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Tackle Olivea agrees to one-year deal with Giants
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
Updated: July 10, 2008

Former San Diego Chargers right tackle Shane Olivea, suspended last months for four games for violations of the NFL Substance Abuse Policy, has been reinstated and agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Giants.

Olivea's suspension was in part because of a missed drug test. Olivea appealed the suspension, saying he missed that test because he was receiving treatment for drug-related issues. The NFL decided to take back the suspension, continue testing him and give him the chance to continue with his career.

Prior to the suspension, Olivea was talking to the Giants about a job. Before signing, Olivea will need to work out for the team and pass a physical. Once he passes the physical, Olivea can sign his Giants contract.

Olivea, 26, started 57 of 60 games over four seasons with the Chargers. The 6-foot-4, 312-pound Olivea was a seventh-round choice of the Chargers in 2004.

ESPN - Tackle Olivea agrees to one-year deal with Giants - NFL

Suspended OT Olivea reinstated, signs with Giants
By PFW staff
July 10, 2008

Free-agent OT Shane Olivea nearly signed with the Giants around June 1 before he was suspended by the NFL for four games following a positive test for an illegal substance. But now that he has been reinstated fully, ESPN.com is reporting, he has signed a one-year deal with New York.

Multiple sources, including the San Diego Union-Tribune, are reporting that Olivea has been cleared to play the entire 2008 season by the NFL. He was suspended in April following the failed test, but the league determined that he did not receive the notification because he had checked himself into a drug treatment center.

Olivea, who grew up in New York, had a successful workout with the Giants and will add to the depth at the position. OLT David Diehl and ORT Kareem McKenzie are expected to keep their starting spots, but the team’s depth is a little thin after not drafting or signing another tackle this offseason.

In three up-and-down seasons with the Chargers, Olivea showed great skill as a right tackle, earning All-Rookie honors from PFW in ’04 and starting 31 of his first 32 NFL games. But after receiving a six-year, $20 million extension before the ’06 season, his play dropped off significantly, and he was cut by the Chargers after the ’07 season before his positive drug test.

NY Giants - Pro Football Weekly