Medical Advice? What Medical Advice?

This breaking news alert just in to the Minor-League Town newsroom ... Shawne Merriman has decided not to have knee surgery and will play this season for the Chargers.

So, after hop-scotching across the country to get his injured left knee looked at by four different doctors -- all of whom told him to have surgery immediately -- Merriman has chosen to ignore the unanimous medical recommendation. The overwhelming view of the medical professionals was that Merriman, who has two torn ligaments in his left knee, could be risking a career-threatening injury by playing without surgery.

Yeah, that's all.

So what was the point then of that Shawne Across America Tour? Did Merriman just want a little vacation, a nice break from the mundane routine of training camp?

ESPN NFL analyst Marcellus Wiley, a former Charger, reacting to the news on Wednesday morning's SportsCenter: "I'm shocked by this decision. ... This will not be good for Shawne Merriman or the Chargers. They're not going to get the player he was. He's going to be a shell of himself."

If some people thought Merriman wasn't too bright, this episode will do nothing to change that perception. Merriman also comes off as just a tad immature with this decision. 

We have to remind ourselves that this guy is still just 24 years old, so perhaps he still has a lot to learn. 

We all like to think we learn from our mistakes. And Shawne Merriman clearly made one here.