"Shawne Merriman took San Diego and the NFL by storm, a powerful sacking machine with a magnetic personality and magnificent motormouth to match.

Just more than two years ago, he was coming off his third straight Pro Bowl, having finished a three-season run as one of the most dominant pass rushers ever.

His demise was nearly as precipitous as his rise, and he left the Chargers on Wednesday in quiet contrast to his boisterous beginning.

Merriman was placed on injured reserve with a minor injury designation, which means he must be released when he is healthy.

"I have been blessed to call San Diego my home for the past six years," Merriman said in a statement. "I can't say enough about my teammates, the coaching staff and of course the fans who have made my career with the Chargers such an amazing experience. I am approaching this situation as an opportunity to grow as a player and to bring my leadership and talents to a new organization. I am ready for the next chapter in my career and I am excited about the opportunity to continue my journey with a new team."

Merriman's release had been expected for at least a week, as the team's decision makers had grown weary of his lingering injury issues.

"There are many reasons that weigh into the decisions we make," General Manager A.J. Smith said. "I won't discuss those. It serves no purpose. We are going to move on and wish Shawne the best. Our hope is he gets healthy real quick and is able to get back on the field and play football, which is what he loves to do."

It is not a secret that Smith had long been unhappy with what he perceived as Merriman having too many off-field interests, including business ventures, television appearances and various other interests that in recent years had generated more publicity than what Merriman did on the field."