Merriman To IR, Chargers Have To Release Him

It is being reported that Shawne Merriman will be put on the injured reserve list and because of the injury type, the Chargers will have to release him after he comes off the ir.

I've watched professional football, avidly, for over 30 years now and I have never heard of some of the rules and stipulations that, it seems, the Chargers get themselves into each season...this is one of them...

Not that I am disappointed at all to see Shawne Merriman no longer on the Charger team, but I am just a bit curious as to why the Chargers have to cut him after he returns from the ir?  Just seems like an odd rule but must be in play for some reason and the Charger organization was likely aware of the rule so, I would hope, knew what they were doing...

Bur really, what they are doing is getting rid of an off-field, high profile player that has been injured for the past 3 seasons.  When Merriman ended his holdout, I was less than enthused and had all but predicted his final days with the Chargers were nearing.

I don't think the Chargers had any intention of resigning him after this season and now Merriman will have a tough sell to try and get some team to give him a chance when he essentially hasn't played since being busted for steroids which will be over 3 years ago by the time he is healthy again.  Good luck with that.