Tackle Olivea loses starting job to Clary
By Jay Posner
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
November 29, 2007
In what already has been an unusual season, the Chargers yesterday made an unusual move.
They made a change in their starting lineup for reasons other than injury, trade or a reserve (say, Antonio Cromartie) suddenly becoming the league's interception leader, some thing that rarely happens during a season.
Right tackle Shane Olivea, who has started every game but two during his four seasons with the Chargers, was benched in favor of Jeromey Clary, who has started one game.
The move first was made during the second quarter of Sunday's game against Baltimore. But it became official yesterday when the Chargers began practicing for this week's game at Kansas City and Clary worked with the first team. Coach Norv Turner later confirmed the switch.
?Shane struggled early in the game, and Clary went in and played real well,? Turner said. ?I thought it gave us a boost. It's just doing the right thing.?
Asked if the move was permanent or just for one week, Turner said, ?We'll just see. I hope it's not something we have to change at the end of a quarter, but ? it's a competitive situation right now.?
What made the move even more surprising was that less than two years ago the Chargers considered Olivea one of their core players. He signed a long-term contract before the 2006 season that included $7.5 million in bonus money and $2 million in salary over the first two seasons of the deal.
The only bonus in Clary's contract is $6,000 as a workout bonus. His salary is the NFL minimum of $285,000.
Olivea, normally one of the most talkative Chargers, was reticent yesterday.
?I don't want to say the wrong thing, so I'll just say nothing,? he said. ?I'm going to continue to work. I'm going to continue to do what's asked of me.?
Olivea, 26, missed all of one game and most of another early in the season with a back injury. He has experienced tightness since but nothing that caused him to miss time.