The good news for free agent outside linebacker Shawne Merriman: He got a workout with the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday, according to Aaron Wilson of Scout.com. It's the first we've heard from Merriman since the Buffalo Bills cut him before the season. If there's any team that could help Merriman, Jim Harbaugh's crew would be it.
The bad news: The 49ers signed linebacker Eric Bakhtiari instead. San Francisco was looking for another option after Clark Haggans was suspended three games for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.
Merriman's body broke down on him the last few years, although he was reportedly healthy in Buffalo this offseason. The Bills just didn't think he could help them as a backup defensive end. It feels like a long time ago when some folks were giving Bill Parcells a hard time for not drafting Merriman, the 2005 Defensive Rookie of the Year, instead of DeMarcus Ware.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.