Jun 21st 2008 6:27AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Chargers, San DiegoFormer Chargers offensive tackle Shane Olivea, a free agent who once looked like one of the league’s most promising offensive linemen, is currently without a team. Even if he signs with a team, he can’t play until he serves a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

And although the league doesn’t give specifics about past indiscretions, it’s clear that whatever triggered this four-game suspension isn’t the first time Olivea screwed up. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports:

All the Chargers would say when they released him in February was that Olivea had seemed to lose his motivation. But those around the team have known for some time that Olivea partied himself out of the league.
Acee also reports that Olivea is getting help. I hope it works. Olivea is only 26 years old and still has talent, even if, so far, that talent has gone to waste.Continue Reading