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Philip Rivers

Philip Rivers/Titans Rumors: Monday

April 27th, 2015 at 5:08pm CST by Luke Adams

As recently as Saturday, Peter King of TheMMQB.com suggested that there was something to the Philip Rivers-to-the-Titans rumors, but his latest Monday Morning Quarterback column throws a bit of cold water on that idea. Here’s the latest on Rivers, the Chargers, the Titans, and the No. 2 overall pick:

  • As of now, the Chargers have yet to have conversations with any team regarding a trade of Rivers, Alex Flanagan of NBC Sports tweets.
  • After making many calls over the weekend, King doesn’t believe the Chargers will trade Rivers. While he’s not ready to lock that in, he writes that San Diego “definitely does not want to trade Rivers.” Additionally, the Titans would want more than just Rivers for the second overall pick, and the Chargers probably wouldn’t be willing to offer more than that.
  • If the Titans don’t get a good offer for that No. 2 pick from the Chargers or another team, they’ll likely select Mariota, writes King, adding that while “they feel good about Zach Mettenberger, [they] would feel better about Mariota.
  • An Oregon source tells King that no team scouted Mariota more fervently during and after the college football season than the Titans.
  • According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Browns, Rams, and Chargers are the most likely candidates to make a deal with the Titans. However, Rapoport agrees that San Diego doesn’t appear to be interested in dealing Rivers, who would have to sign a contract extension and take a physical to finalize a trade — neither of those things is in motion at this point.
  • Rapoport adds that the Browns and Rams may find it more difficult to match up with the Titans, since neither team could send Tennessee an established quarterback like Rivers in a trade.

Latest On Titans, Philip Rivers

April 25th, 2015 at 7:33pm CST by Zachary Links

Alex Flanagan of NBC Sports (on Twitter) is hearing from more and more people who believe the Philip Rivers trade rumors have legitimate legs. Peter King of Sports Illustrated (Twitter link), meanwhile, seems to be sensing the same thing, though he says nothing is certain regarding the No. 2 pick at this time.

As Flanagan tweets, the Titans have a clear need for Rivers and the Chargers could get out of their financial obligation to him with a trade. Meanwhile, Marcus Mariota would be marketable in Los Angeles, if the Bolts do wind up moving there. Meanwhile, Flanagan (link) isn’t so sure that the Buccaneers won’t want Mariota, which would throw a wrench into things. For his part, King (link) still sees Jameis Winston going No. 1.

All eyes will be on the Titans and their No. 2 pick heading into the draft on April 30th. Mike Mayock of NFL Network believes that it will be hard for any team to pry that selection away from Tennessee unless they’re offering an established veteran quarterback like Rivers. All in all, the discussions have been shrouded in relative secrecy despite the level of speculation going on. Earlier this week, a source told Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego that the two sides have yet to be in contact with one another. At this stage, however, it’d be surprising if that were still the case.

AFC South Notes: Colts, Greene, Titans, Jags

April 25th, 2015 at 1:52pm CST by Ben Levine

The Colts have thought outside the box as they’ve attempted to round out the bottom of their roster. As Stephen Holder of the Indy Star points out, the team currently has four former CFL players, two college basketball players and a Kenyan rugby player under contract.

The mix of different backgrounds isn’t unusual to general manager Ryan Grigson, who is willing to look anywhere to make his team better:

“If you have elite athletic traits, you can do this. This isn’t one of those specialized sports, like golf. If you have a level of toughness and you can move and you have instincts, if you have those at an elite level, you’re going to get a chance.”

Let’s take a look at more notes out of the AFC South, including additional whispers from Indianapolis…

No Rivers Talks Between Chargers, Titans?

April 23rd, 2015 at 11:35am CST by Luke Adams

Outside of perhaps Adrian Peterson, no veteran Pro Bowler has been mentioned more as a potential trade candidate within the last few weeks as Philip Rivers. However, a source tells Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune that the Chargers have yet to discuss a Rivers trade with the team most frequently linked to the veteran signal-caller. According to Gehlken, there has been no contact between the Chargers and Titans, and no discussion of a Rivers deal between the two sides “at all.”

As Gehklen cautions, deals can materialize quickly in the NFL — Rex Ryan told reporters last month that the Bills’ acquisition of LeSean McCoy came together in about a half hour. So even if the source is right, and the Chargers and Titans haven’t engaged in any trade discussions yet, it doesn’t mean they won’t within the next week, or even on draft night.

Still, a trade involving the second overall pick and a franchise quarterback is the sort of move that would likely require plenty of discussion, especially since the Titans would probably want a chance to talk to Rivers about a potential contract extension before agreeing to any sort of deal. So if there have been no negotiations at this point, it lends credence to the theory that all the whispers and rumors are just part of a “mating dance” between the Rivers and the Chargers as they work toward a new contract.

General manager Tom Telesco and the Chargers have insisted all along that they want Rivers to remain with the franchise, and eventually retire with the club. Still, the quarterback’s contract expires after the 2015 season, and a recent report indicated that he plans to play out the season before talking about a new deal. The possibility of relocation for the Chargers could also play a significant role in those contract discussions, since Rivers reportedly doesn’t love the idea of making the move to Los Angeles.

Extra Points: Rivers, Brown, Johnson

April 22nd, 2015 at 9:33pm CST by Zachary Links

A federal judge has approved a plan to resolve thousands of NFL concussion lawsuits that could cost the league $1 billion over 65 years, Maryclaire Dale of The Associated Press writes. The awards could reach $1MM to $5MM for those diagnosed in their 30s and 40s with Parkinson’s disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease, or for deaths involving chronic brain trauma. NFL actuaries estimate 6,000 of nearly 20,000 retired players to someday suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or moderate dementia. The settlement between the two sides ends a four-year legal battle. Here’s more from around the league..

  • A possible trade of Philip Rivers to the Titans is complicated by the fact that Tennessee would have to work out a contract extension in the days prior to the deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. A deal couldn’t begin and end while the Titans are on the clock at No. 2 since Tennessee would need permission from the Chargers to work on Rivers’ contract (link).
  • Antonio Brown took to Twitter to explain his absence from the Steelers‘ voluntary offseason program. “Just enjoying my new born Ali can not wait to get back with my teammates! I am dad first and working to be best player I can be,” Brown tweeted. It’s very possible that Brown is holding out for a new contract too, but that’s apparently not the sole reason.
  • Andre Johnson insists that he didn’t sign with the Colts just to get revenge on his former team, as Stephen Holder of the Indy Star tweets. “I didn’t come here because we play against the Texans twice a year..I have bigger goals than just playing against the Texans,” the wide receiver said. Johnson signed with the Colts on a three-year, $21MM deal.
  • Former Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla working out this spring and is a player worth watching, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report tweets.
  • Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton feels that he could form an “unstoppable” duo with Haloti Ngata if the Lions draft him, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets.

Chargers GM On Rivers, Mariota, Stadium

April 22nd, 2015 at 2:00pm CST by Zachary Links

Minutes ago, Chargers GM Tom Telesco addressed reporters and took questions on a wide range of topics, including the uncertainty surrounding quarterback Philip Rivers. Here’s a look at the highlights with all links going to Twitter..

  • Telesco says that Rivers is the Chargers’ quarterback and his “intent” is to keep it that way, tweets Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego. That statement probably won’t stop the chatter, and neither will this one: “I figure at least half of you are here for a Philip Rivers update. … There really is no update,” the GM said (link).
  • Still, Telesco told reporters (including Gehlken) that he’d be as honest as possible about Rivers and other matters, explaining, “I’m Cathlolic. I tell the truth.“
  • The GM dodged a question about whether he’s spoken to the Titans about Rivers (via Gehlken).
  • Telesco said the Chargers are evaluating Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota because “it’s what we do,” Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean tweets.
  • Like Rivers, Telesco said he wants safety Eric Weddle with the Chargers long-term, Eric Williams of ESPN.com tweets. Weddle, of course, is absent from camp as he pushes for a contract extension. Even though the interest is mutual, the two sides probably won’t hammer out a new deal in the next eight days. “Right now, we’re focused on the draft,” Telesco said (via Gehlken).
  • When asked about Weddle’s no-show, Telesco emphasized that they are voluntary (via Williams).
  • Telesco said the stadium issue has not affected day-to-day football operations, but he’s not naive about what is going on, Williams tweets.
  • Telesco says he’s pleased with what the organization has got done so far this offseason (via Williams).

AFC West Notes: Brown, Chargers, Raiders

April 21st, 2015 at 6:54pm CST by Zachary Links

Coach Jack Del Rio says Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree is eager “to create a role” for himself with his new club, as Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com writes. Crabtree had a down year in 2014, but still recorded 68 catches for 698 yards and four touchdowns. Now, after hanging around on the shelf for a while, he’ll look to rebuild his value in Oakland. Here’s more from the AFC West..

  • Free agent running back Ronnie Brown told SiriusXM NFL Radio (on Twitter) that he hasn’t heard from the Chargers about a potential reunion. “I haven’t talked to the Chargers about a return. They have a bunch of running backs and are looking for a running back in the draft,” Brown said.
  • Brown went on to say (link) that he doesn’t get the sense that quarterback Philip Rivers is headed elsewhere. When considering the production that Rivers provides and San Diego’s young offense, Brown doesn’t see the signal caller leaving the Chargers.
  • The Raiders shifted around their depth chart a bit, sliding Taiwan Jones from cornerback back to his native position of running back, as Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com writes. Former coach Dennis Allen put Jones on defense in 2013 and the results were mixed. While he succeeded on special teams thanks to his speed, he never really got the grasp of the cornerback position. Still, with running backs Latavius Murray, Trent Richardson, Roy Helu Jr. and Marcel Reece also on the depth chart, Jones figures to be more of a special teams contributor again this year.

Philip Rivers Declines Extension Talks

April 20th, 2015 at 10:21pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers recently approached star quarterback Philip Rivers with an extension offer, but he declined, according to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego. Rivers, 33, has expressed intention to play out the deal without an extension. Meanwhile, trade speculation continues to swirl around him.

As Gehlken notes, uncertainty looms over the franchise when considering the players they have in contract years and the possible relocation of the team to Los Angeles which could take place as soon as 2016. Tight end Antonio Gates, tight end Ladarius Green, wide receiver Malcom Floyd and guard Johnnie Troutman are also entering their walk years and, along with Rivers, they represent the only holdovers from when GM Tom Telesco and coach Mike McCoy first arrived in 2013.

While Rivers turned down the Bolts’ overtures, safety Eric Weddle is still waiting to have substantive talks about a new deal. Last month, he made his desire publicly known.

“I think I’ve earned [a new deal],” Weddle said. “But it has to work both ways. They have to want it, too. And if they don’t, then we will play it out and I’ll be a free agent next year “I want to be here, but I understand the situation and what they want to do. If I’m a part of it — great. If not, then I plan on making this season a memorable one and we’ll see what happens from there.”

Weddle is currently holding out of camp, while Rivers is in attendance. Both players find themselves in uncomfortable situations with their club and uncertain futures, though for different reasons.

AFC Notes: Jets, Colts, Richardson, Rivers, Charles

April 19th, 2015 at 7:53pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Jets have question marks surrounding their first-round selection in the upcoming NFL Draft, with a number of players making sense for the team. Geno Smith is a question mark at best, therefore Marcus Mariota could be in play if he slips to No. 6, writes Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. Cimini also examines the possibility of the team selecting offensive lineman Brandon Scherff, but points the Jets towards a pass rusher or receiver instead.

Here are a few other notes from around the AFC:

  • The Colts have a lack of depth along the defense, and could dramatically improve their team through the draft despite picking so late in the first-round. The team could stand to add along the defensive line, safety, and corner with high draft picks, according to Stephen Holder of IndyStar.com.
  • Trent Richardson‘s grievance over having the final year of his contract voided by the Colts still looms over the 2015 season, but this is not unusual as the timeline for these proceedings can often take a while, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com. He writes that he wouldn’t be surprised if the team is forced to pay a portion of his 2015 salary, but doesn’t expect the Colts will be on the hook for the whole thing.
  • The Titans’ attempts at acquiring Philip Rivers from the Chargers may all be for show, but the deal makes a lot of sense to many NFL pundits, writes Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean. Wyatt breaks down the possible compensation that would be included in order to make the deal happen, based on a number of different opinions.
  • Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles has been one of the consistent, driving forces of the team’s offense for most of the past six years (excluding the torn-ACL season from 2011), and has been outspoken after the offense took a step back in 2014, writes the Associated Press on USAToday.com. He specifically pointed to the offensive line as a part of the team that needs improving. “I definitely want them to address that,” he said. “I’m not a GM, so I can’t do that job. But it was challenging last year playing with guys — some got hurt, some got suspended. So it was hard playing. I never knew how crucial it was to my career that I needed linemen.”

Rivers Rumors Just A “Mating Dance”?

April 19th, 2015 at 10:36am CST by Rory Parks

One prominent NFL scribe has already offered his take on the Philip Rivers-to-Tennessee rumors this morning, and now Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk provides his opinion on the matter. Expanding on a piece he wrote earlier this month, Florio points out that all of the chatter surrounding the Chargers’ alleged desire to trade Rivers, whose contract expires at the end of the year, is largely just a “mating dance” between two parties who actually have mutual interest in extending their relationship beyond 2015.

For his part, Rivers knows that his value to the team–which is already quite high given his durability and the caliber of his play–could potentially increase dramatically should the team move to Los Angeles, as the Chargers will be hungry to make a good first impression in the nation’s No. 2 market. The Chargers know he is right, but that does not mean they want to pay Rivers any more than fair market value for a quarterback of his age and abilities.

Furthermore, outside of the Titans, no real suitors for Rivers have emerged over the past month or so. And there’s not much chance that one will. As Florio writes, if the Chargers were intent on trading up to the No. 2 overall selection, it would have happened by now. The fact that these rumors have been swirling for over a month without any substantial progress being made–like the parameters of a new contract between Rivers and the Titans–suggest that these rumblings are mostly predicated on contract leverage.

After all, it is hard to believe that the Chargers would want to start anew with an unproven rookie when Rivers may well have four or five good years left, and it is equally hard to believe that Rivers would want to go to a team that, even with him under center, would be unlikely to compete for a playoff spot. Any team trading for Rivers without a multi-year deal in place would be getting a one-year rental, and those teams that would want to make a deal for Rivers are generally not destinations that he would be willing to commit to long-term. So as the tango continues, it looks more and more like Rivers will be staying put; the only question is what it will cost the Chargers to keep him in San Diego (or LA).

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