CHARGER UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / T.J. SIMERS : Beathard, Phillips Talk, But Make No Progress

General Manager Bobby Beathard met with unsigned nose tackle Joe Phillips this weekend, but said he was unable to persuade him to rejoin the Chargers.

“Joe said he would rather sit out the season than play here,” Beathard said. “He said he just wants a change in scenery.

“I told him we might make a trade or we might let him sit all season. He said he understood.”

Beathard said that a couple of teams expressed interest in Phillips last week, but he said he has conducted no trade talks in the past few days.

“There’s nothing in the fire right now,” he said. “I heard something about his agent expecting a trade (today), but it’s not going to happen.”

The Miami Dolphins expressed the most interest early on, and contacted Phillips’ agent to find out what it would take to sign the nose tackle. The Dolphins, however, have a reputation for making it tough when talking trade and Beathard said he will not give away Phillips without proper compensation.

Last year Beathard convinced the Houston Oilers to surrender a first-round pick for disenchanted defensive end Lee Williams, then demanded that wide receiver Shawn Jefferson be included in the deal. The Oilers initially balked, but when Beathard refused to blink, they included Jefferson.

Phillips’ agent, John Adler, advised the Chargers last week that Phillips wished to continue his career elsewhere. Coach Bobby Ross met with Phillips at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium and then Beathard sat down with him.

“We had a good talk,” Beathard said, “but he said his mind was made up.”

The Chargers still aren’t sure what has made Phillips so upset. His agent said it has nothing to do with money, although a few weeks ago Phillips made it clear he would be willing to play for the Chargers for $1.12 million.

Phillips has expressed bitterness in the past about the manner in which the team dealt with him in contract negotiations, but there has been a change in command. His agent said that Phillips continues to be bothered by the beating he took two years ago outside a local restaurant, but Phillips returned last season and started 15 games.

Phillips’ agent has advised him not talk with the media, and Phillips’ wife referred phone inquiries to Adler.

“I told him we might wait until three weeks into the preseason before we start looking at a trade,” Beathard said.

Jack Reilly, the Chargers’ quarterbacks coach, said that he remains impressed with the play of backup quarterback Bob Gagliano.

“I think Gagliano continues to make good decisions and perform well,” Reilly said. “Pressure doesn’t bother him. He’s been through all this camp business and how people are going to make decisions. He just continues to come to work and do his professional job. It’s impressive.”

There has been speculation that Pat O’Hara or Jeff Graham will replace Gagliano as John Friesz’s understudy this season, but Reilly said no one should sell Gagliano short.

“The more Bob has reps the better he is at things,” Reilly said. “Remember, Friesz had 1,000-some plays last year and Bob had something like 25. In the off-season Bob had a pulled stomach muscle, but once he got into camp and started to get his reps, he looked pretty darn good.”

Ross spent six hours Sunday reviewing videotape of his offense at work in Saturday’s 12-12 scrimmage with the Rams.

He said wide receiver Robert Claiborne has improved his stock with stand-out play and has bolstered Ross’ confidence in the team’s wide receiving corps. Ross also had words of praise for Walter Stanley and Yancey Thigpen.

Anthony Miller (knee), Nate Lewis (quadriceps) and Jefferson (brother’s funeral) missed the scrimmage. Miller and Jefferson are expected to return to practice today, but Lewis will continue to miss time.