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Smith reiterates that Rivers won't be dealt
By Kevin Acee
STAFF WRITER
January 12, 2006
The Chargers have eliminated some of the uncertainty from their quarterback conundrum.
Questions remain, but ones that can only be answered with time.
For now, as of yesterday, Philip Rivers is officially off the market, and it was revealed too that the Chargers will at least make an effort to sign Drew Brees to a long-term contract.
"There won't be any more talk about both of them being dangled," Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith said. "One is here. The other – we'll see how it goes with Drew's injury."
Smith has for months indicated he is not inclined to part with Rivers, the quarterback for whom he made a blockbuster draft-day trade in 2004. But he had not come out and said as strongly what he declared yesterday.
"Philip Rivers will be a San Diego Charger and will remain one," Smith said. "I just think it's very important he remains here, and he's under contract. He is not available for trade. He will be a Charger."
Also yesterday, Brees said he was told by the Chargers last week the team wanted "to pursue me long term."
Smith confirmed that he called Brees on Jan. 4, the day before Brees had surgery to repair the torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.
"I wanted to do that to put his mind at ease," Smith said. "I told him we're going to try to get a long-term contract and just not to worry about it. I told him, 'Have the surgery, rehab it, get healthy and come back and help us win a championship.' "
Smith said the team will initiate talks with Brees' agent early next month.
"I know that's something for the next few months that everybody is going to be working on," Brees said. "As far as what's gone on up to this point, it's really not much. I think we're in the very beginning stages here. But I know they want me here long term, and I want to be here long term."
It's not clear if any initial offer made by the Chargers would be high enough for Brees and his agent to consider seriously. If unable to reach a deal with Brees by Feb. 23, it is likely the Chargers would make Brees their transition player, a designation that is similar to being a franchise player but would not guarantee Brees' $9.7 million one-year contract until he made the opening-day roster. (The $9.7 million number is based on the 20 percent salary increase the Chargers would be required to offer Brees as a franchise or transition player.)
Tom Condon, Brees' agent, has negotiated seven of the nine NFL contracts to include at least $20 million in guaranteed money, including the six-year extension signed by LaDainian Tomlinson last summer. Condon is also Eli Manning's agent, as well as the agent for Donnie Edwards and Marty Schottenheimer.
So his history with the Chargers is intricate.
"Where it goes with Mr. Condon, I have no idea," Smith said.
Brees spoke to the San Diego media via conference call yesterday from Birmingham, Ala., where he had surgery a week ago to repair the shoulder he injured in the Dec. 31 season finale against Denver.
Brees, whose arm remains in a sling most of the day, is still hoping to begin throwing in four months.
"I'd like to say that," he said. " . . . When you come back and start throwing it's a long process to even get your arm where you have the endurance. You gradually work from throwing five yards, to 10 yards. . . . So even once I start throwing it's still two months or so until you start throwing routes and deep passes.
"We'll see how it goes. But the most important thing for me is to be ready to go by training camp (at the end of July)."
Brees plans to remain in Birmingham, where he had the surgery, to continue his rehabilitation for at least two more weeks. Coincidentally, his in-laws live in Birmingham, so that is where he and his wife are staying.
Brees attends two-hour rehab sessions twice daily. He said his work is limited to range-of-motion exercises and increasingly his flexibility.
"It's working the stiffness out of the joints, really just trying to set the tone for the rest of the rehab," Brees said. "They say the sooner you can get the range of motion and flexibility back, the better the rest of the rehab will go."
The fact that the success of the rehabilitation won't be certain until at least July, when Brees shows he has not lost arm strength and durability, muddies potential contract negotiations.
"The medical part is always an issue," Smith said. "We're working our way through that. We will consider all that."
Asked yesterday if Brees' injury was what negated the possibility of a Rivers trade, Smith said, "I wouldn't say it forced my hand, but when you have an injury to one of your quarterbacks, it factors in."
Rivers said yesterday neither he nor his agent had been told by the Chargers that he would not be traded.
"I can't get too caught up in something that is said this early (in the offseason)," Rivers said. "The only way I can approach it is to push it aside and worry about what I can control."
Rivers was the fourth pick in the 2004 draft and was acquired along with draft picks from the New York Giants in exchange for No. 1 pick Eli Manning.
While he has been the quiet soldier for two years, as Brees has had Pro Bowl-caliber seasons, Rivers has openly hoped 2006 would be the year he becomes a starter somewhere. He said he plans to "work my butt off" to compete with Brees for the Chargers' starting job.
He believes that, at least, the next several months afford him a great opportunity, as he will be in the position of starting quarterback for the offseason workouts and minicamps.
"For me it's an opportunity – not to steal a job, but to get in the huddle with the No. 1 offense," he said. "Ultimately, I am going to play in this league. . . . This is going to be good for me."
Smith reiterates that Rivers won't be dealt
By Kevin Acee
STAFF WRITER
January 12, 2006
The Chargers have eliminated some of the uncertainty from their quarterback conundrum.
Questions remain, but ones that can only be answered with time.
For now, as of yesterday, Philip Rivers is officially off the market, and it was revealed too that the Chargers will at least make an effort to sign Drew Brees to a long-term contract.
"There won't be any more talk about both of them being dangled," Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith said. "One is here. The other – we'll see how it goes with Drew's injury."
Smith has for months indicated he is not inclined to part with Rivers, the quarterback for whom he made a blockbuster draft-day trade in 2004. But he had not come out and said as strongly what he declared yesterday.
"Philip Rivers will be a San Diego Charger and will remain one," Smith said. "I just think it's very important he remains here, and he's under contract. He is not available for trade. He will be a Charger."
Also yesterday, Brees said he was told by the Chargers last week the team wanted "to pursue me long term."
Smith confirmed that he called Brees on Jan. 4, the day before Brees had surgery to repair the torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.
"I wanted to do that to put his mind at ease," Smith said. "I told him we're going to try to get a long-term contract and just not to worry about it. I told him, 'Have the surgery, rehab it, get healthy and come back and help us win a championship.' "
Smith said the team will initiate talks with Brees' agent early next month.
"I know that's something for the next few months that everybody is going to be working on," Brees said. "As far as what's gone on up to this point, it's really not much. I think we're in the very beginning stages here. But I know they want me here long term, and I want to be here long term."
It's not clear if any initial offer made by the Chargers would be high enough for Brees and his agent to consider seriously. If unable to reach a deal with Brees by Feb. 23, it is likely the Chargers would make Brees their transition player, a designation that is similar to being a franchise player but would not guarantee Brees' $9.7 million one-year contract until he made the opening-day roster. (The $9.7 million number is based on the 20 percent salary increase the Chargers would be required to offer Brees as a franchise or transition player.)
Tom Condon, Brees' agent, has negotiated seven of the nine NFL contracts to include at least $20 million in guaranteed money, including the six-year extension signed by LaDainian Tomlinson last summer. Condon is also Eli Manning's agent, as well as the agent for Donnie Edwards and Marty Schottenheimer.
So his history with the Chargers is intricate.
"Where it goes with Mr. Condon, I have no idea," Smith said.
Brees spoke to the San Diego media via conference call yesterday from Birmingham, Ala., where he had surgery a week ago to repair the shoulder he injured in the Dec. 31 season finale against Denver.
Brees, whose arm remains in a sling most of the day, is still hoping to begin throwing in four months.
"I'd like to say that," he said. " . . . When you come back and start throwing it's a long process to even get your arm where you have the endurance. You gradually work from throwing five yards, to 10 yards. . . . So even once I start throwing it's still two months or so until you start throwing routes and deep passes.
"We'll see how it goes. But the most important thing for me is to be ready to go by training camp (at the end of July)."
Brees plans to remain in Birmingham, where he had the surgery, to continue his rehabilitation for at least two more weeks. Coincidentally, his in-laws live in Birmingham, so that is where he and his wife are staying.
Brees attends two-hour rehab sessions twice daily. He said his work is limited to range-of-motion exercises and increasingly his flexibility.
"It's working the stiffness out of the joints, really just trying to set the tone for the rest of the rehab," Brees said. "They say the sooner you can get the range of motion and flexibility back, the better the rest of the rehab will go."
The fact that the success of the rehabilitation won't be certain until at least July, when Brees shows he has not lost arm strength and durability, muddies potential contract negotiations.
"The medical part is always an issue," Smith said. "We're working our way through that. We will consider all that."
Asked yesterday if Brees' injury was what negated the possibility of a Rivers trade, Smith said, "I wouldn't say it forced my hand, but when you have an injury to one of your quarterbacks, it factors in."
Rivers said yesterday neither he nor his agent had been told by the Chargers that he would not be traded.
"I can't get too caught up in something that is said this early (in the offseason)," Rivers said. "The only way I can approach it is to push it aside and worry about what I can control."
Rivers was the fourth pick in the 2004 draft and was acquired along with draft picks from the New York Giants in exchange for No. 1 pick Eli Manning.
While he has been the quiet soldier for two years, as Brees has had Pro Bowl-caliber seasons, Rivers has openly hoped 2006 would be the year he becomes a starter somewhere. He said he plans to "work my butt off" to compete with Brees for the Chargers' starting job.
He believes that, at least, the next several months afford him a great opportunity, as he will be in the position of starting quarterback for the offseason workouts and minicamps.
"For me it's an opportunity – not to steal a job, but to get in the huddle with the No. 1 offense," he said. "Ultimately, I am going to play in this league. . . . This is going to be good for me."
