The San Diego Chargers made a verbal commitment to quarterback Philip Rivers when they let Drew Brees escape to New Orleans three years ago. Today they made a financial commitment, giving Philip a six-year contract extension good for $92 million ($38.5 million is guaranteed). Clearly, this is the quarterback of the future for the San Diego Chargers.
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 …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year today. Drew was a great choice. All he did was re-write the Saints’ record books this season. He became just the second player in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards in a single season and he had a team-record and league-leading 34 touchdown passes. Naturally, he spoke of team first:
“I don’t come out from week to week and say I have to throw for 300 (yards). I don’t think about that. It’s really about what I can do to …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Of all those players who were unfortunately snubbed for the 2009 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl (and there will always be a bunch), San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has to be the most glaring omission. I mean, be serious. Philip leads the entire NFL with a 101.4 passer rating and touchdown passes thrown with 28 (tied with Drew Brees). Obviously, the fact the disappointing Chargers are just 6-8 and about to miss the playoffs worked against him, but if these are individual honors (which they are), Philip should be on the AFC roster.
Source: NFL.com

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
San Diego Chargers QB Philip Rivers had successful surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee today. The surgery was performed by team medical staffer Dr. David Chao. Philip will rehab for up to six months.
This type of injury used to require at least one-year to recover from. I don’t know how Philip will be back in six months. But if anyone can do it, Philip can. He’s a gutsy player. He injured his knee against the Colts in the Divisional playoffs, then privately had it scoped the next day …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
The New England Patriots took yet another step toward a perfect season. But their 21-12 win over the San Diego Chargers in the AFC Championship game was anything but perfect. It certainly wasn’t Tom Brady’s best game. And it certainly wasn’t the way he imagined this AFC Championship game would play out. But that’s really not what matters. There are no style points in the NFL. What matters are wins and losses and the Patriots, of course, have 18 straight victories against no defeats — a simply mind-boggling accomplishment.
It’s not like Tom choked …read more