Lee Just Crazy About Life with the Chargers : Football: The defensive lineman is making the most of his break.

Call him crazy, but Shawn Lee actually wanted to play football here.

It had nothing to with his admiration for former Charger All-Pro lineman Louie Kelcher and Gary Johnson. Lee didn’t even watch football as a kid.

He wasn’t looking for a warm climate or a winning team. He’d already played two years in Tampa Bay and he had played two more in Miami when he got word the Chargers might be interested in his services.

“I know it sounds strange, but I heard a lot of good things about the organization,” Lee said Monday . “I talked to Henry (Rolling) and Harry (Swayne) and they liked it here. I made it known to my agent that I wanted to play here.”

Lee almost became a Charger this summer when the Dolphins offered him to the Chargers for holdout Joe Phillips. But according to Billy Devaney, Charger player personnel director, the timing wasn’t quite right and the deal never came off.

Lee was finally granted his wish Oct. 28 when the Chargers signed the five-year pro from North Alabama to a contract. Since being released by the Dolphins on final day of cuts, Lee had spent the last eight Sundays on his couch watching football.

As it turns out, Lee and the Chargers were perfect for each other.

“I like adversity and things like that,” Lee said. “I don’t mind being the underdog. I like the guy across the line from me saying, ‘This guy’s been with two or three different teams, he’s had a knee injury.’ That’s to my advantage.”

Landing in San Diego has become an advantage to Lee and the Chargers. The Chargers are getting productive play at defensive left tackle and Lee is off the couch and collecting a paycheck again.

In the Chargers’ 27-21 victory Sunday over Phoenix, Lee had his most productive game yet. In 32 plays, Lee made two tackles, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.

His forced fumble in the second-quarter stopped a Cardinal drive and took away an almost certain three points. In the fourth quarter, he fell on a fumble that Charger cornerback Gill Byrd caused.

“I feel like I contributed a little bit,” Lee said. “That’s the only way that I can really prove that I’m happy to be here, contribute on the field.”

George O’Leary, Charger defensive line coach, said he’s happy to have Lee.

“He’s a strong character kid that works hard,” O’Leary said. “He takes to coaching. In the past, people have dealt with Shawn in different ways.”

However he has been dealt with, Devaney said Lee, 6 feet 2, 297 pounds, gained a reputation for being talented but inconsistent.

“We’ve known about him and we’ve always liked his talent, but he just showed flashes,” Devaney said. “He never really put it together.”

Lee said the inconsistency label probably had some merit.

“You could say that,” he said. “A lot, in retrospect, was my fault. As I get older, I’ve learned to correct certain things.”

He’s also learned to read certain things--such as the handoff to Phoenix running back Johnny Johnson.

“(Phoenix guard Mark May) gave me a move inside,” Lee said. “I knew pretty much where the play was going to be. He blocked me down and I pushed him off and got upfield. When I realized I couldn’t make the tackle, I reached out and hit the ball.”

Lee, 26, said he wouldn’t have come close to Johnson two years ago.

“I probably would have tried to run through (May), not thinking that we’re down, this guy’s getting ready to score and we need the ball,” Lee said.

O’Leary said there is another reason Lee is suddenly making plays he might have missed last year.

“Anytime you’ve been on the street, you don’t want to go back,” O’Leary said. “A lot of times, you think it’s your last stop. He basically wants to make this his last stop.”

That would be fine with Lee.

“Every day I walk into the locker room, I just can’t believe I’m here,” he said. “Because this is the place I wanted to be. I just thank God for every day I’m here.”