▁his ▁career ▁( 2 ▁against ▁both ▁the ▁Buff alo ▁B ills ▁and ▁the ▁Den ver ▁Bron cos ). ▁M err iman ▁finished ▁third ▁in ▁the ▁ball oting ▁for ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁Associ ated ▁Press ▁Def ensive ▁Player ▁of ▁the ▁Year , ▁behind ▁Jason ▁Taylor ▁and ▁Champ ▁Ba iley , ▁after ▁having ▁tested ▁positive ▁for ▁using ▁ster oid s ▁which ▁is ▁against ▁the ▁league ' s ▁drug ▁ab use ▁policy . ▁Taylor ▁commented ▁that ▁M err iman ▁should ▁not ▁have ▁been ▁considered ▁for ▁the ▁award ▁because ▁of ▁his ▁susp ension . ▁M err iman ▁reported ly ▁respond ed ▁by ▁sending ▁Taylor ▁a ▁" L ights ▁Out " ▁t - sh irt ▁and ▁a ▁box ▁of ▁pop c orn ▁with ▁a ▁note ▁saying ▁enjoy ▁watching ▁him ▁in ▁the ▁play offs . ▁M err iman , ▁nick named ▁" L ights ▁Out ", ▁performed ▁a ▁dance ▁to ▁celebr ate ▁each ▁of ▁his ▁ 1 7 ▁s acks ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 6 – 2 0 0 9 . ▁After ▁the ▁Ch arg ers ▁were ▁elimin ated ▁in ▁the ▁play offs ▁by ▁the ▁New ▁England ▁Patri ots ▁that ▁season , ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁Patri ots ▁began ▁performing ▁M err iman ' s ▁" L ights ▁Out " ▁dance ▁on ▁the ▁field ▁in ▁celebr ation . ▁M err iman ' s ▁Ch arg ers ▁team mate ▁La D ain ian ▁Tom lin son , ▁referred ▁to ▁the ▁act ▁as ▁showing ▁no ▁class ▁and ▁being ▁dis res pect ful . ▁▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁season