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Wednesday, June 9, 2004

ESPN.com
San Diego Chargers: The Chargers made a move to fill out their starting offensive line by acquiring veteran tackle Roman Oben from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a fifth-round choice in 2005.

Oben, 31, is expected to join the Chargers for a minicamp that begins on Friday.

An eight-year veteran who spent the past two seasons with the Bucs, and who anchored the left side of the team's offensive line in the Super Bowl XXXVII championship year, Oben is likely to step right into the starting left tackle spot on a line that wasn't very good in 2003 and which, during the offseason, has lost eight of its top 11 players from 2003.

By acquiring Oben, the Chargers will be able to keep Courtney Van Buren at right tackle. He had been moved to the left side during past mini-camps this offseason, but he is also coming off a minor knee operation.

"The Chargers just got better today with the acquisition of Roman Oben," said general manager A.J. Smith. "I've always admired Roman's consistent player and consistent effort. He's proven to be very durable and he brings a wealth of experience to the left tackle position. He brings immediate leadership and integrity to our organization."

San Diego will assume the final three seasons of the four-year contract Oben signed last spring. Under that deal, he is due base salaries of $1 million (2004), $1.1 million (2005) and $1.2 million (2006). So for a total of just $3.3 million over the next three seasons, the Chargers get a proven pass protector and strong character player.

Oben, who appeared in 15 games and started in 13 of them for the Bucs in 2003, became expendable with Tampa Bay's offseason additions on the offensive line. The club signed four veteran free agents and is dramatically remaking the unit. Three of the newcomers -- Derrick Deese, Todd Steussie and Matt Stinchcomb -- have started at left tackle during various junctures of their careers.

A third-round pick of the New York Giants in the 1996 draft, Oben is a durable player with strong leadership skills, and he once had a consecutive appearances streak of 100 games. He played four seasons in New York before signing with the Cleveland Browns in 2000. The Browns released him after the 2001 campaign and he then joined the Bucs.

The native of Cameroon played collegiately at Louisville. For his career, he has played in 113 games and started all but seven of them.

Oben is the second veteran starting acquisition to the line this offseason by the Chargers. They signed Bengals guard Mike Goff in free agency. They had also signed Jaguars tackle Leander Jordan, but he was signed a young project.
-- John Clayton and Len Pasquarelli

Indianapolis Colts: Former Georgia Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton, the runner-up to Ron Dayne for the Heisman Trophy Award in 1999, has signed a one-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts. Contract details were not available, but it is likely Hamilton signed for the NFL minimum base salary.

Hamilton, 27, recently completed the Arena Football League season, playing for the Orlando Predators, and resuscitating his career. Hamilton ranked fifth in the league in passer rating and completed nearly two-thirds of his attempts. Signing with the Colts reunites Hamilton with Tony Dungy, who was the head coach in Tampa Bay when the Bucs chose the quarterback in the seventh round of the 2000 draft.

In addition to his three seasons with the Bucs, the last of which was spent on injured reserve, Hamilton played in the NFL Europe League for a year. An exciting performer and one of the great playmakers in recent ACC history, Hamilton will have to overcome the same questions about his size that have hounded him throughout his career.

At barely 5-feet-9, Hamilton is decidedly undersized by NFL standards. One plus: Despite appearing in only two games during his Bucs tenure, Hamilton becomes one of the more experienced quarterbacks on the Indianapolis depth chart. The club this spring released primary backup Brock Huard, who subsequently signed with Seattle as a free agent, and there is no proven No. 2 quarterback now behind iron man Peyton Manning, who has never missed a start.

The current No. 2 quarterback, Cory Sauter, has played in only one regular-season game and his resume includes just nine pass attempts. Rookie Jim Sorgi of Wisconsin was a sixth-round pick in this year's draft and first-year player Jim Arth recently returned from playing with the Scottish Claymores in the NFL Europe League.
-- Len Pasquarelli

Seattle Seahawks: Two-year veteran linebacker D.D. Lewis, who started seven games for the Seattle Seahawks in 2003, has re-signed with the team. An "exclusive rights" free agent, Lewis signed a one-year deal for $380,000.

Lewis, 25, made the Seattle roster as an undrafted free agent in 2002. In two seasons, the former University of Texas standout has played in 32 games. After being primarily used on special teams as a rookie, Lewis earned extended playing time last season.

For his career, Lewis has 73 tackles, one forced fumble and two passes defensed. He is expected to vie for even more playing time in 2004.
-- Len Pasquarelli

Arizona Cardinals: Adding a fourth arm for training camp, the Arizona Cardinals have signed undrafted free agent quarterback Chris Lewis of Stanford. Having released two-year veteran Preston Parsons last week, the Cardinals needed another passer for their depth chart.

Lewis started in 19 of his 30 appearances at Stanford and completed 350 of 713 passes for 4,346 yards, with 33 touchdown passes and 31 interceptions. He started in seven of nine games as a senior. Lewis has good size (6-feet-3, 215 pounds) and a strong arm, but will be a long shot to make the roster, and his best bet is a spot on the practice squad.

Behind starter Josh McCown, the Cardinals have veteran backup Shaun King and rookie John Navarre. It was the strong minicamp performance of Navarre, a seventh-round pick from Michigan, which prompted coach Dennis Green to release Parsons.
-- Len Pasquarelli

Green Bay Packers: Released by the Arizona Cardinals last week, veteran tight end Steve Bush on Wednesday found a new address, signing with the Green Bay Packers. Terms of the contract were not immediately available, but it is likely a minimum salary deal.

Bush, 29, had also been sought by San Francisco and actually visited on Tuesday with 49ers coaches and club executives.

The seven-year veteran and former Arizona State standout has appeared in 98 games and started 24 times. He has 46 receptions for 354 yards and two touchdowns. While Bush has never posted more than 12 catches in any season, he is regarded as a very good blocker and special teams player.

His career has included stints with Cincinnati (1997-2000) and Arizona (2001-2003).
-- Len Pasquarelli

Houston Texans: The Houston Texans have signed linebacker Raheem Orr, a seventh-round pick from Rutgers, to a three-year, $960,000 contract. The 210th player chosen overall in this year's draft, Orr is the first of the Texans' nine selections to reach a contract accord.

Orr received a $40,000 signing bonus and minimum base salaries of $230,000 (2004), $305,000 (2005) and $380,000. He will have a 2004 salary cap charge of $243,333.

A defensive end in college, Orr will move to linebacker in Houston's 3-4 defense, a scheme that should enable him to take advantage of his pass rush skills. Orr played in 31 games and started 27, finishing his career with 169 tackles, 14 sacks, six forced fumbles and three recoveries.
-- Len Pasquarelli

Pittsburgh Steelers: The Pittsburgh Steelers have reached contract agreement with the third of the team's eight choices in the 2004 draft, striking an accord with seventh-round defensive tackle Eric Taylor of Memphis.

Taylor was the 212th player chosen overall and will sign a three-year contract worth $959,500. It includes minimum salaries for three years and a $39,500 signing bonus. The cap charge for 2004 is $243,167. The Steelers had earlier signed a pair of sixth-rounders, tight end Matt Kranchick and center Drew Caylor, to three-year contracts.

In 39 appearances, including 24 starts, Taylor had 150 tackles, six sacks and 21 tackles for losses. Although a tackle in college, he could see some action at end for the Steelers.
-- Len Pasquarelli

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.