newest Rivers rumors:

[homeless simpson]

the TEAM is optimistic about a long-term extension

Ian Rapoport @RapSheet 1m1 minute ago
Still work to be done between Rivers & #Chargers for his extension. But the TEAM thinks it can work out a deal to have him retire with them

the TEAM has always said they want Rivers signed to an extension for months. Them being OPTIMISTIC and THINK about signing Rivers isn't news.

@RapSheet 4m4 minutes ago
Weeks ago, #Chargers QB Philip Rivers was unsure about his future in SD.

none of this "news" says anything about Rivers no longer being unsure or that he'll sign sooner since the team has already said it wanted to sign him.


This is about as much news and confirmation as the team saying We're okay with the RBs we have and Fluker is still our RT

[ArtistFormerlyKnownAsBKR]

John Clayton:

The Spanos family is negotiating to see if the team it owns, the Chargers, will stay in San Diego or move to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, quarterback Philip Rivers wants to remain a San Diego Charger but is leery about moving to L.A.

The stakes are high for the owners as they figure out the future of the franchise while trying to keep their franchise quarterback. At the start of the OTAs last week, Rivers was asked about his contract status. "There is nothing new to report," he said.

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That shouldn't be surprising. If you think of the relocation talks as a race, the Rivers discussions are more of a jog. As strange as it sounds, there really isn't a true deadline for the Chargers to sign Rivers to a long-term extension as he heads into the final year of his contract. A deal could be struck in training camp, during the regular season, in the offseason or not at all.

A stadium deal needs to be figured out by no later than November or December.

The reason things can move slowly in talks with Rivers is the franchise tag. The Chargers could franchise him twice to keep him with the team at least through 2017. Both sides can work that reality to their advantages.

The franchise tag might not be popular with Rivers or his agent, but it buys time for the Chargers and gives them some leverage.

But the franchise tag also works for Rivers. With a $17,416,668 cap number this year, Rivers' nonexclusive franchise number would be $20.9 million in 2016. A second tag for 2017 would cost $25.08 million, bringing the two-year average to $22.9 million. That would top the league-high $22 million average of Aaron Rodgers' five-year deal.

After he has collected his 2015 salary, Rivers will have banked $132.8 million in his 12 NFL seasons. With that much money, he doesn't need to rush to get his next contract, particularly with the way the quarterback market is shaping up.


Even if Philip Rivers doesn't sign a long-term deal before his contract expires after this season, he stands to make more than $20 million in 2016 if the Chargers use the franchise tag to retain his services. Christian Petersen/Getty Images
With Rodgers considered the NFL's top quarterback, other teams with elite quarterbacks aim to keep long-term deals below the average value of his contract. The Pittsburgh Steelers did that with Ben Roethlisberger's $21.875 million-a-year contract. With Roethlisberger having three Super Bowl trips and Rivers having none, the Chargers would probably be willing to give Rivers just under what Roethlisberger got. Rivers and Roethlisberger both came from the quarterback-rich 2004 draft, as did Eli Manning, who is also in the last year of his contract.

If a long-term deal doesn't get done, the Chargers would have to decide whether to give Rivers the exclusive franchise tag or the nonexclusive tag. The exclusive tag prevents a player from negotiating with other teams but comes at a higher price. Currently, the exclusive tag for 2016 calculates to $25.2 million. That number, which is based off the top contracts at the position, would drop if any of the high-priced quarterbacks -- perhaps Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco or Drew Brees -- restructured their deals to lower their cap numbers for next year.

A nonexclusive tag would be more affordable but riskier for the Chargers because another team could sign Rivers, even though it would have to hand over two first-round picks to do so. Buffalo, Cleveland, the New York Jets and maybe Houston would consider giving up two first-rounders in order to sign a franchise quarterback.

Here's the way this should play out. The Spanoses first will figure out the stadium situation. Then they can come to Rivers and finalize some kind of deal. They might have to kick in a little more money in order for Rivers to put on a Los Angeles Chargers uniform. He's with Chargers fans; he wants the Chargers to stay in San Diego. Either way, it's highly unlikely he isn't playing for the Chargers in 2016.

Like I said, *yawn*

[Mister Hoarse]

John Clayton:




Like I said, *yawn*

Thanks for the yawn.

[ArtistFormerlyKnownAsBKR]

Thanks for the yawn.

And here's a stretch for you, too.

[Maverick]

Thanks for the yawn.

Get off my yawn!

[ArtistFormerlyKnownAsBKR]

Get off my yawn!

I knew OM was lurking here somewhere!

Hey, Pops, I'm the one that's putting out butts on your sidewalk and pissing in your prize rosebushes. Suck it!!!