Any team that claims former Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman off waivers owes him the prorated remainder of his $3.269 million contract.
The Ravens won’t be that team.
Merriman reportedly would love to land in Baltimore, but they would only take him at a reduced cost, if he clears waivers.
“He’s a guy we talked about,” coach John Harbaugh said on his WBAL radio show Tuesday via the Baltimore Sun. "[G.M.] Ozzie [Newsome] and I had a long discussion today. We’ll see if he gets through waivers.”
It says a lot about Merriman’s value that the Ravens may have interest, but don’t think he’s worth roughly $1.7 million for the rest of the season. Unlike Randy Moss, we doubt a boatload of teams will put in a waiver claim on Merriman.
San Francisco sounds like the most likely destination to us. If he passes waivers, it sure sounds like Merriman may have a chance to join a Super Bowl contender back near his hometown.