BC-FBN–Chargers-Oben, 1st Ld-Writethru,0490

Chargers trade for journeyman Oben

Eds: UPDATES throughout. ADDS byline

By BERNIE WILSON

AP Sports Writer

SAN DIEGO (AP) – The San Diego Chargers finally have a left tackle to plug into their nondescript offensive line.

The Chargers, the worst team in the NFL last year, acquired journeyman Roman Oben from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in 2005. Tampa Bay will get to chose between the Chargers’ own fifth-round pick and the one they obtained on draft day from the New York Giants in the Eli Manning-Philip Rivers trade.

Oben is one of the least-known starting left tackles in the league, which should make him feel right at home on a team where the only marquee player is running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

“The bottom line is we need help, and we believe he can help,” general manager A.J. Smith said. “We think he has a lot of good rubber left on his tires.”

Oben was with Tampa Bay the last two seasons, starting for the Bucs in their Super Bowl rout of the Oakland Raiders in San Diego in January 2003. The Chargers will be his fourth team in nine seasons.

“He’s played in some pretty big football games,” coach Marty Schottenheimer said. “We feel like we’ve definitely upgraded on the offensive line.”

Still, Oben is one of just three offensive linemen the Chargers can pencil in as starters right now to block for Tomlinson and protect whichever quarterback wins the starting job, be it the rookie Rivers, incumbent Drew Brees or 41-year-old Doug Flutie.

The others are right tackle Courtney Van Buren and right guard Mike Goff, a free agent pickup from Cincinnati.

The Chargers aren’t sure whether disgruntled center Jason Ball, demanding a new contract after making 21 starts in his first two NFL seasons, will be at minicamp. Ball skipped voluntary workouts this spring. He’s an exclusive-rights free agent who was tendered a $375,000 contract for next season.

“We would like for Jason to come back to work,” Smith said.

Ball’s agent, Peter Schaffer, refused to take a call on Wednesday.

The offensive line is the biggest of several question marks for a team that went 4-12 last year and missed the playoffs for the eighth straight season.

No unit needs more cohesiveness and continuity than the offensive line, and the Chargers got rid of seven of their top linemen in the offseason.

“The perfect scenario would be to have guys together for X number of years, like Kansas City,” Smith said. “If not, you have to get good football players, No. 1, and hope they’re healthy. Right now, let’s get some good players.”

Oben has started 106 of 113 career games.

Oben also played for the Cleveland Browns (2000-01) and the Giants (1996-99). He was New York’s third-round pick in the 1996 draft.

AP-ES-06-09-04 2007EDT