CHARGERS : Bucs Show Interest in Williams : Football: Beathard begins to put the screws to first-round pick Richard.

Just another day of football in the Chargers’ training camp:

--Tampa Bay Coach Richard Williamson told reporters that the Chargers have shown an interest in starting left guard Ian Beckles and other considerations in exchange for holdout defensive lineman Lee Williams.

--Charger General Manager Bobby Beathard put the pressure on Stanley Richard and said the first-round pick is throwing away his opportunity to be the team’s starting safety.

--Richard’s telephone was disconnected.

--Running back Marion Butts fired agent Mike Merkow and Butts said he will not end his holdout.

--Starting right guard David Richards signed a one-year contract for about $440,000.

--Starting right tackle Broderick Thompson remains unsigned and unable to make contact with Beathard.

--Williams and Butts have each been fined $21,000 to date for missing training camp.

--The Chargers also practiced.

While the Chargers appear in no hurry to deal Williams, reports from Tampa indicate the Bucs are interested in acquiring the Chargers’ lineman of the year and have begun a background check on the two-time Pro Bowl performer.

“You have to do a little research on people with a trade of that magnitude,” Williamson said. “We’re very interested. What we’re trying to do is find out a little more about him. You don’t want to make a mistake.”

Williamson said the Chargers initially inquired into the availability of starting tackle Paul Gruber and veteran wide receiver Mark Carrier. He said when the Bucs advised the Chargers that Gruber and Carrier would not be available, Beckles’ name surfaced.

Williamson said the Bucs would not surrender Beckles in a trade, but he left the door open.

Beathard has said it will take a front-line performer or a No. 1 draft choice to make a deal for Williams work. The Bucs do not have a No. 1 draft choice in 1992.

Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Floyd Peters told reporters, “Anybody would like to have a ballplayer like the Lee Williams who played two years ago. Anytime you can get a Pro Bowler with his head screwed on right and he wants to have a good year, you want him.”

Like Williams, Butts has stayed away from training camp. And like Williams, Butts has severed his relationship with Merkow.

“Mike Merkow is fired,” Butts said. “He no longer represents Marion Butts. George Schultz is my attorney; I do not need an agent.”

Butts said Merkow will no longer work for him because Merkow went against his wishes and went public with details regarding Butts’ holdout.

Merkow said that he was notified of his dismissal, but declined comment. “It’s personal,” he said.

Butts said he is making plans to sell his house, and move to Georgia, if necessary.

“It’s best to get the mortgage off my hands,” Butts said. “If I’m going to sit out the whole season; if we’re not coming to any solution, what am I going to do?”

The Chargers have made it clear that they will do nothing in regards to Butts’ demand for a new contract, and Butts said, “I’m making it very clear to you that I’m not going to do anything either. All I can do is put my house up for sale.

“It’s like a wait-and-see thing for people: ‘Oh, wait, Marion will be here tomorrow.’ They can keep on waiting. I waited this long, what’s wrong with waiting a little longer or for the rest of the season?”

Butts became the Chargers’ single-season rushing record holder last season with 1,225 yards, but is under contract this year to earn less than rookie Eric Bieniemy.

“If you’re the workhorse,” he said, “why should you be the lowest-paid back?”

While Butts and Beathard appear at an impasse, the same can now be said for Beathard and Richard. Discussions with Chris Knepp, the Austin, Tex.,-based agent for the Chargers’ first-round pick continue, but Beathard could offer no encouragement.

“I think the next move has to be theirs,” Beathard said. “At this stage it would be difficult for him to come in and compete for a starting position.”

Richard was penciled in as the team’s starting free safety after minicamp and summer school.

However, the free safety in defensive coordinator Ron Lynn’s complicated attack is responsible for many of the defensive calls in the secondary. Last season, the Chargers pegged Junior Seau as the team’s starting linebacker. He missed training camp while haggling over a contract, but still earned the chance to start.

Beathard said that won’t be the case with Richard.

“We didn’t lose games last year because of Junior Seau’s lack of experience,” Beathard said. “Junior didn’t play as well last year as he would have had he completed training camp. That was obvious to everybody. But we played him.

“You can’t play a free safety under those circumstances. Everybody in front of him is relying on him. He loses games because of inexperience . . . The longer it goes the less the role a guy like this plays. Maybe he ends up as the nickel back.”

Beathard said the club may have to consider pulling money off the table if Richard remains away from camp. “He’s going to miss this game,” Beathard said.