Elizabeth Merrill Archive

Elizabeth Merrill | email

Senior writer for ESPN.com
Formerly at "The Kansas City Star" and "The Omaha World-Herald"

Roethlisberger works to earn trust back
Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, his supporters say, has grown up. He had to. The face of the Steelers franchise stood at the precipice of losing everything this past spring.
Jan 20 2:49 PM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Merrill: Keisel's beard 'lives on'
Brett Keisel's now-legendary beard isn't going anywhere -- as long as the Steelers keep winning -- writes Elizabeth Merrill.
Jan 17 | By Elizabeth Merrill
Hometown proud of Patriots' Woodhead
North Platte is Cornhuskers territory, which means Saturdays are for the Big Red and Sundays are for doing chores and waiting another six days for a game. But not this season. Danny Woodhead is playing in the NFL. And in this western Nebraska town of about 25,000, the New England Patriots have about 25,000 fans.
Jan 16 1:12 PM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Merrill: Favre's unceremonious departure
Perhaps it's somewhat fitting that Brett Favre's 20-year NFL career filled with so many ups and downs would end this way, with little emotion and no obvious bookend.
Jan 3 1:21 PM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Merrill: Heimerdinger focused despite cancer
In the month since he was diagnosed with cancer, Titans assistant Mike Heimerdinger has started chemotherapy and says he's received tremendous support.
Oct 1 10:44 AM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Merrill: Packers carry on despite injury woes
The Green Bay Packers have 13 players on IR, including nine on defense. But somehow, they're hanging on and still in the playoff hunt as Sunday night's game in New England looms.
Dec 16 5:17 PM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Holmes not all about redemption
Those close to the Jets receiver say he's grown up and shed bad-boy image
Dec 3 2:56 PM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Vikings season has 'been a circus'
"All My Childress." That's what the local sports-radio station calls this 2010 football season that has made Minnesota the most fascinating, frustrating and dysfunctional team in the NFL.
Nov 17 2:39 PM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Merrill: Vick, Kolb finding harmony
The Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks say the back-and-forth of who will start has not caused a rift between them, or among their teammates.
Nov 5 1:25 PM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Merrill: Hall a surprising spark for Cardinals
The rookie quarterback out of BYU has provided the spark the Arizona Cardinals have needed to stay in the thick of the NFC West.
Oct 21 1:37 PM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Matthews always wanted to 'be that guy'
How can you miss him? Packers linebacker Clay Matthews flies around the field tormenting quarterbacks -- with a mane of long hair bouncing out of his helmet.
Oct 7 3:31 PM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Merrill: Johnson says 'I want to be the best'
The Tennessee running back has set high expectations, saying his goal is to run for 2,500 yards this season
Sep 23 12:50 PM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Merrill: Garcia still aiming for NFL
Will Jeff Garcia's road to Omaha eventually lead from the UFL back to the NFL? The journeyman quarterback says he still has games left to play.
Sep 1 1:55 PM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Merrill: 'Chilly' braves the 'Favrestorm'
It would seem that Brett Favre is driving Minnesota's golf cart again. But Vikings coach Brad Childress doesn't care what the outside world thinks, he's in control, Elizabeth Merrill writes.
Aug 11 | By Elizabeth Merrill
Merrill: Zimmer finds solace in coaching
Less than a year after his wife's death, Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer finds some solace in coaching, Elizabeth Merrill writes.
Aug 2 | By Elizabeth Merrill
Aaron Thomas personifies courage
The family of Ed Thomas will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYS, and more than 30 people from the tiny Iowa community will be there to watch the Thomases accept the award.
Jul 15 9:53 AM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Merrill: The woman forever tied to Steve McNair
One year after former Tennessee Titans star Steve McNair was shot and killed, details emerge about the life of Sahel Kazemi, the woman who police say pulled the trigger then turned the gun on herself.
Jul 4 9:11 PM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Request to have McNair case reopened denied
A former Nashville police officer's request to have the Steve McNair case reopened has been denied.
Jun 18 6:42 PM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Ex-officer asks for McNair case to be reopened
A former Nashville police officer says he will present a report to a grand jury Friday asking that the Steve McNair murder-suicide case be reopened.
Jun 8 8:37 PM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Bradley no longer blaming others
Mariners outfielder Milton Bradley says he's dealing with issues involving anger and pressure -- and trying not to base his self-worth solely on his batting average.
May 24 5:27 PM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Years of pressure fanned Bradley's plea for help
Buried under a mountain of pressure and the constant buzz of a $30 million contract, Milton Bradley says he pondered getting help in 2009 during his short and controversial stay with the Chicago Cubs.
May 23 1:50 AM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Deaths outside the ring raise questions
It's been a brutal year in the world of boxing. Four high-profile fighters -- Alexis Arguello, Arturo Gatti, Vernon Forrest and Edwin Valero -- have died in the past 10 months, prompting questions about the culture of the sport.
May 6 6:39 AM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Merrill: Bradford vowed early to 'never quit'
The St. Louis Rams have to draft a quarterback, and the No. 1 prospect is Sam Bradford, a 22-year-old from Oklahoma City who threw out of a spread offense and missed most of the 2009 season with a shoulder injury.
Apr 22 3:23 PM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill
Merrill: Tall tale suits Charles just fine
Once upon a time a mother cried when a doctor said her 4-year-old daughter would grow up to be 6 feet, 5 inches tall. Tina Charles only made it to 6-4, but has surpassed every other expectation on the basketball court.
Apr 9 9:48 AM ET | By Elizabeth Merrill