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Pro Career:
Since entering the league as a free agent with the Chicago Bears in 2000, has appeared in 29 games with four starts during, collecting 19 receptions for 170 yards and 21 special teams tackles. He also has returned 65 kickoffs for 1,434 yards (22.1 yard avg.) and 10 punts for 71 yards. Played in NFL Europe with the World Bowl champion Berlin Thunder in 2001. Signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals on 5/4/07.
2006: Was out of football after being cut by the Cowboys following training camp on 7/31.
2005: Signed with the Dallas Cowboys on 4/5 and was waived/injured on 8/24 during training camp and was out of football for the season.
2004: Re-signed with the Bears on 3/19, but was released on the final roster cut on 9/5 following training camp was out of football for the remainder of the season.
2003: In his second full season on the active roster, shined on special teams, tying for third on the squad with 13 tackles and led the team with three forced fumbles playing in a career-high 15 games @ SF (9/7), set a franchise record with nine kickoff returns for a career-high 170 yards was forced from the game in the first half @ Sea (10/19) with a strained neck which also caused him to miss the game vs. Det (10/26) returned and posted stellar special teams figures in the next three contests including a forced fumble and two stops vs. SD (11/2), a forced fumble and four tackles against St. Louis (11/16) and three tackles @ Den (11/23).
2002: Earned a roster spot with the Bears out of training camp for the first time in his career but was inactive for the first four contests with a left hand injury suffered in camp in the 12 games he appeared (two starts), was the Bears leading kickoff returner with 45 returns for 1,029 yards and a 22.9 yard-per-return average, good for fourth in Bears history added 14 catches for 100 yards and 10 punt returns for 71 yards posted his first career kickoff return for a season-high and personal best 63 yards @ Det (10/20) earned his first career start vs. Phi (11/3) and caught two passes for 30 yards.
2001: Re-signed with Chicago and was allocated to the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe where he finished the spring as the team leader with 582 yards and six touchdowns on 39 catches while helping the team capture the World Bowl Crown returned to Bears training camp and was again released before he signed to the practice squad where he spent the first 14 weeks of the season was promoted to the active roster on 12/29 and finished the year with two catches for 20 yards and one rush for a 47-yard touchdown in Chicago’s playoff loss against Philadelphia made his NFL debut @ Det (12/30) where he saw time as a reserve receiver and on special teams posted his first career catch, a 13-yarder, the next week vs. Jax (1/6/02), finishing with two receptions for 20 yards in the Bears playoff contest vs. Phi (1/13) collected his first career touchdown on a 47-yard reverse.
2000: Signed with the Bears as a rookie free agent 5/22 and was released at the end of training camp on 8/22 signed immediately to the Bears practice squad where he spent the entire season.
College:
Merritt started 21 games at wide receiver while serving as a return specialist through his four years at Wisconsin finished his collegiate career with 36 catches for 528 yards and two scores, 28 kick returns for 521 yards and 25 punt returns for 165 yards as a senior, he started two of the 12 games and finished with nine receptions for 141 yards had nine catches for 126 yards as a junior posted three receptions for 46 yards, 26 kickoff returns for 502 yards and 23 punt returns for 125 yards through his sophomore campaign as a red-shirt freshman, collected 15 catches and two touchdowns.
Personal:
Earned All-America honors from Prep Football Report and SuperPrep as a senior at St. Rita High School in Chicago, Ill., collecting 23 catches for 675 yards amassed 63 catches for 1,240 yards and 21 touchdowns through his prep career a zoology major, earned his Illinois real estate license in 2002. | 