Butts Brings New Agent On Board : Chargers: Running back hires Leigh Steinberg, who is likely to get Butts into camp.

Running back Marion Butts has hired highly respected agent Leigh Steinberg to open communications with the Chargers and end Butts’ holdout.

Steinberg met with Butts Monday and already has been in contact with General Manager Bobby Beathard.

“It strikes me that Marion Butts is an incredible running back, and what I’d like to see most is a quiet and rapid resolution,” Steinberg said. “Hopefully, we can do some good here.”

Beathard, meanwhile, may finally be close to trading holdout defensive lineman Lee Williams.

Houston Oilers’ attorney Steve Underwood has spent the past few days working with agent Steve Feldman on a new five-year contract for Williams.

Houston general manager Mike Holovak was trying to contact Beathard Tuesday night, and it’s believed the Oilers are now prepared to meet Beathard’s demand for a first-round pick and wide receiver Shawn Jefferson.

Beathard, however, said he has re-opened discussions with the Jets about Williams, and he will meet with General Manager Dick Steinberg today in Dallas at a meeting of NFL executives. Beathard also spoke with the Vikings Tuesday, but he appeared more interested in the Jets’ offer of a second-round draft pick and front-line defender.

The Chargers must decide Monday whether to carry Butts and Williams on their 47-man roster or place the players on a reserve list that will keep them from playing for any NFL team this season.

Butts, however, might be on his way to rejoining the team. He fired agent Mike Merkow a few weeks ago, but retained Merkow’s associate, attorney George Schultz. Butts said he has now replaced Schultz with Steinberg, and the Chargers have to be pleased.

“Leigh Steinberg and Bobby (Beathard) would be bedfellows compared to Mike Merkow and Steve Feldman,” Coach Dan Henning said. “Any change in the situation is encouraging.”

Steinberg has a league-wide reputation for never keeping a player under contract out of training camp. His firm represented seven draft picks this year, including three first-rounders, and each came to terms before the opening of training camp.

Asked if he would advise Butts to report to training camp while he talks with the Chargers, Steinberg said, “I’d like to take a day or two to bring myself up to speed on the facts of the situation and then make a recommendation.”

Butts has refused to report to training camp because the Chargers have declined to rework his contract. Butts has been fined $1,500 a day for his absence and now has a tab of $52,500.

He has also forfeited additional money in incentives that he would have received for playing in exhibition games.

“Everyone knows by now that Mr. Beathard doesn’t want to deal with George Schultz,” Butts said. “I like George a lot and he’s a very responsible man, but if Mr. Beathard won’t deal with him what am I supposed to do?

“So what I did was go get the best guy. If something is going to happen, this is the guy to do it.”

Schultz confirmed that he has been relieved and said, “I think it’s what is best for Marion.”