Quarterback Philip Rivers and the Chargers agreed to a new six-year extension worth slightly more than $92 million. Rivers will receive roughly $50 million over the first three years.
“I certainly couldn’t have asked that it could have gone any better than it did,” said Rivers, who signed the largest contract in club history shortly before Monday’s 4 p.m. practice. “I can’t say enough how excited I am and how thankful I am that it’s done, and (that) I’ll be here for a long time.”
Both sides expressed during talks the need to get the deal done before the regular season. There was the potential that Rivers could make a lot more money if he and/or the Chargers had a big season, but there was also the potential he could get hurt. And Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith had expressed his willingness to place the franchise tag on Rivers next offseason if no deal was reached.
There was a debate about whether or not the Giants overpaid for Eli Manning’s extension a couple weeks ago. Ironically, Manning got $34.5 million guaranteed and will make $48.5 million over the first three years, compared to Rivers’ $38.25 million guaranteed and $50 million over the first three years.
Manning has a Super Bowl ring, while Rivers does not. Yet there seems to be less outrage over Rivers’ deal than there was over Manning’s. Interesting.
Either way, the Bolts did what they had to do. They have a franchise quarterback in Rivers and they had to pony up after Manning signed his extension. When teams have a quarterback that has already proven he can win divisions and lead the franchise to the postseason, you have to do everything in your power to retain him.
