One way or another, we’re about to get some clarity on Philip Rivers‘ contract situation. If the quarterback and the Chargers have not agreed to an extension by August 13th, the team’s first preseason game, then they aren’t expected to this year, sources tell Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego.
Despite the deadline, Gehlken writes that talks between the two sides are considered amicable and is thought to be a general understanding that talks will be revisited in 2016 if no deal is completed soon. Recently, it was reported that Rivers is hopeful that a new deal can get hammered out.
Rivers, 33, is coming off a 2014 season in which he threw for 4,286 yards, 31 touchdowns, and a league-high 18 interceptions. The five-time Pro Bowler led San Diego to a 9-7 record, narrowly missing the postseason, despite the fact that the team was missing several key players due to injuries, and Rivers himself was banged up for much of the year. Rivers is due a $15.8MM base salary in 2015 and his contract expires next March.
Based on what we’ve seen over the last few weeks with Russell Wilson and the franchise-tag guys, setting an actual deadline seems to be the key to getting these deals done, so no surprise that Rivers and the Chargers decided to follow suit. I’d be pretty surprised if they didn’t work something out this month.