurried Bulger three times and tackled running back Steven Jackson at the line of scrimmage.
“(Playing) is always the outlet for everything,” Merriman said. “I always had that growing up, just to be on the field and playing with these guys I love. And to come out with a win definitely helps everything.
“I love to go out and have as many sacks as I can every week. Even before this, I was looking to go out and prove a point – that I am one of the best linebackers.”
Merriman's introduction on the video board in the first quarter was met with a loud cheer, and the chorus only grew with every big play.
“To see all those 56 jerseys out there, you couldn't ask for anything more than that,” he said. “Walking into the stadium and people telling me how much of a role model I still am, that's what I look at my job to be. I'm just going to keep going out and doing the things, being myself and just playing football.”
Defensive effort
The Chargers defense fell to No. 2 in the league in total yards allowed, as the Chicago Bears moved to No. 1.
Ranked No. 1 all season, the Chargers allowed a season-high 412 yards yesterday and are allowing an average of 265.5 compared with the Bears' 245.9.
The Chargers' tackling was better yesterday than the previous Sunday at Kansas City, but it remained an elusive discipline at times.
“We still had some tackles we missed,” coach Marty Schottenheimer said. “We are on a mission, and we are going to continue to work on that every day.”
The Rams also threw for 311 yards, the highest total against the Chargers (by 90) this season. The Rams completed four passes of 20 yards or more. Their 29 such completions rank second in the league, and they entered and left the game with the league's fourth-ranked passing offense.
“They pass the ball 40-plus times, they're going to get yards,” cornerback Drayton Florence said. “But our main thing was to go out and stop (Torry Holt) and (Isaac Bruce), two Pro Bowl receivers. We did pretty good. They got some cheap yards on us. But that's going to happen when a team's behind.”
Tough homecoming
The Rams opted not to play linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, the Vista High alum who broke a bone in his left hand last week during practice. Rams coach Scott Linehan said Tinoisamoa “would have basically been playing with one arm” because of swelling in the hand.
“It was very uncomfortable,” Linehan said. “We felt that if he played, we would really be taking a step back for next week and even the week after. If something happened to (Dexter) Coakley, he might have been able to play, but we just felt it was too much of a risk.”
Cromartie impressive
Facing an offense that often had three receivers in the game, rookie cornerback Antonio Cromartie played more yesterday.
His role has increased almost every game, but yesterday was the most demanding, as he was assigned to Holt much of the time. Holt caught five passes for 48 yards, his third-lowest total this season.
“I was with an All-Pro,” Cromartie said.
Nuts 'n' Bolts
Safety Bhawoh Jue was active for the first time since the season's second game. He did not start but played in certain packages.
Keenan McCardell's streak of games without a touchdown reached nine, the longest stretch since a 10-game drought in 1996.
Schottenheimer's 191st regular-season victory moved him into sole possession of fifth place all-time.
Safety Clinton Hart suffered a hip flexor strain. Center Nick Hardwick injured his knee and will have tests today.
Kevin Acee: (619) 293-1857; kevin.acee@uniontrib.com
Staff writer Jay Posner contributed to this report.
