Chargers Extend Rivers Contract

Late yesterday word came from the Charger camp that they were able to come to terms with Phillip Rivers and he signed a 6 year contract extension with the team. I was glad to hear that the contract issue with Rivers got resolved before the season started and we didn't have to sit through the sometimes mundane contract squabbling that sometimes occurs...especially when Charger GM A.J. Smith is involved, a man that has proven he does not usually break.

I like Rivers, he is a player that has one of the greatest intangibles a player in any sport can have...he hates to lose, or as a co-worker and I have affectionately called these types of players, he is a 'winner'. Anyone that has watched sports know who these players are...often times they physically may not look like anything special and in practices and scrimmages would rarely stand out amongst other players...but the difference is on game day. These players are the players who do not give up on game day, regardless of the score. These are the players who thrive in game conditions and know that they can control their destiny and take every advantage to do so. Rivers even said how the money isn't really a motivating factor for him but rather that he hates to lose and that in itself is a motivator for him.

A couple years ago Rivers was getting a bad rap from ESPN media types because they caught Rivers jawwing with the crowd as he was hurt and walking off in Indy... if you have seen any of Rivers' press conference or interviews you know that Rivers is really a kind of humble and nice guy, just having a fun time...and that was exactly what he was doing in Indy that day...having a fun time with the crowd, it is just the ESPN hype-machine that had to spin it into a potentially negative moment for Rivers.

I couldn't be more pleased to know that Philip Rivers is going to be the Charger quarterback for several years...I also like the way the Chargers continue to 'lock in' their talent for an extended time... of course Merriman and Gates are up next for new contracts...I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they go as smoothly as Rivers's deal did...