Buffalo Bills linebacker Shawne Merriman came face to face with police in Vegas this morning ... after a friend alerted hotel security that the NFL star may have harmed himself ... but it turned out to be a case of a simple over-reaction.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... officers were dispatched to Merriman's room at the Cosmopolitan Hotel after the friend claimed he had received startling text messages from Shawne ... which made the friend fear for Shawne's safety.

But when cops arrived to the room ... we're told they talked things out with Shawne and quickly concluded he did not pose a threat to himself or others.

Sources tell us Merriman also denied sending any texts about harming himself.

We spoke with Shawne's rep ... who told us, "It was an over-reaction on the part of whoever called. Shawne was fine."

The rep adds, "He had taken some cold medicine and was having breathing issues ... Shawne's physical safety was never in jeopardy."

Buffalo Bills linebacker Shawne Merriman chalked up a HUGE victory against ex-NBA star Christian Laettner -- after the original USA "Dream Team" member failed to pay back $3 million he borrowed from the NFL star.



Laettner and his former Duke basketball teammate Brian Davis borrowed the cash back in 2007 to fund a series of real estate ventures -- but according to Merriman, they refused to pay him back.

But a federal judge ruled that Laettner and his partner must not only pay back the original $3 mil -- they also have to fork over $800,000 in interest payments plus they must transfer 10% of the ownership in their real estate holdings to Merriman.

Merriman's lawyers released a statement saying, "Merriman trusted Laettner and Davis to repay the millions they borrowed from him for their businesses. We are pleased that the Federal Court has vindicated Shawne’s rights and is compelling Laettner and Davis to fulfill their obligations.”

Tila Tequila is no longer at legal war with San Diego Chargers' star Shawne Merriman ... so she is now free to focus her attention on the various other wars in her life.



We've learned Tila and Shawne have settled the lawsuits they filed against each other. Tila filed her lawsuit back in November for assault, battery, false imprisonment and emotional distress ... in other words a normal day.

Tila claimed the NFL star grabbed her, choked her, and threw her down during an alleged altercation in September.

Shawne sued Tila for intentional interference with a contract, because he claimed her allegations torpedoed a business deal he had to produce T-shirts for Walmart.

Tila's lawyer, Cyrus Nownejad, just told us the lawsuits have been settled. The terms are confidential.

Tila Tequila just dodged a serious legal bullet in her epic fight with NFL star Shawne Merriman.



The judge in the lawsuit Shawne filed against Tila has set aside the default judgment against Ms. Tequila. You'll recall Shawne sued Tila, claiming she sabotaged a business deal of his by trashing him all over town. Tila didn't file an answer to Shawne's suit so the judge entered a default judgment.

But now the judge has had a change of heart, concluding Tila may not have been given notice a suit was filed ... so the default judgment has been set aside and Tila has until February 16 to answer Shawne's complaint.

Tila Tequila is also suing Shawne Merriman for assault and battery. And, Shawne is one of the few people Tila has not fingered as her baby daddy.

Tila Tequila just lost the first round in a ferocious legal battle with her ex-boyfriend Shawne Merriman -- and all because she's refusing to play defense.



It's all over a $2 million lawsuit filed by Merriman back in December, in which the San Diego Chargers star claims Tila made a series of horrific -- and untrue -- statements about him in an attempt to ruin his career.

Tila never officially responded to Merriman's suit -- so the court has entered a default judgment against her.

But the decision doesn't mean Tila has to fork over the money just yet -- she will probably move to set aside the default and duke it out in court.

She claims she was assaulted by the team's linebacker -- but Tila Tequila says she still watches Chargers games.


Why the lawyer? As TMZ first reported, Tequila is looking into a civil case against the football player after the D.A. decided not to file criminal charges against the guy -- this could be step one.

Shawne Merriman's ex girlfriend Gloria Velez doesn't believe he choked Tila Tequila this weekend -- because Gloria says the San Diego Charger never laid a hand on her during their four years together.

Gloria tells us Shawne "Never ever put his hands on me. Ever." Adding it's "out of his character" to violently lash out on a woman.

So far, no charges have been filed against Merriman.