Looking at Shawne Merriman's Knee (or what's left of it)

Filed in archive NFL on August 28, 2008

© Jeffrey Beall

JPosterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament. That's what Shawne Merriman tore up in his knee, and despite four doctors telling him not to, he's going to play.

Okay, fair enough. Try to tough it out. But what are the risks, and what the hell do the PCL and LCL do? Like always, we turn to the internets for the answer.

Seems the PCL connects the shin bone to the thigh bone. That seems important. It also says that the LCL connects the thigh bone to the fibula. Which also seems vital. So basically, these two ligaments connect the lower leg bones to the thigh bone. And Shawne Merriman is going to play football with those them torn. That seems like a bad idea. Here's hoping he changes his mind.