I was one of the people who were extremely impressed with Merriman and wanted to the Lions to draft him. Boy, was I wrong about that guy I am really dissapointed about Merriman Just like the Winslow Jr supporters last year were wrong about their guy.

You know, I think that Merriman and his agents are being jerks about this but I also think it's being blown out of proportion. If he and his agents reach a deal and he makes it to training camp, I don't think that his entire career will go down the tubes just because he missed his mini-camp. It seems like people are treating Merriman as if he must be a "bad pick" just because of this episode. If he comes back and has 12.5 sacks his rookie year, nobody will care that he held missed a mini-camp.

I agree with you that if a deal got done quickly this would blow over and not be a big deal. And missing a few days of camp, while not preferred, won't ruin his career.

However, to me the issue is one of ethics. This is not a good way for him to start off a business relationship with the franchise. It is a standard power play practice of his agents to do something like this; and to negotiate in the public forum; and to keep their clients out of training camp and sign as the season begins.

In this case the language is fairly standard and it damages the spirit of negotiations to pull this nonsense. Merriman obviously has no control over his agents at this point and is going along with whatever crap they tell him.

It is also possible (maybe) that Merriman is hurt in some way and doesn't want the club to know it. (That's what Aaron Gibson did to us if you recall). I wouldn't put it past the Poston's (the agents) at all to use this charade as an excuse to keep him off the field until the signing bonus comes in.

This draft is looking like it may have a big bust factor. Pacman the latest?

Stay tuned."

I didn't like Pacman just because of this type of crap. He thinks he's the second coming of Neon Deion and the rules don't apply to him. I like Jeff Fisher and many of the players on the Titans, but that was the wrong pick for them. Tennessee should have gone with Rolle. I don't think Jones is going to be as good a player as many think he will be.

San Diego Chargers:

The team rebuffed a proposal from the agents for first-round pick Shawne Merriman in which the former Maryland defensive end would have attended the club's offseason program but not participated in any on-field activities.

"There is no such thing as a half-Charger here," general manager A.J. Smith told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "Either you're a Charger or you're not."

The earlier of the Chargers' two choices in the first round, and the 12th prospect taken overall, Merriman skipped a recent minicamp because he and his agents had issues with the language in the injury protection agreement that San Diego uses for draft choices. Such agreements essentially stipulate that a franchise will negotiate in good faith with a player even if he is injured before signing his contract.

Merriman and his agents, Kevin Poston and Carl Poston, have said the player will sit out all offseason workouts until the matter is resolved. They have contended the language in the agreement does not adequately cover Merriman in the event of an injury. Chargers officials countered that the agreement was accepted by other draft choices and that they have used the same language for years.

"We thought we made a good-faith gesture," Kevin Poston said. "I want [Merriman] to be there, and he wants to be there. We want him to meet with coaches, talk with coaches, walk through things, but just not do any physical activities."

from ESPN.com