With every doctor in the world telling Shawne Merriman to sit the season out because it could jeopardize his entire career, his medical background tells him differently, and he’s decided it’ll be best to play this year.

“I’m going to play,” Merriman texted The San Diego Union-Tribune. “I’ll deal with it when it’s time to get surgery.”

Merriman said Saturday that he has been told by doctors that he could suffer a possible career-ending injury if he attempts to play without having surgery.

Merriman said he has tears in both the posterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments. He said doctors agree that he needs surgery to repair the damage.

We’ll go ahead and set the over/under on when he completely tears his knee up at Week 6. I understand the guy wants a Super Bowl, but the odds of him playing 19 games this year have to be about 20-1. All in all, this whole thing sure does make LT look like a total pussy for last year’s playoff duck out.