SAN DIEGO (AP) For a guy who figuratively got thrown under the bus by his own organization, Drew Brees emerged without a scratch.
Brees kept his job as starting quarterback of the San Diego Chargers on Monday, a move that was expected after he followed last season's miserable performance with a solid exhibition season.
Doug Flutie, 41, who accounted for half of the Chargers' four wins last year, will be the backup. Philip Rivers, the fourth pick in April's draft who missed 29 practices during a contract holdout, will be the third-stringer. The Chargers also will carry Cleo Lemon on the active roster.
''It doesn't really change anything for me,'' said Brees, who's 4-16 in his last 20 starts. ''There's still a lot of work ahead, and that's what I'm focused on.''
The Chargers open at Houston on Sunday.
After finishing an NFL-worst 4-12 last year, the Chargers brass said upgrading at quarterback was their top priority. They didn't get one in free agency, then were dissed by Eli Manning, who sent word through his father, Archie, that he didn't want San Diego to take him with the draft's first pick.
The Chargers picked Manning any way, then traded him to the New York Giants for Rivers and three draft picks, including next year's No. 1.
Brees said he used those developments as motivation.
''I viewed that as if I'm going to upgrade it myself, and that's going to be the upgrade at quarterback,'' said Brees, who's entering the last season of a four-year contact. ''My goal is not to be the starting quarterback; my goal is to lead this team to a championship.''
The Chargers have missed the playoffs for eight straight seasons.
Brees has been steady in four exhibition games, two of which the Chargers won. The Chargers' opening day starter the past two years, he completed 31 of 45 passes (68.9 percent) for 432 yards and three touchdowns, with two interceptions this summer. In 15 series, he directed the Chargers to five touchdowns and a field goal.
Rivers was 18-of-30 for 164 yards and one touchdown, with three interceptions. He was sacked four times and was called for intentional grounding twice.
Last year, Brees was benched for five games and yanked from two others. He completed only 205 of 356 passes (57.6 percent), with 11 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
''I fully expect, barring injury, that he'll be our quarterback,'' coach Marty Schottenheimer said.
''What I saw was a young man who had a rough year last year, and as we all know, if you're not successful, it all begins with the quarterback,'' he said. ''He came back with a renewed purpose and I think what has happened is he's gained more experience from last year, and I think that has served him well as we move into this year.''
Schottenheimer said there's no urgency to get Rivers on the field this year. Rivers signed a $40.5 million contract that includes a $14.25 million signing bonus. He can earn $10 million more in incentives.
''I don't feel any obligation to do that,'' Schottenheimer said. ''Any more so than I'm sure Marvin Lewis felt a year ago to get Palmer on the field.''
He was referring to Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals, the 2002 Heisman Trophy winner and the first pick in the 2003 draft. He will start this year after not taking a snap last season.
''Our job's about winning football games,'' said Schottenheimer, who's 12-20 in two seasons in San Diego. ''And whoever gives us the best chance to win a single football game are the ones we'll attempt to put out there.''
Rivers, who started an NCAA-record 51 games at North Carolina State, said he understood Schottenheimer's decision.
''I'm going to prepare like I'm going to be the guy to take the first snap,'' Rivers said. ''But I know where I am, how far I am behind and the catching up I've got to do.''
Brees kept his job as starting quarterback of the San Diego Chargers on Monday, a move that was expected after he followed last season's miserable performance with a solid exhibition season.
Doug Flutie, 41, who accounted for half of the Chargers' four wins last year, will be the backup. Philip Rivers, the fourth pick in April's draft who missed 29 practices during a contract holdout, will be the third-stringer. The Chargers also will carry Cleo Lemon on the active roster.
''It doesn't really change anything for me,'' said Brees, who's 4-16 in his last 20 starts. ''There's still a lot of work ahead, and that's what I'm focused on.''
The Chargers open at Houston on Sunday.
After finishing an NFL-worst 4-12 last year, the Chargers brass said upgrading at quarterback was their top priority. They didn't get one in free agency, then were dissed by Eli Manning, who sent word through his father, Archie, that he didn't want San Diego to take him with the draft's first pick.
The Chargers picked Manning any way, then traded him to the New York Giants for Rivers and three draft picks, including next year's No. 1.
Brees said he used those developments as motivation.
''I viewed that as if I'm going to upgrade it myself, and that's going to be the upgrade at quarterback,'' said Brees, who's entering the last season of a four-year contact. ''My goal is not to be the starting quarterback; my goal is to lead this team to a championship.''
The Chargers have missed the playoffs for eight straight seasons.
Brees has been steady in four exhibition games, two of which the Chargers won. The Chargers' opening day starter the past two years, he completed 31 of 45 passes (68.9 percent) for 432 yards and three touchdowns, with two interceptions this summer. In 15 series, he directed the Chargers to five touchdowns and a field goal.
Rivers was 18-of-30 for 164 yards and one touchdown, with three interceptions. He was sacked four times and was called for intentional grounding twice.
Last year, Brees was benched for five games and yanked from two others. He completed only 205 of 356 passes (57.6 percent), with 11 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
''I fully expect, barring injury, that he'll be our quarterback,'' coach Marty Schottenheimer said.
''What I saw was a young man who had a rough year last year, and as we all know, if you're not successful, it all begins with the quarterback,'' he said. ''He came back with a renewed purpose and I think what has happened is he's gained more experience from last year, and I think that has served him well as we move into this year.''
Schottenheimer said there's no urgency to get Rivers on the field this year. Rivers signed a $40.5 million contract that includes a $14.25 million signing bonus. He can earn $10 million more in incentives.
''I don't feel any obligation to do that,'' Schottenheimer said. ''Any more so than I'm sure Marvin Lewis felt a year ago to get Palmer on the field.''
He was referring to Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals, the 2002 Heisman Trophy winner and the first pick in the 2003 draft. He will start this year after not taking a snap last season.
''Our job's about winning football games,'' said Schottenheimer, who's 12-20 in two seasons in San Diego. ''And whoever gives us the best chance to win a single football game are the ones we'll attempt to put out there.''
Rivers, who started an NCAA-record 51 games at North Carolina State, said he understood Schottenheimer's decision.
''I'm going to prepare like I'm going to be the guy to take the first snap,'' Rivers said. ''But I know where I am, how far I am behind and the catching up I've got to do.''
