Chargers Liking What They're Seeing from Rivers
San Diego Chargers officials are praising the training-camp performance of Philip Rivers, saying that the team's new starting quarterback is ahead of where they thought he would be at this point.
Rivers inherited the starting job when the Chargers allowed Drew Brees to leave in the offseason via free agency and sign with the New Orleans Saints. It's a quarterback succession that the Chargers once envisioned happening much earlier. They traded for Rivers on draft day 2004 with plans to make him the starter sooner rather than later. But lengthy, contentious negotiations on his rookie contract hindered his early development and Brees's career resurgence kept Rivers on the bench for two seasons.
Now he becomes the last of the Big Three quarterbacks in the 2004 draft to become a starter, following Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh and Eli Manning with the New York Giants. Rivers's play this season could determine whether Chargers Coach Marty Schottenheimer keeps his job, with the club having missed the playoffs last season and Schottenheimer having spent some of the offseason in a public feud with General Manager A.J. Smith. Schottenheimer told reporters this week that he's been impressed during camp by Rivers's understanding of the offense and what's expected of him.
The Chargers don't really have a viable Plan B at quarterback if Rivers falters. Their backups are A.J. Feeley and rookie Charlie Whitehurst.
By Mark Maske |
August 4, 2006; 8:49 AM ET
| Category:
Chargers
Previous: Saints LB Simmons Retires |
Next: Eagles, First-Rounder Bunkley Agree
Posted by: San Diego transplant to DC | August 4, 2006 11:29 AM
anyone know if the scrimmage is going to be on TV?
Thanks.
Posted by: howdy | August 4, 2006 12:54 PM
Of course they're going to talk up his performance. With as many high pick bust QB's there have been, San Diego deserves to lose. You don't let proven talent at QB walk away, even if you meant to replace him with a guy you drafted first. Rivers would've been excellent trade bait, and Brees proved the past 2 seasons that he's worth the money to keep.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 4, 2006 1:15 PM
As a Saints fan, I'm more than happy with this move!
Posted by: Anonymous | August 4, 2006 2:02 PM
Brees was good, Rivers has a chance to be great. After 2 seasons of watching from the sidelines and studying, he should be ready to prove himself this season. Having Gates and LT is certainly going to help him. Buddy of mine went to NC State, said he's the smartest qb he's ever seen. Only time will tell, but GO CHARGERS
Posted by: Pitts | August 4, 2006 3:25 PM
Brees is a quality QB. If healthy, he's probably in the top 10 in the NFL. You don't cut loose a guy who's proven that he can play the position go on a wish that the replacement can perform. If Rivers can play, that's great, but it's more likely than not that Brees will prove to be the better player. Dumb move by the Bolts, at least until we see what Rivers can do.
Posted by: Randy | August 4, 2006 3:29 PM
Rivers is a STUD...but once again the offense rests on the shoulders of L/T and Antonio Gates...they're gonna determine how far the 'Bolts go...WHOA DUCKER!!!!
Posted by: DC Transplant in SoCal | August 4, 2006 3:41 PM
As long as the Chargers have Schottenheimer as a coach, they will never be back. The city of San Diego is another problem the Chrgers have. Southern California fans are very fickled because there is so much to do. It's not like D.C. where the Redskins are basically the only game in town on Sunday afternoons. I lived in San Diego county for 18 years. As soon as Rivers starts to make what will be rookie qb mistakes and they lose a couple attendance will go way down and then the home field advantage will go away. The honeymoon period will be very short.
Posted by: Frank Jordan | August 4, 2006 3:51 PM
Sorry, but Brees injured his shoulder.
Sure, he looks okay in camp now, but the Chargers needed to decide whether to risk major $$$ on a recovering QB, or play the first round draft pick that they've already paid several million to.
The choice was simple. They offered Brees an incentive-laden deal. Brees decided to take more guarenteed dollars from NO. Don't forget, Miami was looking hard at Brees and instead decided to trade for Culpepper who had health issues of his own.
Posted by: tallbear | August 4, 2006 4:05 PM
The only thing that bugs me about the move (what would have been an otherwise excruciating decision was made easy for AJ with Brees' injury), is that they didn't take the money they saved on Brees to go out and get the shut down CB they needed (Hello, Ty Law!). It could have essentially been like a trade, and people would have eaten it up. Instead, Las will be sitting back waiting to pick off a Rivers pass for two games this year. And we'll have to watch Jammer continue to let sure int's go through his hands.
Posted by: DC2SD | August 4, 2006 6:32 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
The San Diego Super Chargers are back!