CHARGER REVIEW : NOTEBOOK : Oilers, Chargers Discuss Williams Trade

The Oilers and Chargers talked Monday morning about a trade involving defensive lineman Lee Williams and Houston’s first-round pick.

General Manager Bobby Beathard said the Oilers do not seem to have a problem with including a first-round pick in a deal to acquire the holdout defender. But he said the teams have been unable to agree on a player, who might also be included in such a transaction.

“We have spoken with them, but we’re not close to any deal,” Beathard said. “What they’ve offered us we wouldn’t take. And what we’ve asked for, they said they wouldn’t give us.”

Sources in Houston indicate the Chargers have asked for the Oilers’ first-round pick and wide receiver Shawn Jefferson, 5-11, 172 pounds. Jefferson was a ninth-round pick from Central Florida in 1991.

The Oilers recently lost standout defensive lineman Ray Childress with a broken leg. They would like to trade defensive lineman Sean Jones, but reportedly will not do so unless they can acquire Williams.

The attorney for running back Marion Butts sent a letter to the Chargers recently suggesting “four or five possible solutions” that would end Butts’ holdout.

“The Chargers’ response,” said George Schultz, Butts’ representative, “was a flat-out no way. They weren’t even real polite with that.”

Schultz said Butts is “still holding tight,” to his position that he will not report to training camp until Beathard makes good on a promise to rework his contract.

Beathard has denied making such a promise, and he said he would not discuss the recent communication between Butts’ attorney and the Chargers.

“Marion can’t believe it,” Schultz said. “They won’t even talk.”

Remember me? On the Rams’ first defensive play of the game, defensive end Karl Wilson threw himself around Billy Joe Tolliver’s ankles and forced an off-target pass to running back Ronnie Harmon.

Wilson, a 1987 third-round bust for the Chargers, jumped to his feet and shook a finger in Tolliver’s face.

The Rams acquired Wilson via Plan B this season from Miami. He played for the Chargers in 1987 and 1988.

Defensive coordinator Ron Lynn called signals from the sideline. Lynn works most games from the press box, but each year he moves downstairs for an exhibition game to get the feel of play.