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The former Louisville star will sign a three-year, $10.8 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $3.2 million. The Giants had offered a five-year, $15 million contract in an effort to retain Oben, but were unable to approach the per-year average of the shorter deal.

The acquisition of Oben was considered critical by Cleveland officials, who remain uncertain if right tackle Orlando Brown will be available for the 2000 season. Even 2-½ months after being hit in the eye by the weighted penalty flag of game referee Jeff Triplette, whom he subsequently attacked, Brown continues to suffer blurred vision.

Brown is telling his friends that, despite examinations, he still feels he's suffered a detached retina. The blood pressure in Brown's eye becomes so elevated when he exercises that, at this point, the most strenuous thing he can do is take a semi-brisk walk.

The team is taking a cautionary approach to Brown's situation and trying to cover all the bases. If Brown is able to return for training camp, Oben will fill the huge void at left tackle created when Cleveland released 15-year veteran Lomas Brown. But should Orlando Brown be sidelined, then Oben probably will play the right side.

Oben, 27, has struggled at times, but it is rare to find a tackle so young and so experienced in the free agent pool. Blessed with the kind of size (6-feet-4, 310 pounds), long arms and quick feet the scouts covet at left tackle, Oben has all the tools to be a standout pass protector. Scouts feel his best football is still ahead of him, but only if he begins to work harder.

After playing as a backup his rookie season, when the Giants made him a third-round pick in the 1996 draft, Oben moved into the starting lineup in '97.