Shawne Merriman Is An Idiot For Turning Down A Role In The 'Concussion' Movie

BSO- Shawne Merriman says he had the chance to become a movie star, but didn’t want to throw the NFL under the bus in the process.

The man formerly known as ‘Lights Out,’ told TMZ Sports that he was approached to be a part of Will Smith’s “Concussion” movie but turned it down.

The former San Diego Chargers linebacker says he’s convinced the movie is “definitely going to give the NFL a black eye” … but says he didn’t feel right jumping aboard the project.

The movie — set to come out in December — is supposed to blow the lid of an alleged NFL conspiracy to hide the debilitating life-long effects of concussions from players.
“I turned it down and said ‘No’ … I don’t want to be a part of it because I didn’t know how they were going to make it look.”

Still, Merriman says concussions are a problem among NFL vets — saying, “A lot of people have problems and the NFL should fix it .. period.”


I don't know if the director of 'Concussion' actually reached out to Shawne Merriman or not, but if they did, that's was an exemplary attempt at casting. Seriously, no player, either current or former, is more suited for a role in a movie that gives the NFL a 'black eye' than Shawn Merriman. He basically is the personification of a black eye on the NFL. I know he wasn't the first professional football player to use steroids, but he pretty much showed just how effective they can be. Remember when he was dominating football games and jumping around doing his 'Lights Out' dance? Everyone was enamored with his physical abilities and passion for the game. Then they learned that very same passion was really just steroid induced rage. Seriously, Shawne Merriman got suspended for the use of illegal substances and his career faded faster than a $5 t-shirt you buy outside the stadium. That was the first time that we realized that performance enhancing drugs could have a very real, very definitive effect on the outcome of football games. 

Every football player that's ever served a 4 game suspension has Shawne Merriman to thank. The NFL, which largely ignored it's PED issue, has Shawne Merriman to thank for bringing it to the forefront. That guy has blown up more spots than a Mexican food addict with IBS. He has never worried about the perception of the NFL before, why would he start now? Sure, professional football is responsible for his multi million dollar bank account, but that was the case before he shed light on their steroid problem. That was the case before he used those very same steroids to contribute to the concussion problem. Oh course Shawne Merriman has "seen it (concussions) with other people". You could probably fill a 90 minute time slot talking about all the head injuries that Shawne Merriman and his drug use were directly responsible for. Never mind the allegations of domestic abuse with Tila Tequila before domestic abuse in professional sports was all the rage. To call him a thorn in the side of the NFL would be an understatement of biblical proportions. I guess my only question I have is when you've gone so far down the rabbit hole in tarnishing the NFL's brand why not completely severe ties for a chance to work with Will Smith?