Shawne Merriman won’t play for Buffalo this weekend
Coach Chan Gailey and the winless Buffalo Bills will have to wait a little longer before formally welcoming newly acquired outside linebacker Shawne Merriman.
And it will be at least another week before the onetime feared pass rusher will have a chance to make his debut.
A day after acquiring Merriman off waivers, Gailey announced after practice Thursday that the player is tentatively scheduled to report to the team Friday. Gailey also ruled out Merriman from playing in Buffalo’s game against Chicago (4-3) at Toronto on Sunday.
Under NFL rules, players claimed on waivers have five days to report to their new team.
Looking forward, Gailey said that should Merriman pass all of his necessary physicals and depending how fresh he looks in practice next week, there’s a chance the player could play against Detroit on Nov. 14.
“Mentally, it won’t be that hard, because he’s used to the 3-4 defense and what we’re doing,” Gailey said. “So it depends on what kind of shape he’s in. And that will determine how much, if any, he plays.”
San Diego’s 2005 first-round draft pick, Merriman was waived by the Chargers on Tuesday, three weeks after he was put on injured reserve because of a calf injury. The injury was designated as minor, meaning Merriman was to be released once he was deemed healthy by the Chargers.
The Bills (0-7) added Merriman in a bid to improve a defense that has struggled against the run and has had difficulty generating a pass rush.
“Any time you can pick up a quality player, it doesn’t matter what position it is, you’ve helped your football team,” Gailey said. “We’re just fortunate that this guy has a lot of tools. It’s not just a few things, he’s got a lot of tools.”
Colts’ Session has broken arm
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Clint Session has a broken arm.
Session’s agent, Harold Lewis, said the fourth-year player dislocated his right elbow and broke his right forearm during Monday night’s victory over Houston.
Session left the game after making a tackle on Andre Johnson in the first half, but he returned later and finished the game.
The Colts have not provided an update. Lewis says he cannot confirm rumors that Session has been put on season-ending injured reserve, though he did not practice Wednesday or Thursday.
The Colts already have 11 players on injured reserve.
Steelers’ Harrison fined for late hit
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison was fined $20,000 for a late hit on New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, the third time he has been fined this season for a dangerous tackle.
The penalties total $100,000, including a $75,000 fine for his Oct. 17 helmet hit that left Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi with a concussion.
“The amount of money is becoming an issue,” Harrison said Thursday. “The fines that they issued to me, two of them weren’t even called penalties. I don’t even know what to say anymore.”
The $75,000 fine was issued two weeks ago, when the NFL adopted its tougher stance on hits to the head and neck — a policy that caused Harrison to briefly consider retiring.
Harrison also was fined $5,000 for slamming Titans quarterback Vince Young to the turf Sept. 19. Neither the Massaquoi play nor the Young play drew a penalty.
After Harrison slammed into Brees’ back during Pittsburgh’s 20-10 loss Sunday night, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell summoned the three-time Pro Bowl linebacker to New York on Tuesday to talk about the NFL’s stricter enforcement of dangerous hits. Harrison termed the meeting “semi-productive,” and said it included a discussion of the Brees hit.
The league told Harrison he put his facemask into Brees’ back after the quarterback delivered a pass, causing Harrison to draw a roughing the passer penalty.
“If you look at the picture, it looks like my head is off to the left, but maybe they had a different view of it,” Harrison said. “Or maybe they’re just listening to the [TV] commentators.”
Bush practices with Saints
Reggie Bush was limited during the Saints’ practice, raising his prospects for getting back in the lineup for the first time since breaking a bone in his lower right leg in the second game of the season.
Coach Sean Payton says Bush is making a lot of progress but is still not moving the way he would like.
Etc.
The San Diego Chargers signed wide receiver Kelley Washington and waived tackle Adam Terry.… The NFL fined Jacksonville Jaguars safety Don Carey $12,500 for an illegal hit on Dallas tight end Jason Witten in Sunday’s game.… Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Ernie Sims called his $50,000 fine by the NFL “outrageous,” and said he planned to appeal. Sims was fined Wednesday for a hit on Tennessee wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins in the second quarter of the Eagles’ 37-19 loss to the Titans on Oct. 24.… Quarterback Colt McCoy will make his third consecutive start Sunday when the Cleveland Browns play host to the New England Patriots because neither Seneca Wallace nor Jake Delhomme has been able to practice this week as they continue to recover from high ankle sprains.… The Seattle Seahawks will play the New York Giants on Sunday without quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who is sidelined because of a concussion. Charlie Whitehurst will get his first NFL start against one of the top defenses in the league. Hasselbeck suffered a concussion last week in Seattle’s 33-3 loss at Oakland