Sources: Shawne Merriman to report

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Merriman

After missing the first part of training camp in the hopes of landing a lucrative new contract, Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman is planning to report to San Diego's camp by this weekend and sign his $3.269 million tender, according to league sources.

According to sources, Merriman misses his teammates and the work too much to stay away any longer. Once he reports, San Diego will be left with two holdouts, wide receiver Vincent Jackson and offensive tackle Marcus McNeill. Jackson and McNeill also want long-term extensions and do not plan to report until they get them.

The Chargers, who finished 13-3 and won the AFC West last season, tendered Merriman, a restricted free agent, at a first- and a third-round pick in March.

He is now willing to report to the Chargers to try to resume a career that got off to a tremendous start but has fallen off since. Merriman totaled 39½ sacks from 2005 through 2007, but the three-time Pro Bowl linebacker struggled last year, posting only four sacks after sitting out almost the entire 2008 season because of two torn ligaments in his knee. Merriman has also dealt with off-field problems.

Merriman's then-girlfriend, reality TV personality Tila Tequila, accused Merriman of domestic violence in 2009 and eventually sued him for damages after the San Diego district attorney declined to file charges against him. Merriman countersued Tequila, whose real name is Tila Nguyen, and the two settled out of court in February.

Also, Merriman publicly clashed with Chargers general manager A.J. Smith in the media multiple times last season and was suspended for the first four games of the 2006 season for violating the NFL's steroid and related substances policy. Merriman finished that year with 17 sacks.

Adam Schefter is ESPN's NFL Insider.

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Adam Schefter

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• ESPN NFL Insider
• Joined ESPN in 2009
• Former president of the Pro Football Writers of America and the author of four books