ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Shawne Merriman finds himself back in Buffalo eager to resume playing football after a two-month break, while also feeling a little red-faced over his, well, red face. Preparing for his first practice with the Bills on Wednesday since re-signing with the team, the pass-rushing specialist sheepishly explained why his face was conspicuously sunburnt. It happened about 10 days ago after he finished a workout at his home in Miami. "I fell asleep on the beach," Merriman said. "I woke up and my face was just hurting so bad. First time I ever had a sunburn." Vacation times over. With winter around the corner, Merriman wont be needing any sunblock in Buffalo, where the three-time Pro Bowl selection is getting yet another chance to kick start whats been a stalled career. "Ill look to heal up here now," he said. "Im excited, man." Deemed expendable in mid-August, when the Bills cut Merriman, the player nicknamed "Lights Out" is back in a bid to provide a spark and add veteran depth to an injury-depleted defensive line. Starting right defensive end Mark Anderson is out indefinitely after having knee surgery last week, while veteran backup lineman Spencer Johnson is week to week with an ankle injury. Coach Chan Gailey said he needs to evaluate Merriman in practice first before determining whether hell play Sunday, when the Bills (3-3) host Tennessee (2-4). "Probably, but dont make me 100 per cent on that," Gailey said referring to Merrimans chances of playing. "As long as hes in playing shape and everything goes well this week, and he gets back into the flow of things, hes probably going to be right there Sunday afternoon giving us some help." The Bills defence could as much help as it can get after getting off to a very inconsistent start. After allowing a combined 1,201 yards and 97 points in consecutive blowout losses, Buffalo bounced back in a 19-16 overtime win at Arizona last weekend. It was a game in which high-priced free-agent addition Mario Williams had two of Buffalos five sacks, and safety Jairus Byrds second of two interceptions set up Rian Lindells decisive field goal. Having kept tabs with his former teammates and watched Buffalos games on TV, Merriman is fully aware of the Bills struggles and itching to help. "Its a little bit tougher to sit back and watch the game," he said. "But the good thing is, I dont have to sit back and watch any more. I can go out there and play now." In his prime, Merriman was one of the leagues most feared pass rushers. The NFLs 2005 defensive rookie of the year combined for 39 1/2 sacks in his first three seasons with San Diego. Injuries, however, caught up to Merriman. Hes managed just six sacks over his past four seasons, including two in Buffalo. Discarded by the Chargers midway through the 2010 season, Merriman was claimed on waivers by Buffalo. He didnt make it through his first practice with the Bills before aggravating a nagging Achilles tendon injury. He lasted five games with Buffalo the following year before landing on season-ending injured reserve in order to have surgery on his tendon and shoulder. Merriman declared himself as feeling rejuvenated in June, but that wasnt enough for him to keep his job. His $4 million contract was considered too expensive for a backup, and the Bills wanted to free up space to develop younger players. Merriman bears no hard feelings against the Bills. And he said hes spent the past two months staying in shape by working out in both Miami and San Diego. "Im happy to not only contribute, but kind of just pick up where I left off and do what they need me to do," he said. "And obviously with these guys, if they didnt think I could play defensive end, then they wouldnt have brought me back." It helps that Merrimans familiar with the Bills defensive scheme as well as the players. "Very welcome. We love to have him back here," linebacker Nick Barnett said. "Hes done it before and can do it again. Hes got his opportunity right now, and I think you can see his ribs showing because the man is hungry." ------ NOTES: Rookie CB Ron Brooks returned to practice for the first time since breaking his right foot in a preseason game. Placed on the Injured Reserve/Designated for Return list, hes eligible to be activated after Week 8. ... RG Kraig Urbik practiced for the first time in two weeks since hurting his ankle, and has a chance to play Sunday. ... Gailey has ruled out LT Cordy Glenn (ankle) from playing Sunday, but expects the starter to have a good chance to return once the Bills return from their bye week off next week. wholesale jerseys . The Hollywood division of pro football. wholesale nfl jerseys . The loss kept the Dodgers 4 1/2 games behind the first-place Giants in the NL West, with a pivotal three-game series between the storied rivals starting Friday night at San Francisco. Los Angeles remained 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second wild card. Nick Vincent (2-0) retired all four batters he faced after relieving starter Clayton Richard with two outs in the fifth. [url=http://www.jerseysnflwholesale.biz/]http://www.jerseysnflwholesale.biz/[/ur... . PETERSBURG, Fla.SEATTLE -- Eric Thames had already struck out three straight times when he came to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning to face baseballs most dominant closer. The Seattle Mariners were all even with the Tampa Bay Rays after Justin Smoaks sacrifice fly off of Fernando Rodney, who came into the game with a 0.82 ERA and the AL lead in saves. Chone Figgins stood on third, and Thames fell into an 0-2 hole. Thames took a pitch and then focused on low and away. He was able to flip Rodneys next changeup into short right field to score Figgins, giving the Mariners a 3-2 win over Tampa Bay on Tuesday night that snapped the Rays seven-game winning streak. "Casper (Wells) said to me in the seventh inning, Hey, in the ninth, youll be the hero, dont worry about it," Thames said. "Its crazy how this game works." Kyle Seager started the winning rally with a single to right field off Rodney, and pinch-hitter Figgins pushed a bunt that first baseman Carlos Pena fielded. Pena glanced at second, pivoted, double-clutched, and then threw wide of first base. Seager sprinted to third, and Figgins advanced to second. Smoaks deep fly to centre field scored Seager to tie the game, and gave Rodney (2-2) his first blown save since May 26 -- ending the closers run of 22 consecutive saves. "(Carlos) makes that play 100 out of 100 times," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "That was the 101st time, I guess, right there." Thames hit into short right field scored Figgins and made a winner of Stephen Pryor (2-0), who worked 1 2-3 innings. Smoaks contribution to the end of Rodneys streak was as surprising as Penas error. He found out he was coming back to the majors on Monday when was replaced by a pinch-hitter while playing minor league-ball in Memphis. He flew to Seattle on Tuesday morning and doubled on the first pitch he saw. Smoak also walked, and both outs he made were on deep fly balls. He was hitting just .189 this year coming into the game. "I knew something was going to happen tonight where it was going to come up to me at ssome point in the game," Smoak said.dddddddddddd. "Its good to come through like that." Tampa Bays Matt Moore allowed one run and six hits in seven innings. He struck out nine and walked one. The Rays staff has the best ERA in the majors since the All-Star break. Kevin Millwood gave up two runs and eight hits in seven innings for Seattle. He struck out a season-high eight. Four pitches into the game, Tampa Bay took a 1-0 lead. Desmond Jennings singled and B.J. Upton followed with a broken-bat fly ball to left that became a triple when Trayvon Robinson dove but failed to make the catch. Jennings scored, and Upton had his second triple of the season. Evan Longorias sacrifice fly to right scored Upton. Miguel Olivo followed with a double that drove in Smoak and pulled the Mariners within 2-1 in the second inning. Moore and Millwood controlled things from there. Jeff Keppinger doubled to left, and Pena walked with two out in the Rays fourth. Millwood then fell behind Ryan Roberts 3-0 before coming back to strike him out and end the threat. Millwood wriggled out of trouble again in the fifth when Jennings and Upton hit consecutive singles. Millwood struck out Matt Joyce and Longoria to end the inning. He struck out Keppinger and Pena in the sixth, setting a season-high with eight strikeouts. Joyce struck out three times. The Rays pressured Millwood more in the seventh when Roberts and Jose Molina began the inning with singles. Jennings, already 3-for-3, bounced a high grounder toward third base to Seager, who started a double play. Millwood then retired Upton. NOTES: The Mariners placed 1B Mike Carp on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left groin. ... The Rays have the lowest team ERA, bullpen ERA and opponents batting average since the All-Star break. ... Tampa Bay also leads the majors in strikeouts (284) since the break. ... The Mariners promoted this years top draft pick, Mike Zunino, from rookie-level Everett to Double-A Jackson. ... Seager has a hit in eight consecutive home games. ' ' '