SAN DIEGO (AP) -Life appeared to be normal Wednesday for the San Diego Chargers and their star linebacker, Shawne Merriman, who's free to keep practicing and playing while he appeals a positive steroid test that could lead to a four-game suspension.

After practice, quarterback Philip Rivers pulled on a red Maryland T-shirt. Merriman enjoyed seeing his alma mater's colors on his former college rival so much that he laughed and took a picture with his cell phone.

``Maryland beat us this weekend and me and Merriman had a little bet going,'' said Rivers, who played at North Carolina State.

Had Merriman lost the bet, ``I had the shortest pair of NC State gym shorts you can imagine,'' Rivers said.

So far, anyway, the Chargers say Merriman's situation hasn't been a distraction.

``It can be, if we allow it to,'' Rivers said. ``We won't, he hasn't. We worry about what we can control in that locker room, in our meetings, on the practice field. Everything outside, we don't let get in.''

Merriman's appeal is expected to be heard Nov. 7, which means he can play in the Chargers' next two games, both at home, against St. Louis and Cleveland. If the Chargers (4-2) lose Merriman for four games, it'll be a huge blow to a defense that has lost starters Shaun Phillips and Igor Olshanksy to injuries. Additionally, outside linebacker Steve Foley was shot three times by an off-duty police officer on Sept. 3 and will miss the season.

The 22-year-old Merriman was the 2005 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and started in the Pro Bowl after leading the Chargers with 10 sacks. Nicknamed ``Lights Out'' because of his punishing hits, Merriman has 5 1/2 sacks this season.

Merriman tested positive for the steroid nandrolone, which his lawyer blamed on a tainted nutritional supplement. The linebacker wouldn't say what supplement he was taking.

``I just know what I tested positive for, and that's nandrolone,'' Merriman said. ``I'm still finding out information about it myself. Whatever it was, it definitely wasn't intentional at all.''

Asked if he suspected which supplement led to the positive test, he said:

``No, I don't know yet. Even if I did know I don't think I'd be able to say yet. As soon as I find out, I will.''

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