There have been conflicting reports on whether or not Philip Rivers and the Chargers have a set deadline to reach an extension this year, with one report suggesting the two sides would move on if there’s no agreement in place by this Thursday, while another indicated there’s no timetable set in stone. Either way, the two sides may end up waiting to complete a deal.
According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter), it “appears virtually certain” that the Chargers and Rivers won’t agree to terms on a new contract before the season gets underway. Acee adds that there’s “at least one sticking point” in the negotiations, though it’s not clear what that sticking point is — years, annual salary, and guaranteed money are among the most obvious candidates, though the two sides may disagree on more specific contract language.
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 season. Rivers, who is due a $15.8MM base salary in 2015, is entering the final year of his contract.
If Rivers and the Chargers don’t come to an agreement within the next few weeks, and decide to shelve talks until after the season, the team would still have a few months to negotiate with its quarterback, and would also have the franchise tag at its disposal, if it came to that.
It’s hard to imagine him playing for anyone else, especially since the AFC West is winnable this year and even more up for grabs when Peyton retires. Regardless of whether or not the deal gets done before the 2015 season or where the Chargers wind up playing their homes games, he’s not going anywhere.