Adam Thompson column: Voters right to not pick Merriman

01/06/07

Despite playing on a team with a losing record, Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Jason Taylor was the right choice for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Taylor's statistics are impressive. Among them, he had 13.5 sacks, two interceptions (both run back for touchdowns) and a whopping 10 forced fumbles.

The Dolphins finished a measly 6-10, but one can hardly put any blame on Taylor. This is an individual award, and he shouldn't be punished.

The only other player who could have been picked was Denver's star defensive back Champ Bailey (whose team also didn't make the playoffs).

That would have been fine too. As long as Shawne Merriman didn't win it.

Merriman surely had the statistics. As the best defensive player on the NFL's best team, Merriman had a whopping 15 sacks in only 12 games played. Of course, he only played 12 times because he was busted for violating the steroid policy.

In the NFL, steroid abusers come around just as often as in baseball, if not more, but it's never made as big a deal. Neither is the NFL's laundry list of arrested or abusive stars, whereas the NBA gets a bad rap.

At least Merriman doesn't get this ultimate individual award. Hopefully he (or someone) steps in before he shows up in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl and makes that exhibition even more of a farce than it already is.