Unraveling The Michael Merritt Mystery

Everyone and their mother has had a theory as to why the Chiefs haven’t signed tight end Michael Merritt yet. Here’s what I wrote in the comments yesterday:

I wonder if a seventh rounder WILL even be signed if he hasn’t been inked by this point. I don’t see why the Chiefs wouldn’t sign him for the chump change he is due, but I also can’t figure out why it is taking so long. I doubt a seventh-rounder is going to hold out. I think things are stalling on the King’s end.

Ryan Brown from Home of the Chiefs was equally baffled:

Wouldn’t it be hilarious if Carl Peterson and company just totally forgot they drafted Merritt?  Isn’t that the only plausible explanation a 7th-round pick hasn’t signed yet?

So, what’s holding things up? A leg injury, apparently. From the Kansas City Star:

A fourth Chiefs pick, seventh-round tight end Michael Merritt, was also unsigned. Merritt has a leg injury that won’t allow him to practice when camp begins. The Chiefs won’t sign Merritt until he’s ready to practice.

Maybe Adam Teicher should play Sherlock Holmes in the upcoming movie of the same name instead of Robert Downey Jr. Hey, the hat would hide his bald dome perfectly! As for Merritt, one has to wonder if this leg injury will keep him from making the Chiefs’ 2008 roster. I suppose we’ll find out pretty soon.