Merriman's bad call could've been avoided with a good one in February

So San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman will gut it out this season, playing on two torn knee ligaments that could give out at any moment, and, I'm sorry, but I don't get it.

I'm not talking about Merriman trying to play; I'm talking about his failure to have his injured knee repaired in February.

Shawne Merriman plans to play in pain for San Diego this season. (Getty Images)

You heard me: February. Because, according to sources close to the team, it was then he was first told that his left knee required surgery, with the Chargers recommending an immediate operation to put him back on the field this season.

Merriman declined and tried to continue on. Bad idea then. Bad idea now.

Including the Chargers', Merriman fielded five medical opinions, and the results were the same: Doctors recommended he shut down the season and undergo immediate surgery. Otherwise, they said, he risks suffering further injury.

I don't think you need to be a doctor to figure that out.

Merriman on Wednesday said he never was told the injury could be career-threatening ... but you tell me what happens when you shred knee ligaments that already are torn. You start playing with your future, that's what, and that sure sounds like something that could threaten a career.

Merriman insisted that's not the case and kept telling his audience he first suffered the injury in December 2007 and played the last six games -- including the Pro Bowl -- with the injury. Yeah? Swell. He got lucky.

So why risk further damage? Better yet, why not have reconstructive surgery after the season to avoid what's going on now?

"I just felt it was strong enough to do everything I needed to do," Merriman said. "I think we all just overestimated it."

Teammate Philip Rivers didn't, and look where he is. He's not only playing; he's playing without lingering effects from the knee surgery he underwent six months ago ... or about the time Merriman should have joined him.

But Merriman didn't, and now we're left to wonder how long he can play, how effective he can be and when he actually undergoes the inevitable surgery. Merriman said he will have it when he decides to have it, but there's no guarantee, is there?

I mean, if he didn't do it last February, and he's not doing it now, why would he do it six months from now?