A "Lights Out" Alternative

A day after the NFL Network revealed San Diego shopped OLB Shawn Merriman during the NFL Draft to New Orleans and two other teams, the Patriots re-signed DE Derrick Burgess. Knowing what is out there, Burgess’ return doesn’t excite the fan base much.

If given a choice between the two players, the average person would prefer Shawn “Lights Out” Merriman over Derrick “No Moniker” Burgess. But the bottom line is Burgess is better for the Patriots than Merriman.

It’s easy to point to money being the main reason, as Burgess probably resigned for just several hundred thousand dollars compared to Merriman’s tender which is valued at $3.27 million. But it’s deeper than that.

First look at Merriman’s situation. What is known is the Chargers would had exchanged Merriman for a first round pick if it wasn’t for Merriman’s agent, Tom Condon, demanding a new lucrative contract from his new team. Merriman has since fired Condon for David Dunn, removing the perceived obstacle.

If Dunn can speak any sense into Merriman, Dunn will convince Shawn to sign his tender and play for a new contract.

Merriman wants to be paid like Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware and Minnesota’s Jared Allen after seeing the deals signed by the league’s best pass rushers. But Merriman has to reestablish his reputation as the AFC’s most feared pass rusher before he gets comparable money.

In his first three years, Merriman totaled 39.5 sacks and earned three Pro Bowl selections. But he missed all but the season opener in 2008 and nagging injuries last year slashed his production down to just four sacks. Merriman considers himself healthy heading into 2010 and he will be motivated. If he recaptures his dominant play, $3.27 million for the year would be a bargain.

But first a team has to pry Merriman from the Chargers’ grasp. If San Diego won’t budge from their asking price of a first round pick, it will be hard for a team to pull the trigger because Merriman would only be signed to a one year deal. A first round pick for one year of service is too risky. Even if the price comes down, we’re still talking about just one guaranteed year.

But that’s what it boils down to: Is one year of Merriman worth more than one year of Burgess? No.

Whether the asking price is a first or second round pick, that selection is a probable starter for four to five years and for cheap money. To give that up for a guaranteed one year from Merriman doesn’t make sense.

Even if the Pats and Merriman agree to explore signing a long term deal after the season, a Merriman in top form would be expensive. If Shawn finishes with 14 sacks and several other key plays, each play increases the price tag, possibly to more than what New England is willing to spend. That puts the Patriots in a situation to either franchise Merriman with the intention to trade him or “Lights Out” leaves as a free agent and New England gets nothing.

Burgess on the other hand is a much simpler deal. Whether he produces or not, it’s a low price. The ego factor to be paid comparably to the best at the position isn’t there for Burgess, even if he has a renaissance year. And if Burgess wants to come back after a productive season, he won’t cost $14 million per.

What the Patriots need right now is a bridge player, someone to play until a younger player is ready to become a starter (the competition is likely between rookie Jermaine Cunningham, Shawn Crable or Rob Ninkovich). If everything works according to plans, that’s one to two years, tops. Either Merriman or Burgess can be a bridge player. The difference is Burgess will do it for a lot less and without sacrificing a valuable future draft pick.

It would be one thing if the Patriots were the proverbial “one player away” from being a championship-caliber team and Merriman was the solution. New England’s pass rush needs a shot in the arm and a healthy, inspired Merriman could turn a mediocre pass rush that had 31 sacks last year into a menace with Merriman and Tully Banta-Cain pinching like pliers. But even an optimist can’t say the Pats are that close to competing for the Lombardi Trophy.

Burgess finished with five sacks last year, including one each in three of the last four games. Maybe he was just hitting his stride after getting acclimated to a new system and will hit the ground at full speed in 2010. Maybe Derrick won’t have a Lights Out season like Merriman potentially could have. But if Burgess finishes with seven to 10 sacks, maybe we can call him Lights Out Lite.