CHARGER UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : Beathard Frustrated by Delay in Negotiations With Richard

A frustrated Bobby Beathard said Thursday he would be willing to meet with first-round pick Stanley Richard and his representatives at the Cardinals’ training camp.

“They said it would be a good idea to get together, so I said we’re here,” said Beathard. “But I think we could get it all done over the phone. We know what we can offer, and we’re right there.”

Beathard has continued to play phone tag with Richard’s advisers, and remains perplexed by the delay in coming to an agreement. He said Thursday, “I really don’t know what’s going on.”

He reported no new developments in efforts to sign veteran offensive linemen David Richards and Broderick Thompson, and he said nothing was new in regards to Marion Butts or Lee Williams.

However, he said there was “absolutely no truth” to published reports that had the Chargers talking to the Rams about a trade for Williams.

Henning had praise for his defense after an afternoon practice with the Cardinals.

“We’re a little bit too aggressive in the secondary, according to the officials,” Henning said. “We had two interceptions with Bobby Humphrey and Kris McCall in the two-minute drill. They said McCall interfered, so that wouldn’t have been allowed, but we’ll take it for now. Who are they? They’re just officials.”

Defensive end Dexter Manley, who played for the Redskins while guard Mark May and Beathard were in the employ of Washington, had some fun at the expense of his former associates.

“The hell with Mark May,” Manley said. “Who is he anyway? Mark May was always scared of me. Always. I won all the battles with the Hogs.”

As for Beathard, Manley said, “He was horrible on NBC. He didn’t speak good grammar.”

May and Manley were not matched on the practice field Thursday, but Manley ran over and around Chargers’ left tackle Leo Goeas.

“Dexter in his time has been one of the better rushers in the league,” Coach Dan Henning said. “He looked good; he hasn’t changed in the 10 years that I have known him. Maybe he’s three pounds heavier.”

Wide receiver Anthony Miller was knocked out of practice with a quadriceps pull, and Nate Lewis, who is battling to start opposite Miller, was unable to practice because of a sore back.

After his first practice with the Cardinals, Chargers’ defensive end Burt Grossman pronounced himself ready for the Pro Bowl.

“I was a stud today,” Grossman said. “They were ready to name a candy bar after me.”