CHARGER UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / T.J. SIMERS : Linebacker Hendrickson Takes Offense in Chargers’ Victory

The knock on Bobby Beathard’s door should come any time now.

After making his living in professional football as a linebacker and special teams terror, Steve Hendrickson will have to check with Beathard and find out if his contract rewards him for doing Anthony Miller imitations.

Hendrickson, who looks like a bouncer on loan from the local pub, caught four passes for 29 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns in the Chargers’ 26-17 scrimmage victory over Phoenix in the University of Northern Arizona Walkup Skydome Saturday.

As a rule, the only time Hendrickson gets into the end zone is on the walk to and from the field. He said he hasn’t scored two touchdowns in a game since high school, and four receptions in a single day might be a lifetime high.

“Now I’ll probably be on the scrimmage banquet scene,” Hendrickson said. “Shoot, I still have to make the team.”

Hendrickson joined the Chargers as a linebacker last season after being released by the 49ers. He became one of the Chargers’ key performers on special teams, and after the season was over he agreed to make the move to H-back.

After catching a short pass from John Friesz, he ran into and over Phoenix cornerback Herbie Anderson to score. Later he shucked Mike Zordich after catching a short pass from Friesz and scored again.

Other highlights from the scrimmage included the running of Rod Bernstine, who started at running back and gained 46 yards on nine carries.

Tight end Arthur Cox had three catches for 60 yards, and Derrick Walker caught a pair of passes for 21 yards.

Wide receivers Anthony Miller (quadriceps) and Nate Lewis (lower back) did not play because of injuries.

Defensive end George Hinkle and tackle George Thornton controlled the line of scrimmage, and cornerback Donald Frank contributed a diving interception.

The Chargers are 2-0 in scrimmages. Coach Dan Henning declined comment.

The rumors continue to fly, and according to Beathard, the rumors continue to be wrong.

Beathard said there was “absolutely no truth” to reports the New York Jets offered safety Erik McMillan and a draft choice to the Chargers for holdout defensive end Lee Williams.

“They’ve never even brought up Erik McMillan to us,” Beathard said. “They’ve never made an offer to us. One team has made an offer for Williams, but it was a nothing offer.”

Another rumor circulated by members of the Phoenix media Saturday had several “big people” around the Chargers’ dormitory being led off in handcuffs.

“I can’t tell you there’s nothing to it because I don’t know anything about it,” Henning said. “We had bed check last night and nobody missed bed check.”

On Friday morning, quarterback Bob Gagliano suffered a dislocated finger. On Friday afternoon, he was hit twice after throwing the ball.

The Chargers’ coaching staff reminded the Cardinals Friday evening that the quarterbacks were off-limits to physical contact.

But in Saturday’s scrimmage linebacker Willie Don Wright leveled Gagliano after he had released the ball.

“I guess I had this big sign on me: ‘Hit me,’ ” Gagliano said. “It’s been a rough couple of days.”

While Gagliano took inventory of his body, center Frank Cornish went after Wright. A brawl involving both teams followed.

“They hit the quarterback,” Cornish said. “I’m supposed to protect him; that’s what I get paid to do.”

The officials threw Cornish out of the game but didn’t take notice a few minutes later when Cornish took the field for field goal duty.

Linebacker Junior Seau has shown early indications that he will try to relieve Burt Grossman of the reputation for being the player most likely to jump offsides.

On the first six plays of the scrimmage, Seau was flagged twice for a quick start. On the eighth play, both Seau and Grossman were caught taking off too early.

After the flags had been pocketed, Seau dominated play on defense. On his final play of the day, he bulled his way past a pair of blockers and then put Phoenix quarterback Craig Kupp in retreat. Seau made a lunge for Kupp, and was credited with a 17-yard sack.

Seau, however, needed help to leave the field.

“I’m all right,” he said. “It was the altitude.”

Mike Withycombe, who started at right tackle in place of unsigned Broderick Thompson, suffered a knee injury. Guard Mike Zandofsky left with an ankle sprain after suffering knee and elbow injuries in earlier practice sessions here.

Running back Eric Bieniemy, who scored a pair of touchdowns in last week’s scrimmage against the Rams, ran for 54 yards on seven carries against the Cardinals and caught a pass for eight yards.

“Bieniemy ran rather well, but he’s still slipping,” Henning said. “I thought it was because of the grass we’ve been on and he wasn’t used to it, but this was Astroturf. This is what he has been used to, and that’s a little disappointing that he continues to slip. But he does run hard.”