Philip Rivers has shown undying loyalty to the Chargers, and what does he have to show for it? Unfortunately for Rivers, he has been one of those really deserving players who chose to keep his fate tied to a team who many believed had the talent, but they just have not been able to take things all the way. In his twelfth season as a starter for the Chargers, Rivers is currently experiencing his worst start at 0-4.
Rivers has been an invaluable player to the entire Chargers franchise. While the Chargers have had spurts of glory, as of late, they have been a huge disappointment. With two back to back horrible seasons combined with their unfavorable relocation, the Chargers have struggled just to maintain a fan base. Of their remaining supporters, it is not a far reach to conclude that Rivers is like a magnet that continues to attract many of them.
The pure tenacity that Rivers has shown over the years has been inspiring. He has been out on the field for every game and acted as the beacon of hope for his team even when so many people wrote them off and believed they could not turn things around. He has garnered many notable accomplishments, awards, and honors, but we all know that winning a Super Bowl is the ultimate goal of an NFL athlete. Sadly, it is a goal that rests on the overall efforts of a team.
When considering his stats as an individual, he has had a spectacular career. Rivers has definitely proven himself to be Hall of Fame material. There is no doubt that if a quarterback of his caliber had been with a team like the Steelers or Giants, he would have earned one or multiple Super Bowl rings. So, yes, Rivers wasted his career with the Chargers.
The sad reality is that Rivers will most likely play out the end of his career in a half-empty soccer stadium. That alone is enough to feel bad for him, but in addition, he has found himself playing where fans do not want him and where home games are roaring with the cheer of the opponent’s fans. Essentially, the Los Angles Chargers will go through the season as if they are playing all road games. Having no homefield advantage makes for an extremely stressful season, and with this start, their chance at making the playoffs rests on a hope and a prayer.
With the way the Chargers have been playing for the past couple years, it would be understandable if Rivers decided to throw in the towel early. Considering that he was reluctant to follow the team to Los Angeles, and then they get here and have the worst start that he has experienced, no one would blame Rivers if he just took his millions and left. Of course, it would be early to Rivers in terms of his contract which has two years remaining, but to many others, he would be leaving far too late in his career. It seems as though staying with the Chargers for so long was a waste of his time and potential.
Even without winning a Super Bowl, Rivers has undeniably earned himself a spot among the best statistical quarterbacks in history. Despite dedicating all of his time, energy, and effort to the Chargers, it seems rather unlikely that the Chargers will be able to help Rivers acquire the Super Bowl ring he deserves. Loyalty is honorable, but it just may have cost him an NFL player’s ultimate dream.
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