re: How stupid is Shawne Merriman?

These injuries are completely different then they were years ago. Dixon played on his torn knee and Rivers played with his knee gone... doctors allow it due to the complete nature of these injuries (can't further tear something that is fully torn) unless you become completely immobile like Dixon finally was and risk other injuries.

I am sure he wouldn't play if there was a risk of further damage.

Merriman said all four doctors he saw said he needed surgery, but there "just wasn't a time frame on that. My knee still looks pretty good. The decision was left up to me to play. If you give a football player a decision to play, you know, I'm going to play."

Doctors have to cover their butts just like lawyers and always error on the side of caution. If one of them gives Merriman the green light to play and he injures it worse then well, it's time to call the lawyer. They tell him the worse case scenario and then leave it up to patient to make the decision. This is just an overreaction like the Dixon case was. Merriman has all the facts and with modern medicine his decision isn't as crazy as it sounds to the general public.