Retired LB Shawne Merriman has reportedly been hired to wrestle for WWE. Greeted by a frigid market, Merriman "retired" in March 2013, but was stumping to play again by July. He ended up going unsigned for 2013, and has made just 18 appearances since 2009. Merriman turns 30 next month. As if it wasn't clear already, his football career is over.

"Retired" LB Shawne Merriman made a plea on Twitter Sunday for the Falcons to sign him "to play the hybrid role and let Osi (Umenyiora) rush." Merriman "retired" in March. On Sunday, he promised double-digit sacks, and "if not I'll donate half of my season salary." Now 29 years old, Merriman was never the same player after getting popped for PEDs in San Diego. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution believes the Falcons wouldn't even answer if Merriman called.

Retired DE Shawne Merriman has been hospitalized after experiencing a "medical emergency" at a Los Angeles nightclub Sunday. Merriman was whisked from the club to Cedars Sinai Medical Center. Although there's been no official word, the Los Angeles Times reports Merriman's emergency was an "alcohol-drug" overdose. He is reportedly fine as of Monday morning.

Free agent DE Shawne Merriman is retiring from football. "After a lengthy discussion with my agent, family and team, I have officially decided to put in my retirement papers," Merriman posted on his official website. So ends one of the more turbulent careers in modern football history. The No. 12 pick of the 2005 draft, Merriman exploded out of the gates with 10 sacks as a rookie, but drew a four-game PED ban as a sophomore. After notching a combined 29.5 sacks in 2006-07, Merriman was limited to just 33 games over the past five years because of injuries. "Lights Out" is hanging it up two months shy of his 29th birthday. He finishes his career with 45.5 sacks and three Pro Bowl appearances.

The Bills are not expected to re-sign free agent DE Shawne Merriman. Of course, this is not a surprise. Merriman has spent parts of the last three seasons with Buffalo, but the organization only kept his phone number handy when injuries popped up on the defensive line. There's a new coaching staff in town, and that "relationship is over."

Shawne Merriman is active for Sunday's game against the Titans.

Head coach Chan Gailey said Shawne Merriman was brought in to help the Buffalo pass rush. "We've lost Mark Anderson for an extended period of time here and we're looking for who can help us in the pass rush," said Gailey. "...whenever we feel passing situations come up we think he's still got some juice on the pass rush." Merriman hasn't been a dominant pass rusher since 2007. He has just five sacks since the start of the 2008 season. We're skeptical that he has much "juice" left.

Bills re-signed DE Shawne Merriman. We just hope the Bills aren't counting on Merriman to fix their pathetic defense. The 28-year-old player formerly known as "Lights Out" hasn't been a productive pass rusher since 2007, in between getting busted for steroid use and suffering knee and Achilles' injuries. Perhaps this is a move made to improve Buffalo's defensive end depth with RE Mark Anderson (knee) shelved indefinitely.

Scout.com's Aaron Wilson reports that the 49ers hosted free agent OLB Shawne Merriman on Wednesday. He was passed up for Eric Bakhtiari, which is another grim sign for Merriman's chances of making an NFL impact again. Merriman is 28 and out of juice.

Bills released DE Shawne Merriman. The broken-down Merriman has proven to be a shell of his former "Lights Out" self. During the last two seasons, he's appeared in just 12 games and managed one sack while noticeably lacking explosion. Even though the Bills already paid him a $1 million roster bonus earlier this year, they save $4 million in base salary by moving on now. Merriman, 28, has time to latch on as a pass-rushing flier with a team that runs a 3-4 base.