SAN DIEGO -- Today delivers to Marty Schottenheimer what he considers pristine. And just the opposite. "In a perfect world," the Chargers coach said, "it would be bright and sunny every day."

The afternoon weather will present that, as the Chargers welcome the St. Louis Rams into Qualcomm Stadium.

But Schottenheimer's and the Chargers' orbit was rocked seven days ago as the NFL world learned Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman produced a positive test for steroids.

"It's part of life," Schottenheimer said.

Merriman is a big part of the Chargers' top-ranked defense today and next Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Then things probably turn black, as Merriman's appeal of his four-game suspension is heard, with the likelihood of it being overturned considered a long shot.

Since the controversy broke, Merriman has longed to feel the grass under his cleats on game day.

"Any time I get a chance to get out on the football field and just play football, it is pleasant for me," Merriman said.

The accusation of cheating doesn't roll quickly off Merriman's muscular back.

He is steadfast in his claim the positive reading was the fault of a manufacturer who supplied him with a tainted nutritional supplement.

That might be true, but it doesn't excuse his test results in the NFL's eyes.

In Merriman's logic, it excuses in part the criticism landing at his feet this week. That he was a cheat, that last season's Pro Bowl selection and defensive rookie of the year award were stained, that his 5 1/2 sacks this year came via a bottle and not from shedding blocks.

"Yeah it kind of (hurt) because people are going to speak of what they don't know," he said. "I can't fault them for that so much because the first report was that I was guilty and I was wrong of this and this and this."

This and that added up to a rising star in the community -- someone motivated to reach Junior Seau-status on and off the field -- being knocked down more than a peg. Which begs the question: How will Merriman be received today?

"I don't know," said Merriman, a fan favorite because of his play and engaging "Lights Out" persona. "But I believe I have a lot of support here in San Diego and out of the whole situation, I can't ask anything more for me."

That backing hasn't gone unappreciated to this rough-and-tough NFL player who clearly has a sensitive side.

"It means a lot to somebody like me who does so much in the community and around here, for people to notice that and know the kind of person I am and to stay behind me at times like this," he said.

It's another time in which the Chargers must push aside a distraction and concentrate on an opponent. Before Merriman's detour, there were arrests of Shaun Phillips and Steve Foley; Foley getting shot and being lost for the season; Terrence Kiel being hauled off the practice field by DEA agents then charged on five felony drug transgressions.

"Now people get to see the real Shawne Merriman," he said. "I don't always look at this as being a negative. Now, I am under the microscope so now people get to see Shawne Merriman.

"One thing I was always taught coming up in trying to do be the best, in doing something that nobody has every done before, was you have to be able to endure more than anybody else. You have to learn how to grow and accept more than anybody else -- I am that person. It's not possible for it to be all peaches and cream.

"You can't be the best, being the greatest at what you do, and not have to go through something like this and I look at this as one of those situations.

"I've learned it makes you a stronger person, but at the same time I've been a strong person my whole entire life. I've always had to overcome something, to deal with something. So to go through this situation is not a big deal, as far as my continuing on doing what I do -- as in play football and go on with my every day life."

The Chargers will likely soon experience life minus Merriman. But Merriman said he's not approaching this game differently than others.

"Every game to me has a sense of urgency because you don't know when your last play is going to be anyways," he said. "I think that is why I've received so much respect since I've been playing the game. Because I play the game the way it is suppose to be play."

Contact staff writer Jay Paris at jparis8@aol.com.