SAN DIEGO -- Shawne Merriman usually delivers headaches. On
Friday, he had one that kept him from practicing.
The Chargers' Pro Bowl outside linebacker skipped the workout as
the team wraps up preparation for Sundays game with the visiting
Arizona Cardinals. Merriman felt a migraine headache coming on in
the morning, so he elected not to practice.
"I get them pretty bad, but I only get them once in a blue
moon," said Merriman, the NFL sack leader with 16. "When it
happens I just go to a dark room and don't even try to do anything.
You can't fight it, you just hope the medication works fast enough
for you to feel better."
The Chargers (13-2) need to beat Arizona or have Baltimore lose
to Buffalo in order to clinch home-field advantage throughout the
AFC playoffs.
Merriman said he'll be fine for Sunday's game, adding that he
has never had a migraine on a game day.
"Knock on wood," he said.
Merriman received a few knocks this week, with Miami's Jason
Taylor and Denver's Champ Bailey questioning his viability to be
chosen then NFL's defensive player of the year because of his
four-game suspension for steroids use.
"I don't really pay attention to it too much," Merriman said.
"I find it's just things that are going to be said regardless and
you finish that out by playing. Let your play show before you say
anything and let the rest of it go right past you and keep doing
what I do best and that's it."
Merriman, nicknamed "Lights Out" for his punishing hits, said
he sent Taylor a T-shirt and hat with his "Lights Out" logo. He
also sent a bag of popcorn, "So he can watch us in the playoffs."
Also Friday, defensive ends Luis Castillo (ankle) and Derreck
Robinson (foot), and linebacker Randall Godfrey (hamstring) didn't
practice. All three will likely skip Sunday's game.