newest Rivers rumors:

[SDFan]

Bradford his dibs on Joe Namath's donor knees.

ACLs are no big deal these days- Rivers had 1- as do plenty of WRs & RBs out there. A bunch of people want to take Gurley who is just coming off 1... Brees has shown you can come back from a destryed shoulder too. With all the rules to protect QBs, and IF, IF, IF we actually finally/really upgrade the OL enough and land a stud RB- I'm not seeing Bradford as a poison pill in that deal since we still have Clemons backing up just like with Rivers.

[Stinky Wizzleteats+]

The alternative is one more year with Rivers and then possibly losing him to retirement or free agency with Clemens and nothing and we are going to have to get by with what is left when we draft.

[Lightningwill_420]

The alternative is one more year with Rivers and then possibly losing him to retirement or free agency with Clemens and nothing and we are going to have to get by with what is left when we draft.

Because the team might move in a year, I'm not giving a shit about the Chargers beyond this 2015-2016 season. Keep Rivers. Trade our next 40 draft picks for the best players from the Patsies and Squawks.

[Boltjolt]

Did you even READ the post before going off with the Bradford rant? You're acting like he is the centerpiece of straight Rivers for Bradford swap- rather than the throw in he actually would represent. We'd be getting an extra 1st rounder and 2nd rounder, can draft another QB this year or next and no chance Rivers retires on our watch leaving us with no compenation at all. If Bradford is healthy he plays, with Clemons backing him up- which happens to be the same scenario the Chargers are happy with now with Rivers starting and Clemons backing him up. Did you read the Chargers have some concern the Rivers back problems could be a lingering issue? Some people want to Franchise or give Rivers a Big Ben market rate contract that cost more than Bradford would. Try doing a cost/benefit analysis on that proposed deal and its pretty clear we come out ahead moving Rivers....

You mean the Jason Coles piece where he said they are worried about his back that DID NOT need surgery? The same piece that said Rivers doesnt think the Chargers want to pay him?

Yeah i read it. Fact is Telesco already said he wants to extend Rivers but Rivers doesnt want to right now. Doesnt sound like Telesco is worried about his back that didnt need surgery.

That piece by Coles was a piece. I guess you bought it though. Maybe you didnt read this one


One NFC general manager was crystal clear in his explanation for this: "This is all being driven by Rivers."

OK, I'm listening.

He continued, "Nashville is close to where Rivers is from. He's a family man. The Titans need a buzz. They would pay him. His agent (Jimmy Sexton) is (based) in Tennessee."

When another NFC general manager was pressed on the subject, his response was telling: "I checked in on Rivers. It was a quick conversation. (Chargers GM) Tom (Telesco) said he wasn't available. San Diego told me he's not going anywhere."

I quizzed another general manager, this one from the AFC, with a simple text message asking about the rumors. He provided a one-word response: "No."

No?

I asked him to expand.


"There is no chance San Diego trades Rivers. Unless everyone with that team is flat-out lying. And that's not how you drum up a market. So if they are lying, then they are clueless. And I don't think that's the case."

[Boltx]

I like this trade and thinks its plausible. I even mentioned the Bradford angle here a few days ago Let's face it, this team has been stuck in the 7-9 win zone for years and Rivers has been our starter 9 years now with no Super Bowl while Brees, Sheli, Rothlessberger all have Super Bowl wins. Closest we've come is a spanking in NE when LT was down and Rivers couldn't make up for it and a couple 1 and dones with home field advantage that came down to our kicker deciding the game. I love Rivers for his fire and attitude on and off the field, but I just don't see him willing this team over the top like maybe a Brady or Manning could.

Reality #1 Rivers could indeed retire after this year and leave us with nothing.
Reality #2 Rivers is not as accomplished as his draft class top QBs who won Super Bowls- he's not worth the same $100 Mil contract Ben got.
Reality #3 The team gushed about Clemons last year, and he worked well in support of Bradford in St Louis- what's not to like about those 2 + a talented developmental guy behind them- especially if we find a real running game?

I don't see Mariota or Winston as an upgrade or THE ANSWER, but I also think we're in for continued mediocrity but at a much higher price after this year if we keep Rivers long term. I could be wrong, but that's the cards I'm reading...

I don't know if I'd go as far as to say that I would like a Bradford trade scenario (aside from the multiple draft picks), but I sorta agree with what you're saying. I wouldn't blame Rivers for this team being "stuck" in average mode....as you could easily make the argument that without Rivers we'd be a perennial 2-14 team.

I would argue that franchising him "at any cost" is the REAL poison pill. The cap ramifications, erosion of trust with the franchise, and real possibility of retirement or sitting out/etc do NOT make it an attractive option IMO. It seems like people are just willing to do whatever they can to keep him simply for the sake of keeping him without asking if we are better for it with all the other ramifications involved? Unless you believe the Chargers will win a Super Bowl with Rivers in those year(s) that we franchise him in which case it's obviously worth it.

I really hope the team just stays in SD, extends Rivers long term and continues to build around him towards a championship.

[Boltx]

I want people's honest opinions on what they think Rivers' response will be if we get into a situation with him where he does not want to extend (move to LA, doesn't like team's direction, WHATEVER the reason) and we franchise him.

Do you think it creates an environment that lends itself to winning?

[TTK]

I want people's honest opinions on what they think Rivers' response will be if we get into a situation with him where he does not want to extend (move to LA, doesn't like team's direction, WHATEVER the reason) and we franchise him.

Do you think it creates an environment that lends itself to winning?

If Rivers won't sign after this season, it will likely be because they're going to LA, and so I could care less what happens at that point.

[Boltimore]

If Rivers won't sign after this season, it will likely be because they're going to LA, and so I could care less what happens at that point.

Yeah, if the Chargers lose Rivers AND they move to LA, it may be over for me too. I think I could take one or the other.

[homeless simpson]

We don't really need Rivers. McCoy proved he could win with Tim Tebow at QB and then switched the offense and made Manning a Pro Bowler and MVP candidate. And Telesco scouted so many great players for Indy. And both of them don't have a problem starting young players. Why question their upcoming decisions? They see these players everyday, and they are the professionals they know more than a bunch of schmucks on an internet forum. BELIEVE IN THE GLEAM

[Panamamike]

He "made" Manning a Probowler and MVP candidate? Hmmmm.....I thought he has been that pretty much his whole career.

[Charged up]

I don't see Mariota or Winston as an upgrade or THE ANSWER, but I also think we're in for continued mediocrity but at a much higher price after this year if we keep Rivers long term. I could be wrong, but that's the cards I'm reading...

I don't see SD making any type of a trade except for Mariota. I certainly don't see Bradford as an upgrade over Rivers.

"- The Eagles would receive the No. 2 overall pick from the Titans, which they would then use to draft Mariota.
- The Chargers would receive Sam Bradford, the Eagles’ first-round pick and the Titans’ second-round pick.
- The Titans would receive Philip Rivers and the Eagles’ third-round pick."

I don't think there's a chance in hell this trade develops.

[6025]

He "made" Manning a Probowler and MVP candidate? Hmmmm.....I thought he has been that pretty much his whole career.

He's being sarcastic. He has been anti TT/MM from the get-go.