Official Chargers Blog

I agree this is no preseason game. I would think the Chargers have an idea if Rivers can play or not I don’t think playing him this week maters one way or the other. I like the idea that 10-6 is better then 9-7. I'm not good at math but it does sound better to me even if it doesn’t make a difference.

Jez, i don't know??? i'm just soooo disapointed! You figure if your going to be a playoff contender, your games better be consistent! The Chief/Charger Game sucked!, I just don't know how this could happen! They should play Phillip Rivers, maybe he'll show some consistency!!!

I think playing Brees would be the best option. The Chargers really deserved a shot at the playoffs, but there is always next year and i think the fans want to see Drew Brees one more time before the season ends for the Chargers. And 10-6 would also be one of the better seasons for the Chargers. Next year 13-3...guess we'll see.

Thank you Chargers for an unforgetable season! Even though we didn't make it to the playoffs you are number one in my eyes. I can't wait until next season. Please resign Drew Brees to a long term contract. We need him!

It is sad to see the Chargers lose again! Oh Well! See you guys next season! Luckly all the teams we played at home we lost and beat the away, the one game I watched was against the Colts who had 13-0 until the Chargers came and stopped them to give them the first loss.

If the Chargers are foolish enough to release Drew Brees in favor of Rivers, I wish them nothing less than a catastrophic 2006-2007 season.

Until the Chargers get a quarterback that can scramble and can throw a long ball they are never going to be consistant. Catches by Gates, McCardell, Parker and others make Drew Brees look good. Only 4 completions for over 40 yards is a joke! If they had some what of a passer maybe Tomlinson would not get smashed as much as he has been. I dont think Rivers can make us any worse. The Kid is a downright football player that wants to win! I am going to start the chant on saturday - WE WANT RIVERS- WE WANT RIVERS- WE WANT RIVERS!!!!

how could anyone want rivers to start?!? Drew is the qb of the future and the now...how much more consistent can you be with a 21-11 record over the last 2 seasons including the playoffs...when we win this weekend it will be 22 wins in 2 years. the most consistency since stan the man humphries our team is young and very capable and the trading of rivers would sure up some soft spots to make us the team to beat for years to come. to all you fans saying its the players making brees look good....last time i checked its 22 players for a starting team that work together to make everyone look good and get the w....we could be 10-6it hurts to miss the playoffs but we are a good team on the verge of greatness and some of you are whining!!!be happy it'll be a cool brees come sept 10 06

cmon Philip Rivers his gonna be good. i hope brees will be gone next year he has one of the weekest arms in the nfl. remeber verse indy that deep pass to mccardel if he through it farther that had TD written all over it

For all you Brees supporters out there, he's had more than twice as many INT's this year than last and there's still one game left. He's a second round pick in the draft. Rivers was the fourth overall! Brees had the benefit last year of a soft schedule against the weakest teams. This year when they get a tougher schedule he's turned the ball over twice as much as last year. How many games this year could have been won had Drew Blows not turned the ball over? I'm only going to focus on two. Dallas and Denver. INT in the end zone against Dallas at the end, and an INT returned for a TD on the first series on the 3rd quarter against Denver. Not to mention the close calls against scrub teams Washington and the Jets. Turned the ball over inside his own end against the skins with less than 2 min to play, thank go for the holding penaly against the skins. Another turnover in his own end in the last 2 min vs the Jets, thank god Pennington was hurt or we would have lost that game also. So, for all you Drew Blows fans, step back and let Rivers get a chance to show you he IS the better QB and THE QB of the Chargers future!!!!!!!

Whether the Chargers want to keep Rivers or not, they should start him this weekend. 1) If they want to keep him, then get him out there to give him experience 2) If they want to trade him, then get him out there to get people interested in him. Regardless, Rivers should be starting somewhere. It is rediculous to see him sit and watch so many other teams struggling at the QB postion. In my mind he has huge potential in the right offense.

Rivers should start. Brees had his chance to show himself and he blew it. Rivers wants to play not sit on the bench were payin him all this money to sit on the bench. Chargers drafted him and i want to see him play
RIVERS RIVERS RIVERS RIVERS

Chris Mortenson reported that Drew Bress will be sign to a long term contract after the season. Why mess up a great thing the Chargers have. By the way he should start and finish the Denver game this weekend with a win

Marty made the right call in having the starters, including Drew Brees, play next Sunday against Denver. It shows that they have pride that every Charger fan should share in their team. Brees is the proven starter and management simply cannot afford to put an untested Rivers into a system that is ready for a super-bowl run next year...almost every quarterback, good or bad, needs at least a full season under their belt to be good. I hate to say it but if they start Rivers every fan can kiss the playoffs goodbye in 2006!

Rivers?? Don't think so. Brees may have been a second round draft pick, so what! There are 10 other people on that field that have to be on their game. Brees is core, the sole of this team. Pull him and watch what happens. 10-6. Go Bolts.

I like Brees, but there is only one guy in SD with a weaker arm. That's Brian Giles, can we move him to First? Oh sorry this is Chargers talk. Drew is a Quality Person, Quality QB, but I want someone with that can throw the long ball. I need to see Rivers play this Saturday, even if it's only for the second half. Chargers need a gun slinger!

There have been too many rookie or young QB's this year that do not measure up. Orton at Chicago, Bollinger at NY, Sims at TB.

I agree, they should play Rivers to show case him and get good trade bait out of him. We need a secondary in the worst way!

Did you notice the play calling this week versus last week. They knew what the Colts were willing to give up and took it. The play calling makes up for the biggest part of the game. I guess they figure LT can't throw anymore TD's! Did you notice NE throwing to eligible tackles!

Here's one you guys will hate me for. LT has suffered the last 3 weeks, due to ribs or offsensive line. Do you notice that Pittsburg, Denver, Miami, Minnosota have RBBC. So did KC until Priest Homes got hurt. Mayby, they should give Turner burner some more reps, see which RB will have a hot game.

Who does one place the blame for ALL of the dropped passes this year? If you can touch it, you can catch it.

You can't coach speed and you can't coach HEIGHTH. Today's prototypical quarterback is 6'4" tall like Philip Rivers. Drew Brees is a short 6'0" and unable to see over his 6'5" linemen which causes his passes to sail high. A recent example is in the last game against KC when he threw high to LT and it was intercepted. He lacks the arm strength to make defenses respect a deep passing game allowing the secondary to sit on the short routs (anybody recall the 1st play of the 2nd half against Denver when his weak throw to the left sideline was intercepted and run back for a touchdown which drastically changed the momentum of that game)and play closer to the line of scrimmage which is one reason LT is getting stuffed and beat up too early in his career. Does anybody remember the Eagles game where they consistently put 8 men in the box and LT was stuffed? Drew Brees has been a Charger quarterback for a full FIVE YEARS and what do we have to show for it? That's right, one playoff game which was a LOSS. Philip Rivers holds the record for the most passing yards in NCAA football history! He was picked #4 overall (1st round)in the draft and Brees was only a 2nd round pick (why do you think that was the case-perhaps because of his lack of heighth). Rivers has been in the Chargers system for 2 full years and should be ready to assume the starting position by now. I would be willing to sacrifice an 8-8 season in '06 if Rivers could get us deep into the playoffs the following year and for years to come. We paid him all that money and we will NEVER KNOW what he can do unless we PLAY HIM now in favor of the diminuitive Brees. Also when you are short you have smaller hands which makes it easier for defensive linemen to strip the ball which has happenend way too many times to Brees over the years. How many times has the ball been stripped from the likes of Big Ben in Pittsburgh or from Peyton Manning? Very, very few. Yes, Brees was 12-4 last year but that was against a very weak schedule and before the other teams found out how good Gates is and learned how to defense the Chargers which is to stop LT and make Brees beat them which he is not able to do consistently enough, especially in the 4th quarter, to get us to the Super Bowl. Is Drew Brees the answer to get the Chargers to the Super Bowl? If the past 5 years is any indication, that does not appear to be the case. Against good teams Brees has twice the turnovers as against weak teams. To get to the next level, all of the teams the Chargers play will be good. Can Rivers do better? Let's find out now or we will continue to have decent seasons but no playoff victories. I vote to give Rivers a chance NOW and let the chips fall where they may as 5 years is plenty of time to find out what Brees can do which is not nearly enough! If we were to trade Rivers we would then have to face him after he knows the complete details of our system and with him wanting to beat the Chargers like no other. Another possiblility would be to frachise Brees again and keep them both and let them fight for the starting job again in preseason. If Brees wins the starting job again, then Rivers cannot be too unhappy as he would have been unable to crack the starting job but he would still be available to us if needed. You can't coach heighth!

all this talk about brees being a second round pick, that is just ignorance, did u guys forget he was the first 2ND round pick, (33rd overall!) and dont forget about ryan leaf, he was a first round pick and look where he is at! no where! and tom brady he was a 4th round pick and look at him! (just 3 super bowls) and drew brees should start and play the whole game against the broncos and they should release rivers. he is not proven, brees is!

The reason the Chargers aren't playing Rivers is too keep his trade value high. If Rivers starts the game and messes up his trade value will drop. By playing Brees they can get more for Rivers.

Given this Scenario...Houston gets the 1st Pick, David Carr isn't doing much so they need a quarter back we Trade Rivers to Houston for the #1 pick and get Bush.

Bush and Tomlinson in the backfield we would be unstoppable.

I'm just as disappointed as any of you. Forget that stinker in Kansas City. Remember all the great times, the great tackles/sacks by "Lights Out," the great runs by L.T., the awesome catches by McCardell and Gates...and there are so many more. Play Drew Brees! He's our guy. Remember why he is called "Cool Brees?" Rivers looks like a nervous kid playing a big man's game. Drew plays the game like a true professional...Thank you San Diego Chargers for an awesome season! We love you! Look for us at the game against the Broncos, we'll be there yelling just as loud!! We're the A-3 Crew....we will see you next season...GO CHARGERS !!!

I can't believe how many clueless chargers fans there actually are. Half of Brees int's are balls right off his receivers hands. He was a pro bowler last year and the first alternate this year. idiots...

Brees is the QB, playing Rivers would be a huge mistake. His trade value will not go any higher than it is right now, and he will be and should be traded. Someone said Rivers is the "prototypical QB" and that Brees has had 5 years to show what he can do. Brees has been a Charger for 5 years, but not a starter that entire time. When he did start, despite having very few tools to work with, he showed flashes of what he can do. Sure, he's not as tall and maybe he can't throw the ball as far as Rivers, but so what? Do you remember how tall and strong Ryan Leaf was? Drew knows how to lead the team and he knows how to win, provided he has the right tools around him. You could have put Payton Manning on this team a few years back and you'd probably be talking about letting him go too, because he would not have anywhere near the numbers he has had he been drafted by the Chargers. We should be in the playoffs, but we didn't finish some games. Hopefully we learn from that and we'll be back next year.

Bottom Line:
Brees is a good QB and a great game manager. At the helm when he is surrounded by an excellent team he will do what is neccesary to win. He is not a gamebreaker.
Rivers is an unknown. He was great in college no doubt about it, and i may get slayed for this but so was Leaf. On paper Rivers has the bigger upside, he has potential to be a gamebreaker.
The question is does this organization have the guts to trade/bench Brees in favor of the future or are they content to have a winning team that under achieves?

O.K. Did Brees keep Gates from playing the opener? Did Brees have anything to do with the blocked field goal that was run back for a touchdown against Phily? Who made the decision not to kick a field goal and instead punt in the Pittsburgh game; in the same game who ran the ball and did not get a first down to kill more time on the clock? Who? It was not Brees. In short my fellow Charger fans, the aforementioned are three games we had in the bag, and none were games decided by the play of our QB. Thats 12-2 heading into the Denver game. Also keep in mind that all great QB's take 3 to 4 years to develope, and last I checked Brees is 22-8 in his last two years. Compare these numbers to the great #14 in his 4th and 5th year. WE WIN AND LOSE AS A TEAM, and next year we will win as a team captained by Brees.

The past two Charger seasons have been more exciting for me than ever before and that is because of Drew Brees. When he is actually protected in the pocket and have receivers who decide to catch the ball, there is no better quarterback. I feel frustrated when I hear other fans blame our losses and inconsistency on Brees. He did not create all those penalties and fumbles. How many did Gates, LT and Caldwell drop or tip this year which were catchable balls and look who gets credited with the incomplete passes or interceptions? I am also tired of hearing about our "easy" season last year. No season is easy in the Charger's division when you have to play 6 of your games against the league's finest teams. I wonder how many games the Colts would have won if they had been given our schedule. Get passed this last year and look at the big picture. Do you want to waste the next few years watching the possible development or demise of Rivers while wasting the careers of some talented players? I say keep Brees and go to the play-offs!

Proposition:
Why don't we put both guys on the trading block and get rid of the guy with the higher value?

We need GOOD young left tackle and a shut-down DB.

Will, that's exactly my point. Leaf was awesome in college. There were many NFL insiders and GMs that said they would have taken Leaf over Manning because of his upside. You never know what's going to happen at the next level, and it depends on many factors. Rivers could be a great NFL QB, or he could be the next of many highly touted college QBs that do nothing in the NFL. Bottom line is we were very lucky in 2001 when Drew Brees fell to us with our 2nd pick. If people want to see what he can do, they should look up his last game against Michigan. Michigan had the game won and were up by at least 3 scores. Brees led Purdue back and they won. He did the same for the Chargers when given a chance. But our line had problems until last year, we were very thin at receiver, and all he could rely on was LT...until now. More weapons and a healthy o-line, Brees is a pro-bowl QB. I was hoping the Chargers would not take a QB a couple years back, but I understand why they did. Now it should be apparent that they have their QB. So you cut your losses and trade him for a pick and maybe another player. Someone said trade him for the #1 pick, but I don't see a team giving #1 overall for him. Letting him go would be good for him and the team, and I'm sure he'd tell you that having the chance to learn under Drew Brees is going to make him better.

Start Brees, and maybe play Rivers in the second half, depending on how the game goes. Since Denver is going to rest several of its players, hopefully we will be well ahead by half time. Remember, we can keep both of them and still be $20M below the cap! As for Brees not having a strong arm or being tall, neither did/was Montana... the "West Coast offense" is about short passes with YAC! In his early years with the team, Brees had a lot of INTs because he was slow in his reads and getting the ball out... but often made the right read, just too late... it takes time for the game to "slow down". As for his not being a "scrambler", neither was Fouts or Humphries. What it comes down to is the O-line! when they protect, Brees can pass very accurately. When they block, LT can't be stopped (Burner Turner either!).

Wake up Brees Bashers!

Drew is our guy, now and for the future. Yes it is a bitter pill to swallow that our Bolts won't be in the Playoffs this year. Let's all step back, take a deep breath, and look at the big picture you mentioned. Everyone knows that the Bolts had a much stiffer schedule this year. As Marty said, This team is better than last year. I totally agree. They have grown and will continue to mature. This is not to say that we don't have some issues that must be addressed. Teams cannot be allowed to throw at will. We must do what ever is needed to establish a pass defense. The lack of Int's and bad tackling are crucial concerns as well as the stupid penalties that would exasperate you. None of this is new ground. The good thing is, is that we are moving forward and the Charger braintrust have done an incredible job at bringing in a collection of great coaches and players. I look only for this to continue,as the Chargers continue a formidable team that will be a force to reckon with for a long time. Go Chargers!

I have been a fan since the “Holy Roller” Play in 1978. I am sick and tired of losing the game against Miami was a clear and present sign of bad coaching. I believe its time to change the coaching staff NOW! While we have the best running back, tight end, and one of the best young OLB’s to come into the league since Lawrence Taylor. Lets not waste all of this talent! Lets bring in Steve Mariucci as the head coach, Norv Turner as the offensive coordinator and Jimmy Johnson as a consultant and win a couple of SUPER BOWLS!

Drew Brees is a very efficient QB. Give him time and he makes the right decisions. The problem on offense is the O Line. I think the Chargers should focus on creating a dominating and consistant offensive line.

I can't believe you're comparing Brees to Montana?!?!?!?!? NO COMPARISON! In case some of you forget, the only reason we got Brees was dure to the trade down in that draft taking LT instead of Vick. It's painfully obvious this team is gunshy of a young QB. Also, Brees has no business being mentioned in the same sentance as the greatest QB to play in sunny so cal. I've loved the Chargers since I was a kid and Dan Fouts was a rookie. Let Brees go. Rivers IS the future!

Jarhead,
I think you are forgetting that Brees had a great college career at Purdue and was a Heisman finalist along with LT. He also has given us stability at QB that we haven't seen since Fouts or Humphries. Also if you remember, Fouts had some pretty rough years at first before Coryell came back to town.

guys,
what is everyone's problem about some here at least wanting to give rivers a shot? if you draft a guy this high, pay him for this long (and this much), and he has these kinds of tools (along with that kind of a college career -- which far exceeds that of DB). . .well, why on earth WOULDN'T you give him a shot? that makes no sense to me. i'm not saying drew has not been great for us. but an earlier poster who talked about the way other secondaries play against us was very true: LT is indeed suffering because of drew's lack of arm strength. it's a fact, people. i'm not saying he isn't very, very good; he is indeed. but we have a guy who could be GREAT. could be. we'll never know. why wouldn't you all want what's right for the team, in the long run? if we are patient (meaning we may experience a couple of growing pains, but it probably won't be as bad as some of you may think), rivers may be as good as anyone in the NFL. if not, we'll know quickly, and brees will still be here. but the guy needs some measure of a shot. that makes the most sense to me.

Jarhead and TweenerSongs, first, would you rather have Vick? I wouldn't. As far as "the only reason we got Brees"...it also had a lot to do with the fact that the teams picking in the lower first round didn't need a QB. Several teams were trying to trade up to get him. He fell into our laps. Also, what makes Rivers our future? Because we picked him high in the draft? My guess is that you hadn't even heard of him before the draft talk started. He may be taller, and maybe he can throw the ball further, but having the ability to lead and win is what makes a great QB. Brees has that, and that's where the comparisons to Montana come in. Of course, if your line isn't blocking and receivers are not getting open, it makes you look bad. It doesn't matter how far you can throw the ball if you have to release it within 3-5 seconds.

brad,
first off, please don't lump me in with anyone on this board, save for the guy very early on who was logical & critical in his thinking about our QB situation; i don't advocate doing anything with brees at all; i like him, i really do. i just feel that we've got this guy (who pretty much everyone on here knew about, as he was very highly ranked and passed for more yardage than any other college QB ever) who could very well be a special player. DB is NOT a special player. he's solid, but he's not hall-of-fame material, in my opinion. i could be wrong, i'll admit that. but to have a guy like PR and not even see what we have in him is just silly, to me. he hasn't shown that he's going to completely suck, has he? hasn't had a chance to show much of anything, yet, surely. but i'll tell you, he's got a lot more than just height going for him! this is a guy who broke records all over, records set by some of the best QBs in history. why not give him a shot? i know for a fact -- and this is just SoCal team luck, here -- that if we let him go (NOT released him! silliness, again) somehow, he would come back to haunt us. ryan leaf was a unique case; i lobbied hard for us to move that pick, i just didn't see it, didn't like the way ryan handled himself. this guy is different. . .he could very well be one of those special guys, like brady or manning or favre. but we'll never know, and it just seems odd to me that people want to discard him without even finding out if that's the case. he's got the tools, and i'd like to see him get a real opportunity, that's all. there will be a market for the guy, even if he played poorly (just as there'll be a market for the saints' QB now); someone would think "this guy's got the tools, we can make him into something special". let's at least value our commodities, you know? at this point, he remains a high-upside unknown. what if -- what if he is indeed the 2nd coming of peyton? it very well could be.

Yes Tweener is the voice of reason.
We need to bring in Rivers as our future. Brees is not a great QB and we all know that whatever team would get Rivers he will be special! We cannot think about the past and the Ryan Leaf incident anymore. Rivers is our man. I only hope that AJ agrees.

They are both excellent quarterbacks. Rivers has shown potential (in the limited appearances), still some nervousness to get over. I think he was the better choice over Eli Manning to begin with, and to get all those other picks in that trade was brilliant... but that is a different story. If we have the money next year, let's keep them both! The main thing that needs to be improved on is the O-line and secondary (not that I think the O-line is bad... just needs to be better). If we do trade one of them, who will be our back up QB? Feeley?? Why did they trade Cleo? I thought he was excellent during the preseason games.

Tweener, I agree with what you have to say. The only problem is that Drew has led this team to two winning seasons. And his earlier struggles had a lot to do with the team and lack of players. Let's assume he's not the next Montana and he's not even a HOF QB, he still has led this team. I agree Rivers is good and he's going to be good in the NFL, but you never know. Why pull someone who's getting the job done in favor of an unknown? There are many QBs that tore it up in college and fell flat on their face in the NFL. Rivers will probably do well, but what if he doesn't? Sure, there's the risk of trading him and watching him do well elsewhere, but that's how it goes. The same can be said of letting Brees go. I'd think twice before trading him to a division rival, but otherwise you just have to take your chances. I think AJ will look at signing Drew. If that gets done, it makes sense to let Rivers go, i.e., you don't tie up that much money in two QBs when you could bring in a top lineman, WR, or CB in place of one (in terms of salary). Should be an interesting off-season.

Brees, despite twice the picks as last year, is still solid. He may not have the strongest of arms, but he's certainly not Hanging Chad Pennington... Look at some of the guys with big arms that just couldn't lead - Kerry Collins, Jeff Blake, Jeff George, or even physically gifted but mental midget Ryan Leaf -- the ability to throw it deep is only a piece of the puzzle. A QB must be able to read defenses, make the proper decision, and be accurate. Brees excels in short and mid-range passes. Rivers has not had an opportunity to be in game situations during the heat of battle in the regular season. Ultimately, there will be a learning curve for him, along with some growing pains.

Be careful what you wish for. In today's NFL, you need two quality QBs as the back-up could be dropping the clipboard and strapping on the helmet after the very next play. The Chargers have the luxury to have both QBs, and Rivers will have his chance one day. Until then, he'll continue to prepare as if he could playing the next series -- all the while learning from the sidelines.

Of course, the key to making the offense click is the O-line. When they are doing their jobs, LT has lanes to run through and Brees has time to check down the receivers. A bunch of the picks thrown by Brees have bounced off the hands of the receivers, and way too many drives were stalled by receivers not making the play of catchable balls. Cut Brees some slack. He is more than capable of taking the Bolts to the Superbowl next year.

Drew Brees has done enough to remain as the franchise QB however he needs to refine his game, to many key pick-offs and fumbles in key situations. He has the best RB TE combo in the NFL. He needs a big time WR for next season. People keep saying his arm strength is a issue but remember in Marty's system it's all about the 15 to 35 yard completion but again Drew needs a big time WR in the mix.

How is everyone gonna feel if the Bolts played Rivers and he got hurt? God forbid a major injury?
With all due respect to him, we would not get diddly for him. Right now I can hear head coaches everywhere panting and drooling over a chance to mold this kid. Rest him and let the more seasoned Drew Brees lead HIS team to a 10-6 season. Yes, Drew Has double the picks from last year, but think about it, there are two outstanding factors contributing to that stat: 1. Tipped Balls = turnovers
2. The mental thing. Even though we heard Drew say that all of his focus was on the playing side of the football biz, we all know the franchise tag really bothers him and rightly so. All that said, he still had a decent season.
I think the Bolts would do well with a little switching around in the secondary.
Chew on this Boltheads: Quentin Jammer at a safety position. Don't laugh, it makes perfect sense. The guy gets loads of interference and illegal contact penalties.

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