TRANSACTIONS
Released by Carolina (8/22/12)...Signed as a free agent by Carolina (8/18/12)...Placed on injured reserve with a concussion by San Diego (11/24/11)...Re-signed as an unrestricted free agent by San Diego (7/31/11)...Placed on injured reserve with an injured right ankle by San Diego (12/23/09)...Signed to contract extension by San Diego (2/27/08)...Selected in the seventh round (242nd overall) of the NFL Draft by San Diego (4/24/05).
GP/GS
Career (83/16) [6/0]; 2011 (10/1); 2010 (15/0); 2009 (14/13); 2008 (16/1) [2/0]; 2007 (15/0) [3/0]; 2006 (7/1) [1/0]; 2005 (6/0).
2011
Played in 10 games with one start at left guard for San Diego before being placed on injured reserve with a concussion (11/24)...Vs. Oakland (11/10): Inserted at right guard for an injured Louis Vasquez in the third quarter...At Chicago (11/20): Started at left guard in place of an injured Tyronne Green...Suffered a concussion in the second half.
2010
Played in 15 games for San Diego...Dressed but did not play at Kansas City (9/13).
2009
Played in 14 games with 13 starts at center for San Diego before being placed on injured reserve with an injured right ankle (12/23)...Anchored line for offense that ranked fourth in the NFL in scoring and fifth in passing and provided protection for quarterback Philip Rivers to lead the AFC in passer rating...At Oakland (9/14): Replaced an injured Nick Hardwick at center in the third quarter...Proceeded to start the next 13 games...Vs. Cincinnati (12/20): Suffered a season-ending right ankle injury while pass blocking on the Chargers' game-winning drive with 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
2008
Played in 16 games with one start at left guard for San Diego...POSTSEASON: Appeared in both games...Vs. Atlanta (11/30): Started at left guard for Kris Dielman, who became ill prior to the game...At Kansas City (12/14): Took over at left guard in the second quarter when Dielman was ejected.
2007
Played in 15 games for San Diego...Dressed but did not play versus Chicago (9/9)...POSTSEASON: Appeared in all three games...At Kansas City (12/2): Came in for an injured Mike Goff at right guard for one play in the third quarter...On lone snap, opened hole for running back LaDanian Tomlinson's 31-yard touchdown run...AFC Wild Card vs. Tennessee (1/6): Reported as an extra lineman for one play in the third quarter...Threw key block for quarterback Philip Rivers' 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Vincent Jackson.
2006
Played in seven games with one start at left guard for San Diego...Dressed but did not play in six games and was inactive for three others...POSTSEASON: Appeared on special teams in AFC Divisional Playoff versus New England (1/14)...At Oakland (9/11): Saw action at left guard in the fourth quarter following an injury to Kris Dielman...Vs. Oakland (11/26): Made first career start in place of an injured Dielman...Vs. Denver (12/10): Suffered a knee injury on special teams during an extra point attempt and was inactive for the last three regular season games.
2005
Drafted in the seventh round (242nd overall) by San Diego...Played in six games, dressed but did not play in six games and was inactive for four others...Saw action primarily on special teams...At Oakland (10/16): Made NFL debut.
COLLEGE
Started a school record 49 consecutive games at Bowling Green...Made 26 starts at center and 23 at left guard...2004 (Sr.): Second-team All-Mid-American Conference selection...Started 12 games at center...Anchored offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in the conference and set school records for total yards and points per game...2003 (Jr.): First-team All-Mid-American Conference choice...Started 14 games at center...Named the Falcons' top offensive lineman...2002 (So.): Started 12 games at left guard...2001 (Fr.): Started 11 games at left guard...2000: Redshirted as a true freshman.
PERSONAL
Attended Benedictine HS in Cleveland, Ohio...Majored in productions and operations management at Bowling Green...Last name is pronounced merch-COW-ski.
TRANSACTIONS
Released by Carolina (8/22/12)...Signed as a free agent by Carolina (8/18/12)...Placed on injured reserve with a concussion by San Diego (11/24/11)...Re-signed as an unrestricted free agent by San Diego (7/31/11)...Placed on injured reserve with an injured right ankle by San Diego (12/23/09)...Signed to contract extension by San Diego (2/27/08)...Selected in the seventh round (242nd overall) of the NFL Draft by San Diego (4/24/05).
GP/GS
Career (83/16) [6/0]; 2011 (10/1); 2010 (15/0); 2009 (14/13); 2008 (16/1) [2/0]; 2007 (15/0) [3/0]; 2006 (7/1) [1/0]; 2005 (6/0).
2011
Played in 10 games with one start at left guard for San Diego before being placed on injured reserve with a concussion (11/24)...Vs. Oakland (11/10): Inserted at right guard for an injured Louis Vasquez in the third quarter...At Chicago (11/20): Started at left guard in place of an injured Tyronne Green...Suffered a concussion in the second half.
2010
Played in 15 games for San Diego...Dressed but did not play at Kansas City (9/13).
2009
Played in 14 games with 13 starts at center for San Diego before being placed on injured reserve with an injured right ankle (12/23)...Anchored line for offense that ranked fourth in the NFL in scoring and fifth in passing and provided protection for quarterback Philip Rivers to lead the AFC in passer rating...At Oakland (9/14): Replaced an injured Nick Hardwick at center in the third quarter...Proceeded to start the next 13 games...Vs. Cincinnati (12/20): Suffered a season-ending right ankle injury while pass blocking on the Chargers' game-winning drive with 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
2008
Played in 16 games with one start at left guard for San Diego...POSTSEASON: Appeared in both games...Vs. Atlanta (11/30): Started at left guard for Kris Dielman, who became ill prior to the game...At Kansas City (12/14): Took over at left guard in the second quarter when Dielman was ejected.
2007
Played in 15 games for San Diego...Dressed but did not play versus Chicago (9/9)...POSTSEASON: Appeared in all three games...At Kansas City (12/2): Came in for an injured Mike Goff at right guard for one play in the third quarter...On lone snap, opened hole for running back LaDanian Tomlinson's 31-yard touchdown run...AFC Wild Card vs. Tennessee (1/6): Reported as an extra lineman for one play in the third quarter...Threw key block for quarterback Philip Rivers' 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Vincent Jackson.
2006
Played in seven games with one start at left guard for San Diego...Dressed but did not play in six games and was inactive for three others...POSTSEASON: Appeared on special teams in AFC Divisional Playoff versus New England (1/14)...At Oakland (9/11): Saw action at left guard in the fourth quarter following an injury to Kris Dielman...Vs. Oakland (11/26): Made first career start in place of an injured Dielman...Vs. Denver (12/10): Suffered a knee injury on special teams during an extra point attempt and was inactive for the last three regular season games.
2005
Drafted in the seventh round (242nd overall) by San Diego...Played in six games, dressed but did not play in six games and was inactive for four others...Saw action primarily on special teams...At Oakland (10/16): Made NFL debut.
COLLEGE
Started a school record 49 consecutive games at Bowling Green...Made 26 starts at center and 23 at left guard...2004 (Sr.): Second-team All-Mid-American Conference selection...Started 12 games at center...Anchored offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in the conference and set school records for total yards and points per game...2003 (Jr.): First-team All-Mid-American Conference choice...Started 14 games at center...Named the Falcons' top offensive lineman...2002 (So.): Started 12 games at left guard...2001 (Fr.): Started 11 games at left guard...2000: Redshirted as a true freshman.
PERSONAL
Attended Benedictine HS in Cleveland, Ohio...Majored in productions and operations management at Bowling Green...Last name is pronounced merch-COW-ski.
