“Do the Chargers want to extend his contract? If that answer is ‘no,’ which I here (is the case), then the best thing they can do is trade him, ala Brandon Marshall(notes),” Lombardi said. “When you don’t want to sign a player to an extension, maybe it’s the best thing to do to trade him now. The problem here — he didn’t sign his tender so he cannot be traded because he certainly doesn’t have a contract.”

There were reports out there that the Chargers tried to trade Merriman during the draft, too, but again, the contract was the sticking point — a guy can’t be traded if he doesn’t have one, and any potential trade partner would need to work out a long-term deal with him beforehand.

And the problem with that is that you have to go back to ‘07 to find tape of a productive Shawne Merriman. In ‘05, ‘06, and ‘07, he was a beast, despite missing four games after getting popped for steroids in ‘06.

But then he missed the ‘08 season with a blown-out knee, and while he did get back on the field last year, he was bothered by injuries the Chargers simply replaced him on the field with a Shawne Merrriman Fathead, and opposing linemen wouldn’t have noticed a difference.

That’s the problem the Chargers have, and the problem any other team has, in trying to figure out to pay Merriman. He, of course, thinks he’s worth big money. I can’t blame him for taking that stance.

But will he ever be the same player he was before the injury? After three years, he was on track to become one of the dominant pass rushers of all-time. Now, who knows?

The best thing for all involved would be for Merriman to sign the tender, get back on the field, and if he’s going to be great, then go be great. If he shows he’s worth the money he wants, then he’ll get it, from San Diego or someone else.