Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal reported earlier today that Chargers linebacker Shawne...

Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal reported earlier today that Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman has parted ways with CAA. Since then, Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco has "reported" via Twitter that Merriman fired CAA and signed with David Dunn.

Ochocinco's decision to mention Merriman's move makes little sense, given that Merriman and Ochocinco routinely squabble on Twitter, and in light of the fact that Ochocinco is represented by neither CAA nor Dunn. Making the situation even more strange is the fact that Merriman "retweeted" Ochocinco's report.

In SportsBusiness Daily's "Closing Bell," Mullen points out that five days must pass between the firing of an NFL agent and the hiring of a new one. Though Mullen doesn't specifically state that the five-day rule possibly was violated in this case, she reports that the firing of CAA by Merriman occurred over the weekend.

If true, this means that the transaction violated the five-day rule. But we can't imagine Dunn, who has a history of having the NFLPA chasing him around, committing what would be a blatant violation of the five-day rule.

Merriman's agent switch raises questions under five-day rule

about 2 years ago John Gennaro 14 comments 0 recs |

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Nice Lights

But the only contract your new agent will see from the Chargers is the tender, that has been there for the past couple months.

IMO

by Foilhat on May 11, 2010 3:52 PM PDT reply actions

you don't know what he wants dude...

stop speculating…when you assume..well you know the rest.

by Gorditoe1 on May 11, 2010 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

I assume he wants a new contract

But you are right, I dont know what he wants. He could want a new agent comb his hair. You do not need to point out that what I write is my opinion Gordo, I state it clearly in my sig in case you forget this is a blogs comment section

IMO

by Foilhat on May 11, 2010 7:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Interesting.

Should we read anything into this? Is he dumping Condon because he wants a contract with the Chargers next year?

What is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of the cheerleaders!

by Neoplatonist Bolthead on May 11, 2010 3:58 PM PDT reply actions

Could be

I think it’ll be really telling. If he stays, it’ll most likely be at a slightly reduced price compared to what he could get elsewhere. If he gets such a deal done with…Dunn…, maybe it suggests that Condon’s greediness was creating a divide between Merriman and the front office. Also, if the opposite happens, perhaps Condon was willing to sacrifice more than Merriman was to stay.

by sd_Baby-B on May 11, 2010 7:32 PM PDT up reply actions

If I am free to speculate

I would think it could have something to do with the botched trade(s) attempts that took place during the draft. Strangely enough the Padres owner and Dunn used to work with each other I think, before Dunn left and got sued, and suspended by the players union

IMO

by Foilhat on May 11, 2010 8:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Are you speculating that Merriman is unhappy he wasn’t traded, or that he was unhappy with the quality of deals being negotiated by Condon.

Also, I know next to nothing about either of these agents (I first learned of them from this post) so maybe I lack some assumed knowledge, but what’s the exact relevance of Dunn’s relationship with the Padres owner to this story, if any? Let me clarify — I don’t mean to imply your post is in any way irrelevant or insignificant, just that the relevance/significance is lost on me.

by sd_Baby-B on May 11, 2010 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions

I would guess that he just wants to get paid

Condon is a very good agent, and was most likely trying to get Merriman a longterm deal with a ton guaranteed. But I believe Merriman knows this strategy could have scuttled his trade. He could have chose a new agent to go with a new strategy that he was recently sold on.
Cambell and Kolb both received one year added onto a one year deal I believe, giving them two years under contract. That might allow Merriman to put some guarantee money in his pocket while also protecting his new team, with a somewhat incentive based 2nd year.
There is so significance, I just thought if was cool that the Padres new owner once worked with Merrimans new agent.

IMO

by Foilhat on May 11, 2010 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I would guess he wants to get paid too

The USA Today database is down, but if I remember correctly Merriman has probably pulled about 5 million over his entire career. He was under paid for his first few years and probably over paid for the last two. As an RFA he is gonna get the good paycheck this year.

If I were in Merriman’s shoes there would be a few things sitting in the back of my mind.

1. He’s not getting any younger and the injuries are beginning to impact the performance. How much longer can he claim to be a top ten ILB in the league?

2. He was asked to play a large amount of 4-3 last year because of DL issues. His sack totals and tackles for a loss were very poor as a result. The new NT may make a world of difference; the depth of bodies in the DL may also make a difference in 2010. If the 2010 DL performs anything like 2009, even if he plays the 4-3 role to perfection and makes the team a winner, Merriman’s personal stats are gonna suuuck. And there will be no big offers next year, and maybe never.

If he’s gonna get that big long term contract he needs to get it right now – from another team. Or he needs to have a big 2010 with the Chargers, and many looming factors in Merriman’s success with the Chargers in 2010 are out of Merriman’s control – its team and scheme.

This Merriman situation is starting to look a lot like LT’s situation the last two years. Did LT change agents too?

by Trendsearcher on May 12, 2010 9:06 AM PDT up reply actions

OLB

by Trendsearcher on May 12, 2010 9:11 AM PDT up reply actions

His signing bonus alone was 9 mil

Say yeah, he has made about two times as much in his first year as your are saying he made over the entire life of his contract. But even so he was likely under paid those first 3 years, but that’s what always happens when a mid to late first round pick becomes a beast, ask Chris Johnson.
He cant claim to be a top passrusher, hence his agent getting laughed at when he tried to negotiate a huge longterm deal.
He wasnt asked to “play in a 43”, please stop with that non sense. He played less in base and more in nickel because he was continually banged up, and when the Chargers went into nickel of course they are expecting pass and could generally let him rush accordingly (meaning they could use him less but in high impact situations). I expect the new NT to make next to zero impact rushing the passer so I doubt he helps the edge rushers in anyway big way. Until you are a dynamic interior pass rusher no team will double you regularly.
He’s not going to get a big longterm contract that’s just the reality. His choices are to take a discounted incentive based long term deal after he’s traded, sign a little extension after he’s traded, or play on the tender for the Chargers.
LT didnt change agents, he barely renegotiated his deal. Different situations LT was very old for his position, and had two years on his deal at like 6mil a piece. Merriman is still young, with a one year semi cheap deal (when he signs of course).

IMO

by Foilhat on May 12, 2010 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I hadn't thought about the injury

All those downs where Merriman was in the 3 point stance up on the line, I had presumed he was there to stop the run. Because earlier on they had trouble.

He played less in base and more in nickel because he was continually banged up

So you are saying the team used him that way to cover for his injuries? If Merriman is so nicked up that you have to change the defense, why not just give the reps to English?

I hadn’t thought about it in those terms (ie covering for Merriman’s injuries)

by Trendsearcher on May 12, 2010 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions

I was under the impression

That English was getting a lot of reps. I think the team just felt that having Merriman sometimes on the field was better than no Merriman at all. I think they believed giving him rest and putting him in for a certain set of plays would allow him to make some contributions out there that English couldn’t.

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on May 13, 2010 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Man...

Another Bolt who´s gonna leave without getting us anything in return…
The F.O has gotta get some deal(s) done before the season opening, cause i´ll be sooo mad if nothing happens with our RFA!! Man..2 moths already

by Hell Rider on May 12, 2010 6:12 AM PDT reply actions