Rivers bids to leave the bench
By: JAY PARIS - Staff Writer
SAN DIEGO ---- The pass at the Chargers' minicamp practice Friday was on the mark, looking as if it were thrown by a first-string quarterback.
Instead, it came via the abbreviated delivery of Philip Rivers.
Ah, yes, Mr. Rivers.
Rivers was the team's most-celebrated rookie this time last June. He was walking on red carpets and being showered with rose petals. The former North Carolina State star and the draft's fourth overall pick was introduced as yet another savior for a franchise that required plenty of saving.
But the script calling for Rivers to blow past incumbent Drew Brees and seize the offensive controls never materialized ---- not after a protracted contract tussle kept Rivers from the majority of training camp.
Instead, Rivers saw limited duty and Brees played as if transformed into Steve Young. Brees earned his first Pro Bowl selection and directed the Chargers to the AFC West title.
Rivers played just enough to earn his letter, but he is looking for more this season.
"I don't ask for anything to be handed to me," said Rivers, who threw for 33 yards and a touchdown as a rookie. "It's hey, let's just go battle at it again."
Rivers realizes he is swimming upstream. The Chargers didn't plop an $8 million, one-year contract in Brees' lap for him to man the clipboard with his baseball cap turned backward. Instead, that role likely will fall to Rivers again.
That, however, doesn't prevent Rivers from pushing Brees.
"Obviously, he is going in with the upper hand, as he should," Rivers said of his competition with Brees. "But the cards were dealt the way they were dealt, and I've got to play them as they are."
So Rivers antes up. He does his work, he doesn't complain and he waits for a chance similar to those afforded to the two other quarterbacks drafted in the first round last year: the Giants' Eli Manning and the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger.
"There are a lot of different routes to the top," Rivers said, "and I'm going to find one of them and get there."
Human nature being what it is, Rivers has every right to kick the dirt. His dream of playing in the NFL has been just that, a dream. He is saddled behind a quarterback in no hurry to step aside.
"You wouldn't think going into your second year it would be like this," Rivers said. "You would hope you would be coming off a good rookie season. It's obviously a little different than I had expected."
Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer said Rivers remains strong, while it's obvious his starting chances are pretty weak.
"I think it is tough; I think it is difficult," Schottenheimer said. "But you know that's just the nature of our business. I'm sure he has moments of frustration and/or disappointment. But he has a lot of fiber."
What Rivers really wants is to showcase his impressive arm. He does so in practice, along with showing a sense of calm that wasn't evident last June.
"It's not even close," Rivers said of the difference 12 months make. "I had a pretty good understanding last year of the offense, but not to the point that it comes naturally and flows. I hear formations now, and it's just like I feel confident I can get everybody lined up without even thinking about it."
What he really thinks about is leading a Chargers unit that doesn't answer to the second string. But he knew he would enter 2005 as second fiddle when Brees signed the team's rich offer sheet.
"It was expected," Rivers said of the club's handling of Brees. "The way the season finished and how he came on strong, it wasn't a shock. And you know what? He was deserving of it the way he played and what he did. But all that did for me was say to get ready to go out at it again."
Off they go, Brees and Rivers. Where they finish will be determined, as an NFL season is much like a river. It's rare when it doesn't feature numerous twists and turns.
Especially at quarterback.
By: JAY PARIS - Staff Writer
SAN DIEGO ---- The pass at the Chargers' minicamp practice Friday was on the mark, looking as if it were thrown by a first-string quarterback.
Instead, it came via the abbreviated delivery of Philip Rivers.
Ah, yes, Mr. Rivers.
Rivers was the team's most-celebrated rookie this time last June. He was walking on red carpets and being showered with rose petals. The former North Carolina State star and the draft's fourth overall pick was introduced as yet another savior for a franchise that required plenty of saving.
But the script calling for Rivers to blow past incumbent Drew Brees and seize the offensive controls never materialized ---- not after a protracted contract tussle kept Rivers from the majority of training camp.
Instead, Rivers saw limited duty and Brees played as if transformed into Steve Young. Brees earned his first Pro Bowl selection and directed the Chargers to the AFC West title.
Rivers played just enough to earn his letter, but he is looking for more this season.
"I don't ask for anything to be handed to me," said Rivers, who threw for 33 yards and a touchdown as a rookie. "It's hey, let's just go battle at it again."
Rivers realizes he is swimming upstream. The Chargers didn't plop an $8 million, one-year contract in Brees' lap for him to man the clipboard with his baseball cap turned backward. Instead, that role likely will fall to Rivers again.
That, however, doesn't prevent Rivers from pushing Brees.
"Obviously, he is going in with the upper hand, as he should," Rivers said of his competition with Brees. "But the cards were dealt the way they were dealt, and I've got to play them as they are."
So Rivers antes up. He does his work, he doesn't complain and he waits for a chance similar to those afforded to the two other quarterbacks drafted in the first round last year: the Giants' Eli Manning and the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger.
"There are a lot of different routes to the top," Rivers said, "and I'm going to find one of them and get there."
Human nature being what it is, Rivers has every right to kick the dirt. His dream of playing in the NFL has been just that, a dream. He is saddled behind a quarterback in no hurry to step aside.
"You wouldn't think going into your second year it would be like this," Rivers said. "You would hope you would be coming off a good rookie season. It's obviously a little different than I had expected."
Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer said Rivers remains strong, while it's obvious his starting chances are pretty weak.
"I think it is tough; I think it is difficult," Schottenheimer said. "But you know that's just the nature of our business. I'm sure he has moments of frustration and/or disappointment. But he has a lot of fiber."
What Rivers really wants is to showcase his impressive arm. He does so in practice, along with showing a sense of calm that wasn't evident last June.
"It's not even close," Rivers said of the difference 12 months make. "I had a pretty good understanding last year of the offense, but not to the point that it comes naturally and flows. I hear formations now, and it's just like I feel confident I can get everybody lined up without even thinking about it."
What he really thinks about is leading a Chargers unit that doesn't answer to the second string. But he knew he would enter 2005 as second fiddle when Brees signed the team's rich offer sheet.
"It was expected," Rivers said of the club's handling of Brees. "The way the season finished and how he came on strong, it wasn't a shock. And you know what? He was deserving of it the way he played and what he did. But all that did for me was say to get ready to go out at it again."
Off they go, Brees and Rivers. Where they finish will be determined, as an NFL season is much like a river. It's rare when it doesn't feature numerous twists and turns.
Especially at quarterback.
