The Shawne Merriman era is over in Buffalo. The Bills released the former All-Pro on Monday.

Once among the most feared defensive players in the league, Merriman’s career has been plagued by injuries in recent years. He started each of the first five games for the Bills last season before his Achilles problems resurfaced, forcing the club to place him on injured reserve.

Buffalo claimed Merriman off waivers from the San Diego Chargers in the middle of the 2010 season. He was injured shortly into his first practice with the Bills and was placed on IR.

Merriman registered 39 1/2 sacks over his first three NFL seasons with San Diego. The 28-year-old has totaled just five sacks since 2008 while playing in only 23 games.

Early in his career, Merriman was a three-time Pro Bowler, but the last few years have been marked by injury. He was released by the San Diego Chargers, who drafted him out of Maryland in 2005.

Merriman had an immediate and stellar impact on the league, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2005. Merriman had his best season in 2006, when he led the league with 17 sacks after being suspended for the first four games for testing positive for steroids.

In two preseason games with Buffalo this year, Merriman had one quarterback hit and three tackles.

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Brian Sinkoff is a licensed Real Estate agent with Coldwell Banker Prime Properties. He’s been in media for nearly 20 years. Sinkoff is frequent contributor for Time Warner Cable Sports television and also was host of “Sound-off with Sinkoff” – which was on the ESPN Radio affiliate in Albany, NY from 2008-11.