Merriman returns fire to Urlacher
By: MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | ∞
SAN DIEGO -- The war of words is on even before the "Lights Out" dance makes its first appearance of the season.
Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher delivered some stinging criticism of Shawne Merriman's trademark celebration in Chicago newspapers earlier this week, and the Chargers' star linebacker responded in explosive fashion Thursday.
"Say what you want, but you have bigger problems than my 'Lights Out' dance Sunday," said Merriman, referring to the day the two teams meet at Qualcomm Stadium. "I wouldn't be too concentrated on my dance or what I do."
Urlacher made the following comments about Merriman's flamboyant dance, which includes frantic leg kicks and ferocious fist pumps: "The thing is, if you're going to do it, do it all the time. Do it when you make a bad play, too. You'll never see me doing any stupid (stuff) like that after a play. The only thing I'll do is get a little happy with my teammates."
Merriman said he wasn't surprised by Urlacher's comments and said they will have no effect on him.
"Nothing they can say or do can fire me up more than I already am," Merriman said. "It doesn't matter. People have took shots at me before ---- players, people period ---- so that stuff doesn't even break the first layer of my skin."
Asked if he knows Urlacher, Merriman responded: "No. I really don't care to know him, actually. ... I've got plenty of things to say about him, but it's not important. I'll see him Sunday."
At one point, Merriman rose from his locker stool, grabbed his shoulder pads and began shaking them, making a smacking noise. He said the pads will be speaking a lot for him Sunday, and he was asked if Urlacher would be able to hear the smacking.
"Oh, he'll hear it," Merriman said. "Ever hear of the Fourth of July when you're outside? You don't have to see the fireworks, but you can hear them."
Merriman then slapped the pads together again.
"That's all the talking I need to do right there," Merriman said.
Running against the Bears
Chicago's defense was sixth best against the run last season, and the Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson led the NFL with 1,815 rushing yards. That makes for an intriguing matchup.
"They have a good defense and they have good players over there," Chargers guard Kris Dielman said. "They move around the ball real well. It will be a good challenge for us."
Bears coach Lovie Smith knows that it's imperative for his defense to contain Tomlinson.
"It's very important, but most teams have gone in trying to do that," Smith said. "Every team they've played has tried to do that. It's hard to keep great players down. We're going to try and do that as much as we possibly can."
This will be just the second time Tomlinson has faced the Bears. In 2003, he was held to 61 yards on 16 carries in a 20-7 loss in Chicago.
Et cetera
RB Michael Turner (ankle) and C Cory Withrow were full practice participants on Thursday. Both players should play against the Bears. ... Chicago TE Greg Olsen (knee) was a limited participant at Bears practice. ... As expected, LB Anthony Waters missed practice. He was in South Carolina after the death of his grandmother earlier this week.
NATHAN wrote on Sep 7, 2007 4:55 AM:MERRIMAN IS A MONKEY PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
Bobby wrote on Sep 7, 2007 8:06 AM:Sure am glad Merriman is not going to do his dance this year. It shows no respect for the other team, all it does is tick them off and make for great press. We all recall the dance after the playoff game with the Pats at center field?? LT does! Great players don't need to show boat, their play does the talking.
Bare Fan wrote on Sep 7, 2007 10:01 AM:Ironically this hype is intriguing but this game is not in the hands of these two muscle bound blow-hards. It's in the hands of one skilled player - like Rex. If he has a good day so will the Bears ..
Joe wrote on Sep 7, 2007 10:27 AM:UNLEASH MERRIMONSTER!!!!!!!!!!! Do the Chargers have a playoff-caliber team on paper? Yes, however the game is played on the field and not on paper. From what I have seen so far of this preseason, The Chargers appear to be more mature and hopefully more disciplined. After last years embarassing debacle against New England (how many ways can you find to lose a crucial playoff game?), The Chargers OWE it to LT, the owners, management, the fans and themselves to be smart, disciplined and professional on every play of every game this ("open window") season. If they have actually matured enough to do so they just could fulfill their manifest destiny to be in Arizona for the Super Bowl. The have the talent (thanks AJ) but do they have the maturity and discipline??? I am interested to see what new offensive "wrinkles" Norvall will be adding. My suggestion...throw deep to Buster Davis early and often to spread the field and open up the running lanes for LT and The Burner. Perhaps we could even find a special play for "nasty" Kris Dealman to PANCAKE block "big mouth" Urlacher who, give him his respect, is a very good player. Watching Mity Mite Sproles dash and dart is worth the price of admission. A wise choice to keep him as I feel he will provide some great returns this year. For all you fans who wanted to keep Drew Brees (you can't coach heighth-or lack thereof and small hands make it easy to stip the ball from him which happend last night and countless times when with The Chargers),and have him playing instead of our spectacular 6'5" stud Rivers (MVP in ALL 5 bowl games in which he played and Pro Bowl in his 1st starting year leading the highest scoring offense), did you happen to see the Ain'ts/Colts game last night? Drew was on course to have the lowest per catch average in the HISTORY of the NFL before completing a whopping 15 yard pass late against the "prevent" defense. According to articles Norv acutally is partly responsible for helping the Chargers to get Philip as when Norv worked out (ug) Micheal Vick (my dog is barking), Norv told AJ that Vick was not good at understanding how to execute plays given to him. GO CHARGERS!!!
Joe wrote on Sep 7, 2007 10:31 AM:Hey Bare Fan, IF is the biggest word in the dictionary. Which GROSSman will show up? Hey Nathan, If Merriman is a monkey then he is GODZILLA! He may be a monkey but he is our monkey and I am sure Grossman wishes he was at the zoo and not hammering him like man against boy.
Bolt Fan wrote on Sep 7, 2007 10:56 AM:"Rex" and "skilled player" in the same sentence? That's funny.
Concerned fan wrote on Sep 7, 2007 11:20 AM:Rex and skilled player in the same sentence iiiiiindeeeeed... ...and since when is GODZILLA a monkey? I believe he's a reptile.
JustAFan wrote on Sep 7, 2007 11:24 AM: Joe.. IF Merriman is a monkey he is GODZILLIA? Interesting, I thought that was a lizard. Mean King Kong by chance?
dmac wrote on Sep 7, 2007 11:32 AM:"Rex" and "skilled player" in the same sentence? That's funny. " I laughed too. Bears homers are in denial about Wrecks Grossly. He's a human grenade, ..., kaBOOM!
todd wrote on Sep 7, 2007 11:43 AM: and what has rivers done
John wrote on Sep 7, 2007 11:58 AM:Attaboy Joe, but "King Kong" is the supreme monkey, and he kicked Godzilla's butt in their famous showdown. Kong gets the chicks too, so he's a double threat.
Joe wrote on Sep 7, 2007 12:30 PM:My bad fellas, I did mean KING KONG. Thanks for the correction. How much would you like to see a "no holds barred" wrestling match between "King Kong" Merrimonster and "Godzilla" Urlacher? I'm sure it would turn out like in their famous showdown. I would not like to be playing offensive line for da Bears having to worry not only about Merrimonster but also "the other guy" Phillips plus Coop, Wilhelm or Dobbins crashing up the middle not to mention our corner or safety blitzes from the outside and just for good measure throw in Jamal "The Wall" suffing the middle and splitting double teams. Hopefully Hart and Weddle, when playing, can use their ball skills to pick off GROSSman. Yep, "grossman skills" is an oxymoron. Get 'r done!
eASY MONEY wrote on Sep 7, 2007 12:47 PM:THE BEARS WILL WIN THIS GAME. everyone in san diego will have their baby blue on and the whole city will be dissapointed like always. you all know how the Chargers do it. Especially after that LT commercial look for the Bears to be fired up.
Bolts wrote on Sep 7, 2007 1:15 PM:This game has the makings of a slugfest. I think both teams are set to come out and make a statement. I think Bare Fan is right about one thing... Bears fans should be worried about which Rex is going to show up. I think Charger fans have some fear of their new Head Coach, Norv Turner. I can't wait until Sunday!
MiamiBoltsFan wrote on Sep 7, 2007 1:33 PM:Both teams do seem to find multiple ways to hurt oppossing teams due to having numerous highly talented players. However, the Bolts simply appear to have way too many legitimate playmaking threats (aka: Pro Bowlers)on either side of the ball. I anticipate the Bears will be spread somewhat thin on this one before the final whistle blows. SD will keep the pigskin away from Hester, churn the clock slowly on offense with sustained long scoring drives, and rattle Grossman's cage early via multiple defensive looks. Sorry Bears Fans, there's simply TOO MUCH FIREPOWER in CHARGERLAND THIS SEASON!!!!! BOLTS 27 - BEARS 10.
TX_BOLT wrote on Sep 7, 2007 2:43 PM:If you do not like SM lights out dance..Then make him stop. He dances after he makes a big play...So don't give him a big play. EASIER SAID THAT DONE BOYS...BRING THE BEARS ON.......O by the way how do you all feel about a certain LB who does not like SM dance and wines about it in the press....I am impressed with his method of calling attention to himself...Give me SM dance any day after a big play as opposed to a big baby crying to the news person about another player in the nfL dance after a big play....How about this...Get your offense together and tell then do no let that fool beat you and by so doing you will stop him from celebrating after a big play.....Easier said that done ..GO Chargers. Oop that is not going to happen so lets just try the press method.
CHARGERS KICK ASSSSSS wrote on Sep 7, 2007 6:46 PM:All i need to say is merriman is not going to take this kind of crap from anyone, and he wont be talking forsure, as a matter of fact actions do speak louder then words. FINAL SCORE CHARGERS 28 BEARS 14 GO CHARGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big Ryan wrote on Sep 7, 2007 7:40 PM:GO chargers! urlacher is overrated. He's soft, only good for the big plays. I'd take merriman over the whole Bears LB corps.
JustAFan wrote on Sep 8, 2007 4:36 AM:Big Ryan wrote on Sep 7, 2007 7:40 PM: " GO chargers! urlacher is overrated. He's soft, only good for the big plays. I'd take merriman over the whole Bears LB corps. " And this is why your sitting at home watching the game and not an NFL GM. I am a huge Bears homer and I admit that Roid boy is a great LB no doubt about it, but not worth more then Urlacher and Briggs. IF you said take Dim Light over Urlacher or Briggs it would be fair, but not the entire Bears LB corp.
charger247 wrote on Sep 8, 2007 8:09 AM:dude urlacher is so overratted..why dosen't he say anything about ray lewis when is dancing and talking trash after a big play...huh..it's beacuse no one is giving him any attention and he has to go threw the press..shawn is a beast and if you dont want him do his thang..then try stopping him..
el dan wrote on Sep 8, 2007 9:29 AM:every bears fan will soon understand how much more we really want it .. san diego prepare for glory !!!
JustAFan wrote on Sep 8, 2007 1:57 PM:charger247 wrote on Sep 8, 2007 8:09 AM:why dosen't he say anything about ray lewis when is dancing and talking trash after a big play...huh I am guessing because unlike the question he was asked about "Dim Lights" Merriman, he hasn't been asked about Ray Lewis. People act like Urlacher simply grabbed a reporter and said what he said, no he was asked a question and he answered it.
Nathan for President wrote on Sep 9, 2007 1:35 AM:Shawn Merriman is the best defensive football player... PLAIN AND SIMPLE!!!
eASY MONKEY likes BOLTS wrote on Sep 9, 2007 1:38 AM:I love the Chargers new uniforms. Although I realize the Chargers misfortunes of the past, I now realize how talented and strong the team is this year. Chargers win 24-10.
Bare fan doesn't know how to spell Bear wrote on Sep 9, 2007 1:40 AM:Despite my denial that Rex Grossman is a below average quaterback,
Todd Bare wrote on Sep 9, 2007 1:44 AM:What has Rivers done? Well he went to the Pro Bowl in his first year starting for the 14-2 Chargers. The Bares (oops, I mean Bears) were 13-3 and went to the Super Bowl. Rex is going to need to be better if they are going to win this year. He really isn't that good, let's not be in denial Bear's fans!!!
TX - BOLT wrote on Sep 9, 2007 4:07 PM:GOOD NIGHT BEAR FANS...IT WAS FUN..EVEN WITH HELF FROM THE REFS BIG TIME (2 OBVIOUS IN THE NEUTRAL ZONE CALLS) YOU ALL WERE NOT ABLE TO WIN...NOW PACK YOUR BAG AND GO BACK TO CHICAGO. PLEASE TAKE THAT GUY ONE YOUR TEAM WHO WAS TALKING ABOUT MERRIMAN WITH YOU..MY BAD WAS HE AT THE GAME?
First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.
Advertisement