Shawne Merriman: I Knew I Could Still Play

Shawne Merriman was once a feared defensive force, flying to the quarterback and through defenders — until the injuries came.

After struggling for years with injuries, Merriman found himself out of the NFL when he was cut by the Buffalo Bills before the start of the preseason. Now Shawne Merriman has a chance to prove he still belongs in the NFL, as the injury-depleted Bills signed him again this week.

“I’m excited just being back in the building with these guys not having to text them every week after the games just seeing how everyone is doing,” Shawne Merriman told BuffaloBills.com. “I’m definitely glad and happy to be back in the building.

Merriman said the he understands why he was cut, as “it’s the NFL that is just how things go,” but he knew he still had game left in him.

“I knew I could still play and I could contribute to the game a lot,” Merriman said. “I’m just happy to even get that call back and because you never know how things are going to go and you have to be ready when it’s time.”

While he was waiting for the call to return to the NFL, Shawne Merriman said he spent time relaxing on the beach in Miami before returning to San Diego and keeping up on the game.

Though he is happy about his return, Merriman said living with injuries for the past few years has been frustrating.

Merriman said:

“Yeah it was a little different for me because I have always been a player in this league when I was healthy of course. To go through that transition when you are waiting for a guy to go down not just here, but all across the league or based on team needs. Everybody that I talked to during my time off, no one thought that I could not play anymore. It was more of team needs and who do they have available to come in and play right now and that type thing. I am just excited to come back.”

Shawne Merriman might not have to wait much longer to prove himself, CBS Sports reported. Bills head coach Chan Gailey said there is a good chance he plays this week.