(AP)

"San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman informed the team this morning that he has decided to forego surgery on his knee and will play in the 2008 season."

What it means:

-- After four different opinions on his injured left knee, Merriman has determined that he's willing to risk what has been described as a potential career-threatening injury in order to get back on the field.

-- The three-time Pro Bowl linebacker, who can be a free agent after the 2009 season, has also put his bargaining power at risk.

-- It's a high-risk, high-reward situation for the Chargers, too. They'll have one of the game's best pass rushers on the field for opening day, but can they keep him in one piece all season?

-- Jyles Tucker, the second-year linebacker from Wake Forest who signed a five-year contract extension this past week, will be in a state of readiness ... just in case.

The game will be televised by ESPN (also on 570-AM).

San Diego star running back LaDainian Tomlinson and Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck are not expected to play.

Worth watching:

** Chargers outside linebacker Jyles Tucker (No. 94). He gets the first crack at replacing injured Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman.
** Chargers free safety Eric Weddle (No. 32). The second-year pro from Alta Loma proved to be a play-maker as a rookie and that earned him a spot in the starting lineup this season.
** Seattle rookie running back Justin Forsett is No. 2 in the NFL during exhibition games in rushing with 194 yards. He gained 136 yards on 15 carries (9.1 per tote) in last week's game against Chicago. Forsett was a seventh-round pick (233 overall from Cal) in April's draft.

HERE'S CHARGERS RELEASE REGARDING TRAFFIC FOR MONDAY'S GAME VS. SEATTLE:

Important information for fans attending Monday night's Chargers game

Because Monday night's Chargers-Seahawks game at Qualcomm Stadium kicks off at 5 p.m., which coincides with San Diego's normal rush-hour traffic, and a 7:05 p.m. Padres game at Petco Park, Chargers fans planning to attend Monday night's game are being urged to arrive early by carpooling or riding the Trolley to the stadium. Please allow plenty of time to get to the stadium. There will be NO bus service to the stadium and because of the timing of Monday night's kickoff, trolley service and availability will be severely limited.

"Traffic is expected to be particularly heavy around the stadium area for several reasons," said Jim Steeg, executive vice president and chief operating officer for the Chargers. "Mission Valley is one of the most congested areas during normal rush-hour. If you combine that with all of the cars driving to the stadium, fewer Trolley trains available, no bus service and the additional downtown traffic due to the Padres game, then we have what could be the 'perfect storm' for traffic problems."

The parking lot at Qualcomm Stadium will open at 1 p.m. for general admission customers and at noon for those with prepaid parking permits.

Fans planning to ride the Trolley should board at one of the locations mentioned below. Round-trip Trolley tickets range from $3.00-$6.00. The Trolley offers enhanced Green Line service between Old Town and Santee before and after all games. There are several options along the Green Line from the East County, including the El Cajon Transit Center (Main St. at Marshall); the Grossmont Transit Center (8601 Fletcher Parkway at Grossmont Center Dr.) and the Grantville Trolley Station (I-8 at Mission Gorge).

Fans can also pick up the Trolley from the West, however due to rush hour and the Padres game, those locations are also expected to have very limited parking. They are however, Hazard Center (parking is free on Hazard Center's lower level, corner of Friars Road and Frazee) and the Old Town Transit Center (Pacific Highway at Taylor Street). The Green Line begins running three hours before kickoff and a paid Trolley ticket is required before boarding the Trolley to the stadium.

The parking lot is expected to fill quickly and could close as early as 4 p.m. A limited amount of paid overflow parking is available at the Town and Country Hotel (I-8 and Hotel Circle), the Marriott Mission Valley (Qualcomm Way and Rio San Diego Dr.) and San Diego State University (I-8 and College Ave.) Rates and parking lots vary. Fans can ride the San Diego Trolley to the stadium from each of these parking locations.

"I think in the grand scheme of things you're going to remember the great plays, rather than the ego battle between a GM and a player," he said.

"I'm sure he thought at the time he did (make the right choice to retire). And credit to him, when he came back with this whole thing he said, 'I made a mistake.' I think he takes responsibility for being wrong, as far as being ready to retire. I think that's pretty much the only thing he's at fault for in this whole thing, retiring too soon.

"But then again, you do it in March because that's what you think you want to do, because you've been criticized in the last three off seasons about waiting too long. He's kind of stuck. If he would have waited, it would have been this whole thing about he was selfish about waiting and then ... you can spin this story any way you want.

"... Its rough. You feel for (Aaron) Rodgers, because he's up against it. If he's not Brett Favre -- not even Favre of the last five years, but Brett Favre of last year, when he had his best season in however long, it's gonna be tough.

"But the thing I don't understand, as a GM your job is to give your team the best opportunity to win every year. I mean, they were 4 minutes from the Super Bowl last year, and the team they lost to wound up winning. From that perspective I can't get my head around why they wouldn't want him ... There's stuff that we don't know that has gone on behind closed doors and people have gotten their feelings hurt. And Brett feels maybe he hasn't gotten the respect he's earned over 16 or 17 seasons, which is probably understandable in his case. He's second in the MVP voting and they're trying to pay him off to go away. That's a little insulting.

"You probably would have taken it (the $20 miliion to go away). He didn't, which I think is commendable."

WHAT DO Andruw Jones and ex-Kings goalie Dan Cloutier have in common? Answer: Beach balls. One can't hit 'em, the other can't stop 'em.

IT ESCAPED notice, but the biggest beneficiary of the Manny Ramirez trade was Blake DeWitt. Andy LaRoche is gone to Pittsburgh and Casey Blake is almost certainly a short-timer, so DeWitt goes into 2009 as the front runner at third base.

BUT WILL these moments of Manny Mania mean anything a few years from now, when LaRoche is an All-Star and the Dodgers are again looking for a third baseman?

THE DODGERS' PAYROLL today is $118 million, and that's with Ramirez, Blake and Angel Berroa being paid by their former clubs. With Blake, Ramirez, Rafael Furcal, Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent, Derek Lowe, Takashi Saito and Brad Penny (club option) all potential free agents, next year's could be closer to $75 million.

ANOTHER DAY, another several million words blabbed about a retired quarterback. Why don't they just call it the National Favre League and get it over with?

I'll be here all week. Make sure you tip your waitress ...

"Obviously, it gives them a chance to get healthy. It's really not a major deal. When they're ready to go, we'll take them off it and they'll start practicing ... I think all of them are on schedule. I think you'll find over the next two to three weeks, that gradually we'll get each of them back."

Hardwick and Gates, both offensive starters, seemed to indicate that they're on track in their return from foot surgeries, and both fully expect to be active by Aug. 30, when they must either be activated or forced to sit out the first six games.

Gates had foot surgery in February to repair a torn plantar plate and faced a four to six month rehab process. Hardwick had foot surgery in March for a severe sprain. Pinnock tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the playoffs and needed surgery, while Waters had his left knee scoped Tuesday.

As of now, the four are still on the roster but cannot practice until they pass a physical. They can remain on the "active-PUP" list up to August 30, the final roster cutdown date, but anyone not activated by then will have to miss the first six games of the regular season.

"It's great to be on board," he said. "It's about time.

"Of course, I was a little antsy. But I didn't think too much about the whole process, becuase that's not my field of work. I don't really handle that side. So I just kept working out throughout the week ... That I'm here on time is the biggest thing. I'm just a guy who wants to play football. If I play well, everything else will take care of itself."

Cason could see significant activity in nickel situations, especially with Drayton Florence gone to Jacksonville as a free agent.

"It's nice to have him here," Coach Norv Turner said. "I was extremely impressed with him during our offseason work. He's a very natural football player, he's a very instinctive football player and he's going to help us."