Was Merriman targeted?

0 Comments | USA TODAY, December, 2007 | by Jarrett Bell

Shawne Merriman won't be on the field performing his "Light's Out" dance this weekend when the San Diego Chargers host the Detroit Lions.

The Tennessee Titans made certain of that.

Merriman was knocked out in the second quarter of Sunday's bruising game in Nashville with a sprained left knee that some Chargers players contend was the result of retaliation for a blow the linebacker inflicted on Titans quarterback Vince Young.

Naturally, Titans coach Jeff Fisher denies ordering a payback hit on Merriman.

But visual evidence suggests that, at the very least, Merriman was victimized by an illegal chop block. On the play in which he was injured, Merriman was held by right tackle David Stewart as center Kevin Mawae crashed in from behind. Then...