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WTF is Shawne Merriman Thinking?

I desperately want somebody--anybody, maybe even the loathsome Cowboys--to keep the New England Patriots (a.k.a., the Evil Empire) from winning Super Bowl XLIII. I’m counting on the San Diego Chargers to be one fo the teams that achieves that goal. Plus. I’ve got the Chargers as my D/ST on one of my fantasy teams. So I need short term excellence from the Bolts defense. Even so, I have to wonder WTF is Shawne Merriman thinking? The guy has not one but two ”partly torn ligaments in his left knee.” Four doctors have told him to take 2008 off and have surgery, but Merriman apparently is going to risk permanent disability to play this year.

SI.com columnist Ross Tucker is moved to exclaim that:

I am sick and tired of reading and hearing all of the media pundits and fans denigrating Shawne Merriman for his decision to play football in 2008 despite reportedly having PCL and LCL tears in his knee. ... The reason I am so angered by the overwhelmingly negative response is very simple: It is Merriman’s life and ultimately his decision and he can do with it what he wants.

Of course, it is ultimately Merriman’s decision, but that doesn’t mean his decision is—or ought to be—free from criticism. The harm principle may counsel against using legal sanctions to prevent you from doing things that will injure yourself so long as they don’t injure another, but it doesn’t preclude me from pointing out that you’re being an idiot to do so.