CHARGERS UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / T.J. SIMERS : At Negotiation Impasse, Beathard Will Explore Trading Phillips
The Chargers remain far apart in negotiations with starting nose tackle Joe Phillips and have advised his representative that they will try to trade him.
“We told them that we would explore it,” General Manager Bobby Beathard said. “We told them we would get back to them after we’ve made our inquiries.”
Phillips’ agent, John Adler, said, “anything is possible,” but he declined comment when asked if he or Phillips had requested a trade.
The Chargers and Phillips have had a history of conducting difficult contract negotiations, and the team believes that Phillips remains bitter over the outcome of those dealings. The Chargers looked into trading Phillips during an earlier contract conflict, but Beathard said there was no interest at that time.
Adler has talked at length previously about Phillips and his situation, but he went quiet Tuesday when the subject of a possible trade was mentioned. He said the next 24 hours were important to Phillips, but declined to elaborate.
Adler’s initial contract demand for more than $1 million this season was immediately rejected by the Chargers.
“I think the Chargers are waiting for a proposal from us,” Adler said, “but we’re not prepared at this time to give them one. We’re trying to structure something that won’t be tossed back.”
The Chargers do not appear to be in any position to trade Phillips. They are already low in numbers at the interior positions along the defensive line and were counting heavily on Phillips to play alongside unproven George Thornton.
“I want Joe here,” Coach Bobby Ross said, “and until I know he’s not going to be here, I’m not going to take a position on it.”
Offensive lineman Jimmy Laister never made it to training camp last year after being drafted in the sixth round. Laister said he suffered from a heart ailment and left the team.
He returned healthy this year, but was found lacking in talent, and was released Tuesday along with linebacker Jerrelle Williams.
Quarterback John Friesz made his first practice appearance and fired a 20-yard touchdown pass to a diving Jimmy Raye.
While Friesz looked sharp in his training camp debut, the offense tried to end practice in ugly fashion.
Quarterback Bob Gagliano tried to hand the ball off at the goal line to close practice, but a pair of rookie centers had difficulty making the snap to Gagliano.
Ross became increasingly irritated and in each instance made the offense repeat the same play. It took five tries, but finally the ball was handed to running back Marion Butts without incident, although Butts was tackled for a two-yard loss.
“We’ll never quit on a bad play,” Ross said. “You can bet your bottom dollar on that.”
The Chargers’ defensive players are holding hands in the huddle, but Ross said he has nothing to do with it.
“It’s not something I engineered,” Ross said. “I have no idea. It just might have been one of the players. I hadn’t noticed, to tell you the truth. I notice when they block and tackle.”
The Chargers will meet the Rams in a scrimmage Saturday as part of Family Day at noon at UC San Diego. The event is free, and players will be available for autographs.