CHARGERS UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / T.J. SIMERS : Beathard Considering Whether to Pursue Minnesota’s Millard
The Chargers want a defensive lineman, and the Vikings want to get rid of a defensive lineman--a defensive lineman who was named the NFL defensive player of the year in 1989.
“The Vikings are trying to peddle Keith Millard,” said Charger General Manager Bobby Beathard, while indicating the Chargers have a “mild” interest in the 6-foot-5, 263-pound defensive tackle. “We have to look into it because he was a good player; we have to find out if he still has a chance to be a good player.”
Millard suffered a season-ending knee injury on Sept. 30, 1990, and underwent knee surgery. He tried to return in 1991 but required further knee surgery and spent last season on injured reserve.
Millard has sought a trade, and the Vikings, who have grown weary of his behavior off the field, appear willing to oblige. He worked out Thursday for the Seahawks, and there were reports from Seattle that the team was prepared to offer a second-round pick this year and a conditional high pick in next year’s draft for Millard.
Millard had appointments with the Rams and Raiders on Friday. He will appear in San Diego today if Beathard makes the call.
“You have to have an interest in a guy that is that good, but we don’t know about his knee,” Beathard said. “We’re looking into it.”
The Vikings offered Millard to the Chargers in exchange for defensive lineman Lee Williams last season. The Chargers were not interested because of Millard’s injured knee.
In other draft developments:
* Redskin General Manager Charley Casserly informed the media that he will call Beathard and offer quarterback Stan Humphries for a mid-round selection. The Chargers offered a fifth-round pick for Humphries last year, but the Redskins rejected it.
* Will 49ers quarterback Steve Young be traded this weekend? “It sure sounds like it,” said Beathard, while indicating it might be to the Raiders.
* Beathard said that out of the first two picks made by the Chargers, “I think we’ll end up with a wide receiver.”
* Although he predicted that it’s unlikely to happen, Beathard said that a team has called the Chargers and expressed an interest in trading their No. 1 pick for San Diego’s second- and third-round picks. “We’ll wait until the day of the draft,” Beathard said. Beathard said the team was not among the top 15 picking in round one, but close, which suggests either Atlanta (Nos. 17 and 19) or San Francisco (No. 18).
* Beathard said the Chiefs are trying to move from No. 20 to the Patriots’ No. 8 position in the first round in an attempt to jump ahead of the Browns and select quarterback David Klingler. “Kansas City evidently wants to give up (running back) Barry Word, (cornerback) Albert Lewis and (linebacker) Percy Snow,” Beathard said.