Chargers Fail to Snare a Deal for Any Receiver

The Chargers made a roster move Monday. No, they did not pick up a receiver--unless 6-foot-6 tackle Mike Mooney, acquired on waivers from Houston, suddenly becomes a wideout.

Thirteen dropped passes in two defeats has the Chargers disappointed, but not discouraged.

General Manager Bobby Beathard said he has unsuccessfully attempted to acquire another receiver.

“We’re looking out there,” Beathard said. “Nobody’s out there that anybody’s willing to trade.”

So for now, receivers coach Jerry Sullivan is stuck with Anthony Miller, Nate Lewis, Shawn Jefferson and Robert Claiborne. Miller, Lewis and Claiborne all dropped passes in Sunday’s 21-13 loss to Denver. Claiborne barely played and was not thrown to.

“I like the guys I coach,” Sullivan said. “I’m not going to overreact. I’m going to coach them hard. We’re going to work at it. The bottom line is we want to get better as a group.”

Sullivan said there is only one way that will happen.

“You’re not going to solve the problem any other way than work at it,” he said. “I can go home and put a 50 cent piece under my pillow and I’m not going to hope the tooth fairy’s going to come along and solve my problems for me.”

Jefferson, who dropped two third-down passes, said Sullivan’s teaching methods are not the problem.

“He’s a damn good coach,” Jefferson said. “He can only teach us the techniques. It’s up to us to go out there and do it every day and every down.

“There’s no need to panic. We’re going to be a good group. It’s the second game of the season. Why does everyone want to push the panic button now?”

Sullivan said he has never been one to push the panic button.

“I’ve been coaching 20 years,” said Sullivan, who coached the receivers at Ohio State last year. “I’ve got a lot of guys in this league that I’ve coached. I feel very good about the methods that I teach with. I’m going to stick with them.

“I’ve suffered adversity before. Let me tell you, ‘I’m tougher than nickel steak.’ ”

Jefferson, who has caught four passes for 38 yards, said his problem has not been a lack of concentration.

“I’m trying to do too much with it once I get it,” he said. “We’re behind and I’m trying to make a big play.”

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The Chargers’ banged-up offensive line has allowed 10 sacks in two games, third in the league behind Green Bay and Cleveland. But Ross said he was encouraged by the line’s five-sack performance against Denver.

“We blocked well overall,” he said. “There were a couple of coverage sacks, but as a whole, our protection was not bad.”

But with starting right tackle Broderick Thompson (bruised sternum) being placed on injured reserve, the Chargers’ line problems might get worse. The team replaced Thompson with Mooney, who started for Ross at Georgia Tech for three years. He was the Oilers’ fourth-round draft choice this year.

Beathard said the Chargers picked up Mooney when the Oilers tried to move him from their active roster to the developmental squad.

“We liked him in the draft,” said Beathard.

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Joe Phillips is one of 10 unsigned players filing for free agency in federal court Monday. David Morway, Phillips’ agent, said Phillips’ filing is a separate issue and has nothing to do with his ongoing negotiations with Beathard.

“It’s an option Joe has to consider,” Morway said. “I’m not even thinking about it.”

Morway said he will meet with Beathard today in hopes of reopening lines of communication.