Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers / Photo: Newscom

The deal makes sense. Philip is one of the top five quarterbacks in the NFL and his 36-18 record (including the playoffs) proves it. So the Bolts were determined not to let him get away. And they put him in a happy place for the 2009 season in the process. Now he must accomplish what peers Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning—who also got this kind of cash—did. Philip needs to follow-up with a Super Bowl victory. That is what the Chargers hope they’re paying for.

Here are some of Philip’s thoughts following the announcement:

“The one thing I’ve said throughout the summer was that my contract was never going to become a distraction for this team. I was focused on the season. I’m obviously grateful that it got done and that I’m going to be a Charger for years to come. I’m very appreciative to the Spanos family for keeping me around and allowing this to get done. You never are guaranteed that you will be here, but I hoped I would be for a long time. I’ll never get the South out of me, but San Diego is definitely home. Three of our four children have been born out here. I love the people, love the town and love being part of the city.”

Sources: Chargers.com, NFL.com

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Philip Rivers $92M Contract Extension: Quotes

Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants / Image: Zuma Press

First of all, no NFL player is worth that kind of money. But if I had to give it to someone, I wouldn’t give it to Eli Manning. I don’t think he’s the NFL’s best player (assuming the best player should make the most money). Sure, he led the Giants to a Super Bowl win two seasons ago (and he was that game’s MVP), but he needs to do that a couple times to get this kind of money. And he hasn’t. And probably won’t again. I’m not knocking the guy’s talent. He helped the Giants to the playoffs all four years he’s been in New York (somehow) and he’s coming off his first Pro Bowl season. And he is a franchise QB and one of the game’s best (ok, top five) at his position. But, if I’m handing out $97 million over six years, I’m giving it to Tom Brady.

Source: NFL.com

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Eli Manning is NFL’s Highest Paid Player

Defense wins championships, of course. And if you’re in the playoffs, chances are you’re playing it pretty well. Like the Philadelphia Eagles. In a 23-11 NFC Divisional Playoff win over the N.Y. Giants this afternoon, it was the Eagles’ defense that stepped up to the challenge of stopping the NFL’s best rushing offense en route to the NFC Championship game next week at Arizona.

For all the deserved hype that was the Giants’ “Earth, Wind and Fire” (running backs Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw) this season, the Eagles had other ideas. Sure, Brandon got 92 yards on 19 carries, but on two crucial 4th down plays, it was Eagles’ defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley who played the role of earth mover, causing the Giants to turn the ball over on downs. This Eagles defense is something of a no-name group. Among household names like Brian Dawkins and Asante Samuel, you’re looking at guys like Stewart Bradley (the team’s regular season leader in tackles and in on 11 stops today), Quintin Mikell and Chris Gocong. Together, they rattled Giants quarterback Eli Manning into completing about half of his passes for just 169 yards. Still, Brian Dawkins wasn’t exactly savoring the moment:

“I won’t say satisfying. Satisfying is for when it is all said and done, and it’s not. We have more work to do.”

Source: PhiladelphiaEagles.com

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Eagles Defense Makes Crucial Stops

Here is the NFC Pro Bowl roster. Starters are listed in bold.

OFFENSE

QB: Kurt Warner, Cardinals; Drew Brees, Saints; Eli Manning, Giants
RB: Adrian Peterson, Vikings; Michael Turner, Falcons; Clinton Portis, Redskins
FB: Mike Sellers, Redskins
WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals; Anquan Boldin, Cardinals; Steve Smith, Panthers; Roddy White, Falcons,
TE: Jason Witten, Cowboys; Chris Cooley, Redskins
T: Jordan Gross, Panthers; Walter Jones, Seahawks; Chris Samuels, Redskins
G: Chris Snee, Giants; Steve Hutchinson, Vikings; Leonard Davis, Cowboys
C: Andre Gurode, Cowboys; Shaun O’Hara, Giants

DEFENSE

DE: Justin Tuck, Giants; Julius Peppers, Panthers; Jared Allen, Vikings
DT: Kevin Williams, Vikings; Jay Ratliff, Cowboys; Pat Williams, Vikings
OLB: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys; Lance Briggs, Bears; Derrick Brooks, Buccaneers
MLB: Patrick Willis, 49ers; Jon Beason, Panthers
CB: Charles Woodson, Packers; Antoine Winfield, Vikings; Asante Samuel, Eagles
S: Nick Collins, Packers; Adrian Wilson, Cardinals; Brian Dawkins, Eagles

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: John Carney, Giants
P: Jeff Feagles, Giants
KR: Clifton Smith, Buccaneers
ST: Sean Morey, Cardinals

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2009 NFC Pro Bowl Roster

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees received 951,246 votes to lead all NFL All-Stars in fan balloting for the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl. N.Y. Jets quarterback Brett Favre (880,833 votes) ranks second overall, while N.Y. Giants quarterback Eli Manning (821,852 votes), Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis (767,817 votes) and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (673,710 votes) round out the top-five. Here is the list of Top-Ten vote-getters for the 2009 National Football League Pro Bowl:

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
2. Brett Favre, N.Y. Jets
3. Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants
4. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins
5. Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals
6. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
7. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
8. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys
9. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
10. Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins

The Top-Five rookie vote-getters were Chris Johnson (Tennessee Titans), Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons), Matt Forté (Chicago Bears), Chris Horton (Washington Redskins), and Steve Slaton (Houston Texans).

The teams will be announced at 4 p.m. (ET) Tuesday, December 16 on a special NFL Total Access 2009 NFL Pro Bowl Selection Show on NFL Network. The 2009 NFL Pro Bowl presented by State Farm will be played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on Sunday, February 8 and televised by NBC.

Source: NFL Media, Photo: Newscom

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NFL All-Stars Top-Ten Vote-Getters

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Brett Favre’s N.Y. Jets jersey is the hottest selling NFL jersey right now. Here’s how the rest of the top ten shake out. These are the top-selling jerseys on NFLShop.com from April 1-Oct. 15, 2008:

1. Brett Favre, New York Jets
2. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
3. Eli Manning, New York Giants
4. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys
5. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
6. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
7. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
8. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys
9. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
10. Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys

The only surprise on the list was Jason Witten. I didn’t see him as being that popular. And where is Chad Johnson Ocho Cinco? Or Reggie Bush?

Source: CNBC.com, Photo: Newscom

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Top Ten Best-Selling NFL Jerseys

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

Here’s the new Reebok NFL Equipment commercial that features 20 NFL players, the most to ever appear in a single TV ad. Look for Eli and Peyton Manning, Kevin Boss, Jerricho Cotchery, Greg Ellis, Matt Hasselbeck, Madison Hedgecock, Chad Johnson, Thomas Jones, Mathias Kiwanuka, Nick Mangold, Laurence Maroney, Jeff Saturday, Bo Scaife, Derrick Ward, DeMarcus Ware, Ty Warren, Benjamin Watson, Reggie Wayne, and Vince Young. The products? Each player is wearing his team’s NFL Equipment Speedwick Tee and Reebok HexRide Rally II kicks. Football is back. Nice.

Source: Reebok

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Reebok NFL Players ‘Join the Migration’

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

Eli, Peyton and Archie Manning threw the ceremonial first toss at a Chelsea football tournament for fathers and children yesterday. The Manning fam held their reunion at the NERF Father’s Day Football Throwdown to help city residents celebrate their fathers. Said Peyton:

“This has been special — with Eli here in New York, and my dad and older brother Cooper in New Orleans and I’m in Indianapolis, we’re not together as a group very often. And so this has been a special time, and throwing the football is something that we used to do a lot growing up as kids and it’s been a fun day today being here with all these kids and parents.”

In connection with the event, toy company Hasbro made a donation to Peyton’s PeyBack Foundation, which provides disadvantaged youth with growth opportunities and a leadership program. FYI, two new Peyton Manning signature NERF footballs will be introduced this year: NERF Peyton Manning Vortex Mega Howler and NERF Peyton Manning Rocket Pass football.

Source: PR-Inside.com, Photo: Newscom

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Manning Family Hosts Father’s Day Event

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

In his first public comments since breaking his leg last December, N.Y. Giants TE Jeremy Shockey pointed his finger at his team for the offseason speculation about his future and reported unhappiness:

“The statement I would like to make about the Giants and the speculation in the offseason is that whatever happens between the upper management, lower management, the owners, any management, is going to (stay) between ourselves. Unlike the Giants, I am going to be quiet. They have released multiple things about myself, and if you look back into the media (reports), there is always a source. Well, I would like to know who the source is. I haven’t said one negative thing towards the Giants in the newspapers. I have never expressed the feelings of the things that you guys (the media) made up. You guys will be able to talk to me (more) if I make it to minicamp.”

You’ll notice Jeremy said “if” he makes it to minicamp this week. All indications are that he won’t be there. He was a no-show at the team’s Super Bowl parade, White House visit and championship-ring ceremony. Why would he show-up now? Those absences speak volumes and have led to rumors that Jeremy was trade bait during NFL Draft weekend. But the Giants turned away the offer of a second-round pick this year and a fifth-rounder next year from the Saints. And ownership, management and coaches have repeatedly said they want to keep Jeremy.

Apparently, Jeremy has told friends that he is unhappy with his role, his contract and the notion that the Giants were better off without him after he broke his leg in Week 15 because Eli Manning didn’t have the “burden” of having to pass the ball to Shockey to keep him happy. Give me a break. You know how some receivers are always calling for the ball? Well, there you go, but I’m sure Eli can handle the huddle.

I can’t imagine that the N.Y. Giants are a better football team without Jeremy. Sure, he’s Kid Rock on steroids and pretty volatile at times, but he’s a heck of a football player and should be “taken care of.” On the other hand, the guy has to realize he’s not indispensable. Kevin Boss made great strides late last season, but obviously two quality tight ends are better than one. Jeremy needs to sit down with the front office and iron this out.

Source: NY Daily News, Photo: Newscom

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Jeremy Shockey is Disgruntled

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

NFL brothers Peyton and Eli Manning were on American Idol’s “Idol Gives Back” tonight. From the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, they introduced a video about their hometown of New Orleans where kids are still effected by Hurricane Katrina. In the video, Peyton and Eli visit with the kids and talk to them about their lives. “Idol Gives Back” has been recognized as a life-changing program, earning praise from many of the world’s best known figures. Last season, “Idol Gives Back” raised over $76 million for charity and garnered a prestigious Governor’s Award Emmy. To donate whatever you can to this worthy cause, just visit www.AmericanIdol.com. For all things American Idol, head over to b5’s own IdolStalker.com.

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Peyton and Eli Manning on ‘American Idol’