Merriman is everywhere, but not just in San Diego. He is interviewed by television all over, and he is shown by the NFL. We in San Diego like him because our expectations were low when he held out, he had some amazing games last year, and he kept up the production this year. He and Phillips are the reason our secondary is so much better this year (along with Jammer's improvement.)
He was also the youngest player in the NFL last year, so we cut him some slack for his exuberance. And to us, his ****iness is not so different than Rivers'. Personallly, I don't mind Ocho Cinco's shtick either, because it seems in all good fun, unlike Owens' and others. And I put Merriman's shtick in the same vein.
His steroid suspension was bad, true. And it took off some of the luster. But his handling of it has been good, and we are giving him a second chance.
However, to say the Merriman is the face of the Chargers is silly. LT is. Period. A classy guy and a great player. You can also make a case for Rivers and possibly Gates (ever see Gates on the Late, Late SHow? Pretty funny). But LT is our man, LT is the franchise.
I have been reading the Boston papers. Not many articles on LT. But there are a bunch on Merriman (and mostly complimentary).
