Williams Decides to Change Agents

Charger defensive end Lee Williams said Wednesday that he has switched agents and will no longer be represented by Steve Feldman of Los Angeles.

Williams, a starter in the past two Pro Bowls, walked out of camp at the end of July after the Chargers refused to renegotiate his contract, which has three years remaining and, according to sources, will pay him $725,000 this season. He said he made the decision to let Poway agent Mike Merkow represent him because of the strained relationship between Charger General Manager Bobby Beathard and Feldman, who is negotiating the contract for Junior Seau, the Chargers’ first-round draft selection from USC.

“I just felt like he was a lame duck when it came to (my situation),” Williams said. “He couldn’t accomplish anything here with what’s going on and the way he is perceived.”

Nose tackle Joe Phillips and cornerback Gill Byrd reportedly also chose to be represented by agents other than Feldman.