Merriman signs tender, reports to Chargers camp

Source: Associated Press By Bernie Wilson Shawne Merriman SAN DIEGO (AP)—Shawne Merriman(notes) signed his $3,269,000, one-year tender with the San Diego Chargers on Friday, admitting his two-week holdout didn’t accomplish anything. The star outside linebacker won’t play in Saturday night’s exhibition opener against Chicago, but coach Norv Turner expects him to be ready by the following weekend’s game against Dallas. Merriman, once one of the most-feared players in the NFL, stood on the sideline watching Friday’s walkthrough, the sleeves on his jersey rolled up to expose his tattooed arms. “I think it was time for me to come in and get ready,” said Merriman, who’s trying to regain the form that resulted in 39 1/2 sacks in his first three seasons. “You can’t show up game one, game two, whatever, and expect to be ready. The only way to emulate football is to play football.” Merriman softened his stance on a handful of issues, including one in which he was quoted as saying he wanted th...