Merriman's Eye-Catching Interview In GQ

01-15-07

He's one of the most feared linebackers in the NFL. Now, Charger Shawne Merriman is revealing all for an interview in GQ magazine. In it, he talks about everything from his childhood to his recent steroids suspension.

The last time we showed you Shawne Merriman getting some ink in a national publication was when he was doing a photo shoot for Sports Illustrated. Now the latest is GQ, which takes a look at Shawne's childhood, his rise to one of the premier players in the NFL, and the steroid scandal.

Shawne's childhood was not a typical growing up in a tough neighborhood.

"We'd sleep in a closet or a bathroom, because bullets were ricocheting off the building," he said in the interview.

When asked about great players in the league like Ray Lewis, Derrick Thomas or Junior Seau, he has no problem setting his sites high.

"I will one day be considered better than all those guys," he was quoted as saying.

Shawne is as intense of a player as any of the greats that have come before him. When asked about the hit he laid on Priest Holmes, he speaks with a devilish grin.

"You never want to end another player's career, but it's a violent game. What can I say… lights out," he said.

One thing Shawne's strength and speed have not made easier to deal with are the steroid allegations. He believes he was following the supplemental guideline laid down by the NFL and says, "The ingredients didn't say I was doing anything wrong. I took it over and over again, and nothing ever came up."

When it comes to clearing his hame, he knows some peoplel will always be skeptical.

"If I sued and won, people won't believe me," he said. "It's not going to stop fans from holding up signs or saying crazy things about me."