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Rivers Front Page Feature in USA Today Sports

Published by StateFans on 01/18/2008 in Alums and Football. Tags: Philip Rivers.

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Rivers playing, talking a good game in Chargers’ playoff run

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34 Responses to “Rivers Front Page Feature in USA Today Sports”

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1 Elrod
Jan 18th, 2008 at 10:48 am

Good read. The only ones that really matter, his team mates, understand and appreciate. And Philip understands, too.
2 Trip
Jan 18th, 2008 at 11:07 am

While I don’t think that they can best the machine that the Patriots are, Rivers will determine the final outcome. As we saw with his time at State, he can play exceptionally well and take the team to a win if he wants to.

I think the trash talking has been overblown, he’s a passionate athlete who loves his game, of course he’s gonna trash talk. Who DOESN’T trash talk, if you love your team, you’re going to talk trash to people who like other teams as a fan.

Good luck Phillip.
3 CarnifeX
Jan 18th, 2008 at 11:19 am

I can see some Amato coming out in that boy. That was one thing that he did very well, had players believing in themselves and their team; he was a confidence builder.
4 highonlowe
Jan 18th, 2008 at 11:42 am

Talking smack should be a non-issue in professional sports, especially when you can, and do, back it up with your performance on the field.
5 Par Shooter
Jan 18th, 2008 at 11:54 am

I remember there being snippets of his liking to woof it up while he played here. It wasn’t harped on but every once in a while an opponent would mention how much he talked on the field. It seems like one of our bowl opponents (Minnesota perhaps?) made some comments about how they’d never heard anyone talk as much on the field or seen anyone as cocky as Rivers. Of course, he backed it up and I never saw it as an issue at all. I don’t recall him ever being penalized for it during 4 years here.
6 wufpaxno1
Jan 18th, 2008 at 12:01 pm

Phillip tells the opposition that he is going to stick it to them, and then he does it! What’s the problem? It would only be a problem if he did not deliver. The media is constantly looking for an angle, they have often brought up the idea that there is friction between Phillip and LT. Based upon LT’s comment in the piece, I don’t see any friction at all, just confidence.

Let’s Go Bolts!
7 66pack
Jan 18th, 2008 at 12:22 pm

if rivers and mouth were from unc or duke the comments here would take 180 degree turn.
8 Lunatic Fringe
Jan 18th, 2008 at 12:33 pm

It is a nice article and glad those types of articles are out there. Although, the only reason this is even an issue is due to the fact that there are only 4 teams left and a whole week’s worth of airtime & news articles to fill up leading into the games.

It is the time of the year when news gets blown out of proportion since there is nothing else to discuss such as Romo going to Mexico, weather in Green Bay, accusations against Moss, TO crying after a game, and etc…

So for those keeping track at home the topics in last two weeks have been:
1 Football player talking smack (nothing new)
2 Dallas QB dating Hollywood star (nothing new)
3 It’s cold in Green Bay (isn’t it always)
4 Moss possibly in trouble (nothing new)
5 TO looking for attention (isn’t he always)

Who really gives a ….?
9 tooyoungtoremember
Jan 18th, 2008 at 1:02 pm

Since the AFC playoff game is in Foxboro and the weather is supposed to be pretty bad, I think San Diego’s fate will be ultimately determined by LT and their offensive line. I think if PR has a good game, it will be as a game manager and not as the guy who has bailed them out on 3rd and long like we’ve seen the last several weeks. Likewise, but to a lesser extent with the Pats.
10 highstick
Jan 18th, 2008 at 1:03 pm

This has been nothing more than just pure ESPN/media hype as far as I’m concerned. They must have hit a “low” in material to write and talk about to even bring this up.
11 packgrad2000
Jan 18th, 2008 at 1:08 pm

I think the problem is his talking to the fans. Now I don’t think he means anything by it, and you could kind of hear him talking to the Indy fans as he went to the locker room when he got injured, and he was just having fun with them (he wasn’t at all angry). But at the end of the game he was turning around and sure looked like he was talking smack to the Indy fans (when the Chargers had sealed the win). I don’t really like that and wish he would stop. I don’t think anyone really has a problem with the trash talking on the field, it’s just with the fans that looks a little immature.
And the whole Champ Bailey incident earlier happened when Philip wasn’t really playing his best (although they put the smack on Denver) so it was a below average QB (at the time) talking smack. Lately he’s been backing it up though, but I do wish he wouldn’t talk to the opposing fans. I definitely hope he doesn’t say anything to the nutty Boston fans this weekend. I hope he sticks it to Tom Brady though and their geriatric defense!
12 Wulfpack
Jan 18th, 2008 at 1:32 pm

“This has been nothing more than just pure ESPN/media hype as far as I’m concerned.”

How many other starting quarterbacks do you see yapping away at the other team’s quarterback (Jay Cutler) when he isn’t even on the field? He’s been called out on it by a few players and his head coach. You just don’t see this from quarterbacks.

I in no way shape or form condone his actions. Just another athlete with a giant ego. However, I think it fuels his fire. Hope he can back it up this week or else he’ll look like even more an idiot.
13 RAWFS
Jan 18th, 2008 at 1:44 pm

you could kind of hear him talking to the Indy fans as he went to the locker room when he got injured, and he was just having fun with them (he wasn’t at all angry)

I read on one of San Diego’s fan sites that he was talking to CHARGERS fans that were seated in the end zone last weekend.
14 waxhaw
Jan 18th, 2008 at 1:49 pm

Personally, the trash talking isn’t a big deal. When Brett Favre does it, he’s passionate.

However, it can be a big deal when the media gets a hold of something. They will make a story of it and when you are a high profile quarterback, things aren’t always fair. Rivers needs to tone it down for a while until this becomes a non issue.
15 BJD95
Jan 18th, 2008 at 1:59 pm

I remember someone in the media asking Adrian Wilson (IIRC) about trash talking, and specifically asking who was the worst trash-talker in the ACC. He said, without hesitation - “Philip Rivers.”

As State fans, we tend to have a “black helicopter” view of the world, especially regarding the media. But this is one example where the local media didn’t play something up to NC State’s detriment.

“Kissing Suzy Kolber” is a great NFL blog (hilarious), but they are really laying into PR. Yes, I think it’s overblown - but I can laugh along with it and not take it personally. I imagine Philip feels the same way.
16 StateFoxer
Jan 18th, 2008 at 2:04 pm

If Rivers can beat the Patriots AND talk trash while doing it, I think his legend is solidified. Can you imagine how pissed off Boston would be if they lose their perfect season to a trash talking good ol’ boy! I’m excited just thinking about it.
17 Pack92
Jan 18th, 2008 at 2:36 pm

Rivers himself said Cutler jumped in AFTER PR said something to his own defense and PR did not back down. Rivers has also said repeatedly he may talk smack but he does not use profanity.

If I have a QB who can play to the level of Rivers (all of the Chargers were off early in the year), who talks junk but keeps it clean and does not back down, I sure as heck do not intend to tell him to take his foot off the gas. If he were being penalized and hurting the team it’s a different story. Who gives a rat’s rear what any of the talking heads at ESPN think. To them, PR was a wasted draft choice like Mario and both have come back to bite them. John Elway was HIGHLY criticized by Terry Bradshaw when he came into the league but he looks pretty stupid for doing it now.
18 CarnifeX
Jan 18th, 2008 at 2:51 pm

that KSK entry, Asshat Pats fans vs. Rivers is absolutely hilarious. A couple of the uptight people around here could use some humor and acceptance that it is, after all, just a game and entertainment.
19 Sam92
Jan 18th, 2008 at 3:33 pm

66pack you’re right

players jawing at one another is part of the game now — but talking to fans is unseemly, i wish PR weren’t doing it
20 highstick
Jan 18th, 2008 at 3:39 pm

I think everyone must have forgotten Jim McMahon when he was with the Bears!!
21 ncsslim
Jan 18th, 2008 at 5:54 pm

I wish Phil would leave the fans alone as well, but the article, even one that is mostly positive, grossly misses the point with the “hothead” comment. Philip doesn’t talk because he’s lost his temper; it’s just his demeanor, which again, I wish would leave out verbal jousts with the type of fan who would talk to a player. However, he’s not doing it because some emotional loss of control, just bad judgement, in my opinion. There is a difference.
22 Mr O
Jan 18th, 2008 at 6:11 pm

Agree with whoever said that if he was not an NC State player, then we would think Rivers is a jerk on the field. He has no business talking crap to fans.
23 MrPlywood
Jan 18th, 2008 at 6:11 pm

On the 1/17 edition of Colin Cowherd’s Thundering Herd podcast (get it via iTunes), ESPN’s Eric Allen gives a nice perspective on Rivers, probably the most “pro-Philip” opinion that I’ve heard. He does sort of hedge about yapping with the fans, but otherwise he’s in River’s corner. He also points out that after seeing the team films of the Denver game, he spotted Jay Cutler grabbing his junk during the now infamous exchange that River’s has been so criticized for. So Cutler’s big innocent act becomes just that, an acting job. And Champ can just shut up.
24 atlas
Jan 18th, 2008 at 6:45 pm

Roddick is talking smack back to fans in Melbourne right now. I expect this will hit the front page tomorrow…
25 ncsslim
Jan 18th, 2008 at 7:03 pm

Roddick lost….; an omen?
26 wolfonthehill
Jan 18th, 2008 at 7:09 pm

^ Ummm - since PR’s been getting criticized for yapping, the Chargers are undefeated. So I think not…
27 redfred2
Jan 18th, 2008 at 8:02 pm

Did somebody say Terry Bradshaw? He wasn’t shy either even before he arrived in the NFL. But his was more bragging and I’ve never heard anything like out of PR’s mouth. Either way, Bradshaw wasn’t well received and he was also criticized early on, just like Rivers.
28 HungryLikeTheWolf
Jan 18th, 2008 at 10:07 pm

One of the most famous UNC athletes in the world (with the initials MJ) was notorious for trash talking. He said it was all part of the game. And they didn’t write articles about it and I never heard a State fan gripe about it, either. As long as it doesn’t get nasty, it’s all just part of the fun. Getting into your opponents’ heads.
29 wolfpack n da house
Jan 19th, 2008 at 11:37 am

I hear Rasheed Wallace has a mouth. Any criticisms there
30 redfred2
Jan 19th, 2008 at 6:05 pm

Not sheed, he wouldn’t do that.
31 Roger
Jan 19th, 2008 at 11:03 pm

Go Philip! Beat those hated Pats!
32 gumbydammit
Jan 20th, 2008 at 9:51 pm

So some fat drunk slob witha ticket can talk all the vulgar crap he wants, but people criticise Rivers for giving a little back without profanity? Exactly how DO all of you getup on those really high horses, anyway?
33 Packaholic1
Jan 21st, 2008 at 8:35 am

The SEC-centric wing of the media strongly dislikes Rivers, the 1999 Alabama high school player of the year and the 2004 Alabama amateur athlete of the year, for turning down both Alabama and Auburn, going to the hated ACC and being very successful. There were numerous sports yakkers on the Atlanta sports radio stations who predicted that Rivers would never play in the nfl, and now they look foolish so they are trying to find any little chink in the armor to attack.
34 highstick
Jan 21st, 2008 at 7:49 pm

Just read this and makes you appreciate his performance last night even more.

Rivers played the entirety of the Chargers’ 21-12 loss to the New England Patriots with a right knee with no ACL. He revealed Monday he had arthroscopic surgery last Monday to clean out loose cartilage and enable him to play.

“If I don’t do that Monday, I had no chance of playing,” Rivers said. The San Diego Union-Tribune first reported Friday that Rivers had injured his ACL, but the extent of the injury was not known until today.

“The ACL is gone,” Rivers said.

Until Sunday night, Rivers and the team said his injury was just a sprained MCL.