CHARGER UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : Chargers Demote Safety Bayless to Make Room for Shelton

Martin Bayless, the Chargers’ starting strong safety since his arrival in 1987, was demoted Wednesday and replaced by Anthony Shelton.

Bayless was surprised by the lineup change, but he said competition would continue before the Chargers open the regular season Sept. 1 against Pittsburgh.

“I’m not worried about it,” Bayless said. “Let’s see what happens when we get down to the 47-man roster in 12 days.”

Shelton, who has yet to start an NFL game, and first-round pick Stanley Richard, are expected to be the Chargers’ first-team safeties in Monday night’s exhibition game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Shelton was the 49ers’ 11th-round pick a year ago, but was released and claimed off waivers by the Chargers shortly before the season began. He played in 14 games for the Chargers and was credited with 14 tackles.

“We just got to see if he can handle it,” said Jim Mora, secondary coach. “We know what Martin can do. The only way to see what Anthony can do is get him some work, and the only way to get some work is to put him with the first unit.”

Both the Chargers and Oilers want wide receiver Shawn Jefferson, and as a result, they have been unable to complete a trade for defensive lineman Lee Williams.

Jefferson was the 240th player selected in this year’s draft, but his impressive preseason work has not gone unnoticed.

The Oilers have agreed to surrender next year’s No. 1 pick for Williams, and General Manager Mike Holovak has come to an understanding with Williams’ agent, Steve Feldman, on a new contract.

“I just can’t give him (Beathard) what he wants,” Holovak told the Houston Chronicle. “But I’m sure we’ll talk again (today).”

The Chargers are also trying to place kicker Tom Whelihan with the Oilers.

The Chargers have not determined who will start at quarterback against the 49ers, but Billy Joe Tolliver said he expects it will be John Friesz.

“I’d like to (start), but I doubt it,” Tolliver said. “Ted (Tollner, offensive coordinator) mentioned before we played the Rams that John would probably start the 49ers’ game.”

Might fans, however, get the idea that the Chargers are now leaning toward Friesz as their starting quarterback?

“Sure, the fans will think that,” Tolliver said. “Maybe that’s the front office’s intention, maybe that’s the coach’s intention. Who knows?”

Tolliver’s off-target performance against the Rams has brought him under fire again. Tolliver, however, has remained calm, cooperative and confident.

“I’m not worried about it,” he said. “It wasn’t like I was the only guy out there who was awful. If that was the case, then yeah, maybe I’d have a little concern.

“I’ve got a little bit more patience than everybody else does around here. But I’m not the one that counts in the patience department.”

Tolliver said he will continue to be criticized and booed until he leads the team to the playoffs. He understands that, he said, and accepts it.

“It happens in every town,” Tolliver said. “Phil Simms got booed the other night, tell me that isn’t just the craziest thing you’ve ever heard. There have been a lot of guys who have gone through the same thing I’m going through.”

The popular opinion is that team owner Alex Spanos and Beathard prefer Friesz to Tolliver at quarterback. If so, Tolliver may be a mistake away from losing his starting job.

“That’s true. I feel that,” Tolliver said. “I think I’ve been give a fair chance here, but I feel I’m at a point where mistakes have to be at a bare minimum. It goes back to the patience thing. I don’t know how gung-ho the owner or the general manager is about me.

“And as far as that goes, I don’t know how gung-ho the head man (Coach Dan Henning) is about me.”

Safety George Radachowsky asked the Chargers to release him Wednesday and the team complied.