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Talk about haters...

The NFL is clear in their policy. Merriman paid his dues. He makes a mistake and people want to hang the guy. I guess thats what happens when you are such a high-profile player.

If anything, there needs to be criticism directed at supplement companies trying to one-up eachother by adding crap to the bottle and not being upfront about it.

Personally I use supplements (creatine/protein) but I dont REALLY know whats in the bottle. I just trust the companies to be honest.

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Shawne paid his dues, and therefore should be considered for any post season awards any other player is up for. Jason Taylor is more vocal about Shawne's 4 game suspension than he is about his own teammate's yearlong suspension (Ricky Williams). why? Because he is not goiong up against Ricky for the bonus money he gets for the extra awards he garners according to his contact. The league can add a claus that forbids any player to have served a suspension of any kind be eliminated for post season award consideration. I would go for that. But until they do, Jason quit whining because you might lose out on extra money from your contract clauses.

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Let the man have his say. He's doing it the right way down in Miami and thinks Merriman is a cheating chump. There's no rule that an NFL player has to agree with the league policy. Does anyone really think for a second that Merriman accidentally failed a test with an OTC supplement? Are you really that naive?

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he's telling the truth, he's a beast athlete, and natural, he works hard at his craft without cheating, good man.

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Taylor:

You are the worst kind of loser. You play for a 6-9 team and the only thing that concerns you is personal accolades. You know you are not more talented than Merriman, so you throw him under the bus during a media conference telphone call to lobby for an award that is not yours.

Merriman served his suspension and nothing in the league rules prevents him for being acknowledged as the best defense player of the year. He will have more sacs than you and miss 4 games.

You might have modicum of credibility on the issue of steriods if you were not so obviously trying to take his award. If you have a problem with Merriman and the system than call your union, call the NFL, or better yet call Merriman himself.

Why don't you worry about Ricky's pot use, or where Saban is going to coach next year, or how Miami is ever going to have a winnnig season?

And have fun watching the defensive player of the year in the superbowl. Punk.

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well so what if merriman was caught with steroids? do u think 4 a second that many other players don't use steroids? whose to say that taylor himself doesn't use them? regardless of whether merriman knew he was using it or not he was suspended. ok so taylor was a little vocal. if he really wants to stick it to him he should just get more sacks but he didn't oh well

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get this...

This is more than just Jason Taylor mouthing off, or whinning, or making a good point. It's an insult to every other hard working Defensive football player that this Merriman guy can miss four games due to taking enhancement drugs and still go to the Pro Bowl? How lame or bad are the other players in the league? I'd be mad as HELL that some cheater (merriman) who didn't and wouldn't give his all gets rewarded for being a cheater.

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with or without steroids shawne merriman will sack more than jason taylor has sacked in his lifetime hahahahaha that guys just jealous

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It should surprise me that Jason Taylor is being so critical about Shawne "lights out" Merriman. He's being very selfish worrying about "competition" for an individual award. He's having a great year...not question. Shawne has paid his dues, so to speak. We don't know all the facts, and a mistake was made, he understands, admitted, apologized and has handled the situation with open, honest and integrity ..yes ...I said it. Sometimes the true test of a man is how he handles adversity. Think about the fact that he's been a "stud" through high school and college and not once any problems with steroids...he doesn't use or abuse them. Someone should check out how he's been performing since he came back from the suspension. You know for sure h e's under very strict scrutiny...It is apparent that he did some working out and preparation to continue playing up to his abilities. I don't think Shawne Merriman is worried about winning a defensive player of the year award...think he's more concerned with the team goal.

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You idiots who compare Ricky Willlams useing pot to Merriman useing steriods need to get a life. Pot doesn't help your body. Fact is Merriman used a substance to help him get bigger and stronger. He should not be looked up to by kids for that. Giving him this award will send a mixed message to the young players out there and I think that is why Jason spoke up about it. Jason is a great player with a good work ethic and he wants to see that our kids dont use steroids...

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shawne is the man. Jason put up or shut up. i use supplements and my girlfriend loves it. Jason how does your girlfriend feel?

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JT is right Shawn Merriman has had a great pro bowl season but it doesnt change the fact that he had help with the drugs. JT desreves the Defensive player of the year more than Shawn. based on stats JT 2 pics for 2 TD's. And he plays DE not LB so yea.

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Before people crucify Merriman, please consider that he tested positive exactly ONE TIME....and that was last August BEFORE the season began....no positive tests before that one....none after....His performance after his suspension has been incredible, leaving many of us to believe that he is truly a gifted athlete who doesn't use drugs, but used poor judgement in the legal supplements he took. Considering his on-field work in only 11 games this year, he is definetly deserving of the honors he has received.

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I am not ready to label Merriman as this is his first offense, and has no history of these kinds of violations. I completely agree that there is no place in professional sports for steroid use, and I would also agree that the NFL should initiate a policy that keeps players out of contention to these types of awards. Maybe that would provide more incentive to stay away from the temptation. However, I would like to say that Shawn Merriman is an amazing natural athlete, and that kind of athlete is not something that steroids creates.

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The fact that Shawne Merriman missed four games is proof enough he doesn't deserve to be in the running for any individual awards. If you want to win something, stay on the field for the whole season.

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Actually the fact that he missed four games and still leads the league in sacks is proof of his talent. Missing games should not be a factor in individual awards as getting injured is the nature of the game, however whether he is worthy after the steroids issue is questionable.

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I completely agree with Jason Taylor. It is true that Merriman did serve his punishment but other than money lost from the time off it was relatively nothing done to him. He should not be aloud to receive any post season awards or play in the Pro Bowl. This should be a rule for any player that gets caught with illegal drugs in their system.

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Merriman is a cheater. How many people did he harm with his steroid enhanced strength? Maybe next time he could use a bat...same thing

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i dont think a defensive player of the year award can be measured in sacks , yeah its fair to say that shawne merriman(stereoids or not) is the best PASS RUSH linebacker in the league but he is still to young to be compared to an all pro player like jason taylor ,the chargers defense is one of the best defenses in the league and shawne merriman is one of its top ingredients but jason taylor has more merit cause he is the hole defense in miami , he has sacks , interceptions , FF , Tackles etc..

shawne merriman will get his award as the sack leader of the league but you cant compare him with jason taylor for the defensive mvp..

my candidates for D MVP are taylor , urlracher(who by the way doesnt have more than 5 sacks) and champ bailey.

merriman is a great player but he has a great team that makes him look better cause a defense cannot focus on stopping lights out cause they have to worry about , jamal williams , luis castillo , phillips etc..

i hope a player with a trayectory like the one that jason taylor has , is finally recognized as one of the best in the league.

i mean being able to become and outside linebacker and playing a totally diferent position after years and years of playing DE , and being able to do it at such high level is really impressive, and if you dont think that what jason taylor does is important for miami defense just look what has happened with dallas defense right after they lost greg ellis for the year who was by the way the other veteran making and important transition

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I like merriman and there is no reason to stop him from playing in the NFL. He served his punishment and will probably not take steriods anymore. However, he cannot be rewarded for his plays while supplemented by steroids. You cannot acknowledge the accomplishments he made with an unfair edge.

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