Shawne Merriman weighs 272 pounds.
This is six pounds less than Anthony Muņoz, probably the most dominating left tackle of all time. Shawne Merriman also runs the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds. When Jerry Rice attended the NFL draft combine in 1985, he reportedly ran a 4.60; Rice would go on to gain more than 23,000 all-purpose yards while scoring 207 career touchdowns.
You do not need Mel Kiper's hard drive to deduce what these numbers mean: As an outside linebacker, Shawne Merriman is almost as big as the best offensive tackle who ever played and almost as fast as the best wide receiver who ever played. He is a rhinoceros who moves like a deer. Common sense suggests this combination should not be possible. It isn't.
While I'll admit, I'm sure steroids has SOMETHING to do with these new athletes. Some of it is also athleticism ad the changing demands of the sports.
I mean when a WR who is 6-5 and 239 pounds can run a 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds....can we really just point the finger to steroids?
Location: Chiefs Kingdom, Yankees Universe, C of Red.
Exp:
I was surprised at the size of the LB's at the combine this year. 6'6", 300 lbs, and no fat, there was more than a few that size. Not that these guys are going to make it. But there are some big boys that can move out there.
The NFL and Steroids
