L . J . Shelton L . J . Shelton ( born March 21 , 1976 in Corvallis , Oregon ) is a former American football offensive tackle who played 10 seasons in the National Football League . He was originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals 21st overall in the 1999 NFL Draft . He played college football at Eastern Michigan . Shelton has also played for the Cleveland Browns , Miami Dolphins , and San Diego Chargers . Early years . Shelton attended Rochester High School in Rochester Hills , Michigan where he lettered in football and basketball . Shelton played football in his early years but sat out the first half of his senior season to concentrate on basketball . When Shelton changed his mind and wanted to play football his senior season his teammates voted him back on the team and he joined them 4 games into the season . He was a co - captain on the basketball team . College career . Shelton was a four - year letterman ( 1995 – 1998 ) at Eastern Michigan who started his final three seasons at left tackle . As a junior , he protected the blind side of current Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch . As a senior , he graded out at 90 percent for blocking consistency , as he registered a career - high 102 knockdowns for an offense that accumulated 3 , 985 yards . He was a second - team All - America pick by The Sports Network that year , and a first - team All - Mid - American Conference selection each of his final two seasons . Professional career . Arizona Cardinals . Shelton was drafted with the 21st overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals and then - head coach Vince Tobin . A contract holdout caused him to miss all of training camp , and he eventually signed his rookie contract on September 25 - two games into the regular season . The team received a roster exemption for two more games . He went on to play in nine games , including seven starts , making his NFL debut in a reserve role against the New York Giants on October 10 . The first start of his NFL career came against the New England Patriots on October 31 , and he proceeded to open seven games in a row . A sprained ankle sustained in second half at the Washington Redskins on December 12 forced him out of action the rest of the year . Shelton started all 14 games in which he played at left tackle for the Cardinals in 2000 , including each of the final 13 . He sustained a sprained right knee in the season opener at the New York Giants on September 3 and was inactive the next two games . He was part of an offensive line that allowed just 35 sacks - the lowest total by a Cardinals team since 1994 . For the first time in his career , Shelton opened all 16 contests at left tackle in 2001 . He participated in all 955 offensive snaps on the season and was a member of an offensive line that yielded just 29 sacks - the second - fewest by a Cardinals team in a 16 - game season . Shelton started all 16 games at left tackle in 2002 , the second consecutive season in which he opened every contest and the only Arizona offensive lineman to achieve that feat in 2002 . He took part in all but nine offensive snaps over the course of the year , and was part of a line that helped the Cardinals average 113 . 9 yards rushing per game and a 4 . 4 - yard average per attempt . In 2003 , Shelton started the first 15 games of the season at left tackle for Arizona and took part in all 921 offensive snaps over that time . He sustained a sprained ankle at the Seattle Seahawks on December 21 and was inactive for finale against the Minnesota Vikings the following week . Shelton played in 12 games during his final season with the Cardinals in 2004 , starting nine of them at right tackle . He was inactive for season opener at the St . Louis Rams , and was placed on Injured Reserve with a knee injury on December 14 which caused him to miss the final three contests . During the following offseason , Shelton was the subject of various trade rumors . He was linked to the Chicago Bears , and to a trade with the Buffalo Bills that would have sent running back Travis Henry to Arizona . The Cardinals drafted Virginia offensive guard Elton Brown in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft which further cemented the end of Shelton ' s tenure with the team . He was finally released on May 18 , 2005 . Cleveland Browns . As a free agent in 2005 , Shelton received interest from teams like the Chicago Bears , Houston Texans , Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars . The Cleveland Browns joined the race , and after it appeared to come down to the Browns and Texans , Shelton chose to sign a one - year deal with the Browns on June 3 . Shelton arrived at Browns camp slightly out of shape , but went on to impress head coach Romeo Crennel and won the left tackle job . He started all 16 games at left tackle in his lone season for the Browns and was part of a line that led the way for running back Reuben Droughns , who amassed 1 , 232 yards rushing as he became Cleveland ’ s first 1 , 000 - yard rusher since 1985 . Miami Dolphins . The Browns were interested in re - signing Shelton , who was an unrestricted free agent in 2006 . They worked on a new contract with Shelton and his agent before and after free agency began , but the Miami Dolphins signed him to a four - year deal on March 15 . The contract was worth a total of $ 15 million and included a $ 3 . 5 million signing bonus . It had base salaries of $ 2 . 0 million ( 2006 ) , $ 2 . 0 million ( 2007 ) , $ 3 . 0 million ( 2008 ) , and $ 3 . 75 million ( 2009 ) . Shelton struggled heavily during the first five games of the season at left tackle , and coupled with quarterback Daunte Culpepper - who as not entirely healthy while recovering from knee surgery - the Dolphins ' offense struggled as a whole . Shelton found a new home a right guard , where the Dolphins had several injuries prior to Shelton ' s arrival at the position . While the line was never exceptional in 2006 , the combination that included Shelton at right guard and Damion McIntosh at left tackle did help the progression of the team ' s offense as the season went on . Shelton would start the final 11 games of the season at right guard after starting the first five at left tackle . Due his contract , Shelton is almost guaranteed a chance to earn a starting job in 2007 . He could possibly be shifted back to left tackle , depending on what the team does in the draft and free agency , and whether the organization can re - sign offensive tackle Damion McIntosh . Because of Vernon Carey ' s move to left tackle , coach Cam Cameron has stated that LJ Shelton will be the starting right tackle . On February 11 , 2008 , Shelton was one of nine players released by the Dolphins . San Diego Chargers . On April 29 , 2008 , the San Diego Chargers signed Shelton to a two - year contract . He was released after one season with the team . Personal . Shelton is the son of former National Basketball Association player Lonnie Shelton . Shelton ' s younger brothers include , Marlon , who played basketball at the University of Washington from 1998 – 2003 ; Titus , who played basketball from 2005 - 2009 for the California Polytechnic State University , and Tim , who currently plays basketball for San Diego State University . Shelton majored in telecommunications and film at Eastern Michigan .