AFC West Notes: Chargers, Rivers, Broncos

Where will quarterback Philip Rivers land after parting ways with the Chargers this offseason? This week, longtime teammate and pending free agent Melvin Gordon took an educated guess.

I think he’ll go to the Colts,” Gordon told CBS Sports Network. “I don’t know, that’s just my thought. He has Nick (Sirianni) there, the (offensive coordinator), he came from here. They run the same playbook, so it’d be easy, he could come right in….That’s probably the best fit.

Gordon doesn’t claim to have inside info, but it’s a logical thought – Rivers’ familiarity with Sirianni and head coach Frank Reich (the Bolts’ QB coach and OC during some of Rivers’ best seasons) would make for a seamless transition. The Colts, meanwhile, are far from sold on Jacoby Brissett and they have a clear need for a proven winner under center.

Rivers, 38, says that he has two years left of football, at max. After moving on from the only franchise that he’s ever known, he could spend his twilight years with familiar faces for one more chance at a Super Bowl ring.

Here’s a look at the AFC West:

  • Could the Chargers replace Rivers with Tom Brady? Mike Sando of The Athletic spoke with league execs about Brady’s potential destinations and found a wide range of takes on Brady’s odds of landing with the Bolts. “I think the Chargers would write whatever contract Brady needs to get,” an exec said. “They are the only team that would do that, in my opinion…If they can get Brady, then I think all of a sudden they become a real competitor for the Rams in the market.” Others, however, were quick to point out the Chargers’ organizational philosophy of spreading dollars around. “The Chargers ain’t paying anybody $30 million – anybody,” another exec said.
  • In an in-depth and worthwhile read, The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala examined the power struggle surrounding the Broncos‘ ownership situation. Ultimately, the messy in-fighting could result in the sale of the franchise.
  • Last week, former Raiders edge rusher Lamarr Houston announced his retirement from football after eight seasons in the NFL.
View Comments (9)