Shawne Merriman said he's excited about becoming a father for the first time, his close friend, Tiffany Horne, is pregnant and the two have known each other for almost six years and have a good relationship, he said. Which is why the Chargers linebacker said he was "shocked" to learn yesterday that a paternity case was filed against him in Horne's name this week in San Diego Superior Court. "She's a great friend of mine and has been for almost six years now," Merriman said. "There's no denying of any kind of paternity. For this to be even taking place is a shock." "It's not a paternity suit," said Horne's attorney, David Schulman, "It's between two people who have an agreement." Source: San Diego Union-Tribune