During last night’s episode of NBC SportsTalk, Peter King predicted that, after the season ends, we’ll learn that Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers played for most if not all of the season with a previously concealed injury. Adam Schefter of ESPN echoed that sentiment this morning, pointing out that people around the league believe Rivers is playing hurt.
But Rivers has denied it, and the team hasn’t supplied any injury information on its various reports.
Of course, the hiding of injuries by NFL teams isn’t uncommon. Earlier this year, Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie claimed that the Chargers failed to disclose that he had a fractured hip in 2008.
The league rarely nails a team for hiding injuries, absent glaring evidence that forces the NFL’s hand. For example, when then-Vikings quarterback Brett Favre talked consistently about his undisclosed late-season arm injury during his only year with the Jets, the league office eventually had no choice but to hand out fines.
So, basically, if Rivers and the Chargers are hiding an injury, it’s highly unlikely that anything will be done unless Rivers intentionally or accidentally confesses.
Repeatedly.