On Wednesday, Chargers G.M. Tom Telesco said the it’s the team’s “plan and intent” to keep quarterback Philip Rivers. On Thursday, Rivers essentially said it’s his plan and intent to stay.
Thanks to the magic that is Twitter, Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report shared a message from Cameron Curran of The Classical Academies, who says that in a visit to the school Rivers told the assembled crowd “he’s playing in San Diego and not to believe the media.”
In this case, “the media” includes former Rivers teammate LaDainian Tomlinson, who has said that he believes Rivers wants out of San Diego. “The media” also includes U-T San Diego, to which Rivers said last month that he’s not inclined: (1) to extend his contract before it expires after the season; or (2) to move his family to Los Angeles.
It’s entirely possible that the chatter about a potential trade arises from posturing regarding the quarterback’s next contract. But with Telesco not clearly and unequivocally dismissing the possibility of a trade and declaring that Rivers will remain with the Chargers for the rest of his career and acting as if even the mere question of a possible departure is an affront to Telesco’s intelligence, the door remains open for Rivers to walk out of town.