Why Don't You Love Me Philip? - Rivers Retiring, Doesn't Thank LA
Chargers legend Philip Rivers is calling it quits after 17 seasons, 16 of which were spent in a Bolts uniform. I've been a Chargers fan since 2006, when rumors of them coming up the 5 freeway to LA first started gaining steam. 2006 was also the year Rivers took over for Drew Brees, so my whole NFL Fandom has included #17.
There were some good memories, a few great memories, but mostly I will remember having to defend the Philip flutterball. Like clockwork, every NFL Sunday around 4pm, right when the Sunday Scaries start kicking in, it seemed every other game was over and all eyes were on my Bolts. In a one possession game. Oh boy.
My team would inevitably mess up a time management situation, or miss a field goal - the texts would start, "Chargers, are you serious?", "How are the Chargers going to Charger away this game?"
Valid questions on most days, but I always responded the same way, "HALL OF FAMER Philip Rivers will get us through this!" Sometimes he did. Sometimes he threw a pick at that goal line, but 1 thing was always guaranteed, it was going to be one heck of a show.
Rivers was always the most passionate player on that field, yelling at teammates, opposing defenses and refs alike. He played through the AFC Championship game with a torn ACL, never missed a game for the Bolts and continued to live in San Diego after the Chargers moved to LA. The way he dropped his retirement announcement is the embodiment of Rivers, reaching out to local newspaper columnist at the San Diego Union-Tribune, Kevin Acee - loyal to those who were loyal to him.
All this led to his retirement statement (full statement below), where he thanked everyone including "the fans in San Diego and around the nation that both cheered and booed". I know he wasn't pleased with the move to LA, but he did play here for 3 years and it would have been nice to get a little shoutout for the millions of bolts fans in the city. But at the same time, I love that he kept true to who he was and how he felt.
Rivers is already tabbed to be Head Coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Alabama, all the best to him as he starts his next career! In my book, he's undoubtedly a Hall of Famer and Sundays just got a lot less interesting.
Fun Fact: Philip Rivers retires at fourth place among living current and former NFL players in CHILDREN.
1. Antonio Cromartie, 14
2. Shaun Alexander, 11
3. Willis McGahee, 10
4. Philip Rivers, 9
T5. Kurt Warner, Adrian Peterson, Chad Ochocinoco, Ryan Fitzpatrick & Cam Newton, 7
(via Darren Rovell Twitter)
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