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Olivea release airs Smith error

Unhappy OT joins McCree, Neal on cut list
By Kevin Acee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

February 29, 2008

There was a bit of unexpected mixed in with the expected yesterday as Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith made his housekeeping public at the end of the NFL's league year.
Three veterans were notified of their release ? bringing to fruition the long-anticipated departures of fullback Lorenzo Neal and free safety Marlon McCree ? and the somewhat surprising jettisoning of offensive tackle Shane Olivea.

All three, knowing their roles here were either going to be diminished or extinguished, had asked to be released.

Olivea had quietly made known he was unhappy as a Charger in recent months. But it was thought the team would keep him at least through training camp, in part because of the big contract he signed in 2006.

Olivea lost his starting job at right tackle to Jeromey Clary in the middle of last season and fell out of favor with coaches over his work ethic and commitment.

Olivea was given a six-year contract a month before the 2006 season that already has paid him $9.5 million. The quick release signals the first glaring misstep by Smith in his awarding of long-term contracts to the Chargers' young players.

?For the Chargers, it didn't work out,? Smith said. ?It's not 100 percent . . . He lost his fire.?

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