CHARGER REVIEW : NOTEBOOK : Butts Might Stay Out a While Longer

General Manager Bobby Beathard and Leigh Steinberg, the agent for holdout running back Marion Butts, met Friday afternoon. But so far, Steinberg has not been able to solve the problem that also stymied Butts’ former agents, Mike Merkow and George Schultz.

Steinberg has already backed down some from the optimistic comments he made Thursday on XTRA-AM radio. Steinberg said he would donate $10,000 dollars to the endangered species fund at the San Diego Zoo if Butts does not end his holdout by Monday.

It appears he might soon be out $10,000.

“Ultimately, it will be in the best interests of everybody involved that a very difficult situation is followed by a period of healing,” Steinberg said.

Steinberg said a quick solution to Butts’ five-week long holdout may have been unrealistic.

“Sitting here the week prior to the season, attempting to work out rational solutions with people with often locked-in positions, is difficult,” he said. “I’ve never been a believer in pushing people into hard public stances.

“It’s easy coming in at this late date to talk about ways this might have been avoided, but it’s not productive.”

Steinberg said Beathard made it clear that he was not changing his position on the matter of reworking Butts’ contract.

“I understood that without him saying it,” Steinberg said. “The Chargers expect him to honor his contract. It’s not something that I have any problem with. Players should honor contracts, but here we are.”

Since taking over for Schultz four days ago, Steinberg said he has conveyed to Butts the importance of honoring contracts.

“We talked at length about player commitments and responsibility as well as team commitments and responsibility,” he said.

After meeting with Beathard and attending the Charger-Raider game, Steinberg said he planned to meet with Butts and then take time to think about a solution.

“I’m just going to try and work through the weekend to have an understanding of what is and isn’t possible,” he said.

But Steinberg said Butts reporting by Monday would have its benefits.

“It’s important to have a week of practice prior to the first game,” Steinberg said. “We’re talking about a determined runner who’d like to better last year. Obviously, the key to financial and other success comes through productivity and great performance.”

Steinberg said he might meet with Beathard again today.

“We’ll keep talking continually until there’s a resolution,” he said.

The newest Charger, Shawn Jefferson, was wearing No. 80, formerly Kellen Winslow’s number and most recently that of Troy Kyles. On Tuesday, Kyles was released by the Chargers.

Jefferson did not play in the first half.