Will San Diego Chargers deal Philip Rivers
The concept of getting traded by the sounded ridiculous when it first came up this offseason. It doesn't sound so crazy anymore. in the Union-Tribune San Diego marked a turning point in the story. The prime NFL writer in Rivers' home city -- a close confidante of Rivers -- believes it's time for the to trade the franchise quarterback. This does not get written in a vacuum or haphazardly. The potential move to Los Angeles hovers over the entire organization, especially Rivers' future.Trading a doesn't happen often, but there are plenty of reasons to believe we're well past basele s speculation. Rivers' contract stanceDon't forget that Rivers (and Acee) into the public Jerome Robinson Jersey a month ago. The five-time er said that "nothing" would get him to sign a new contract before the start of the 2015 season. You do not have to read between the lines with Rivers' comments. "What I can control and all I know as of today, I am signed up for one more year," Rivers told Acee in March. "I gue s things could change, but with all the uncertainty in many aspects, I don't see it changing before camp gets here, and when camp gets here I'm even more certain to play it out." Rivers made it clear that moving to Los Angeles would be an i sue. "What we've established here with my growing family is hard to recreate. The good thing is I'm not under contract in a year where we'd potentially be in Los Angeles." There is only one year left on Rivers' contract, but the team knows that they have the franchise tag as a tool to potentially retain their quarterback in 2016, no matter where they play. Acee -- and by extension Rivers -- hints at the two sides reaching an impa se if the team leaves San Diego. "Can we say for sure that Rivers won't play in L.A.? Not any more than we can say it won't snow in Carson or Inglewood next Christmas," Acee writes. "So, yeah, take from that what you will." That Kawhi Leonard Jersey reads like a threat. To be more charitable: It reads like a negotiating stance. Acee writes that the "know" Rivers' position on the matter. If the team moves to L.A., there's a good chance Rivers will be in Nashville. "Whether that means playing for the or coaching high school football (while living near his in-laws and 90 minutes from his childhood home) depends on what other moves the make between now and then," Acee writes. Now that reads like a threat. Mariota interest unclearSan Diego's evaluation of Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota is the X-factor in this story. The Mariota Tuesday, and there has been speculation about the team's interest over the last month. This being draft season, no one truly knows how much Patrick Beverley Jersey the like Mariota. Trading Rivers after two strong seasons is wildly risky. Trading Rivers without getting a "franchise quarterback" in return sounds like career suicide for San Diego general manager Tom Telesco. The have won 19 games over the last two seasons, including a playoff game. This is not a roster that is in need of a major overhaul; they are ready to contend now. They don't need this trade.Could the get great value for Rivers? Absolutely. But trading Rivers makes them worse. They know that they e sentially retain Rivers' rights for the next two seasons, including the franchise tag year, so a deal only makes sense if San Diego loves Mariota and/or Jameis Winston. That's one part of this equation that no one truly knows but the . And even the can't be sure what quarterback will be available at the No. 2 pick. If Mariota was taken first by Tampa, would the want to trade Rivers for Winston? We know that a move to Nashville makes sense for Rivers. We discu sed how it could make sense for the . But what about Tenne see? Will Titans be bold?Ken Whisenhunt coached in San Diego. He is coming off a miserable first season in Tenne see and needs to wake up a dormant fan base. Bringing Rivers into the fold would give the team an identity and a chance to turn around their program quickly. The , but that just sounds like more pre-draft smoke. The Paul George Jersey can talk all they want about him being "a poor man's " but you don't pa s up a chance to get the actual . It just defies logic.The would need this move far more than the . That makes the question of compensation very tricky. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported last month that the have made it clear they don't want to trade Rivers, but they also refused to rule it out. A trade of an established top 10 quarterback for a top draft pick is e sentially unprecedented. So how do the proceed? Chargers' optionsTelesco holds the cards here. He's also in the strongest position. He has a great quarterback and a quality roster. He doesn't have to do anything. Here's how we see his options: 1. Do nothing: This is the route we'd choose. The may or may not move to Los Angeles in 2016. Making a franchise-altering trade in anticipation of Rivers' reaction to that potential move feels like a panicked decision. The know what they have with Rivers. They can try to win a with him now, and trade him next offseason if he's threatening to retire then. The market for Rivers is not going to go away. Would it hurt the if Rivers retired rather than play under the franchise tag? Of course. It would hurt everyone involved, including Rivers. There is risk involved in calling Rivers' bluff, but it's a smaller risk than the following options.2. Trade him Tobias Harris Jersey for Mariota (or Winston): This depends entirely on the ' evaluation of the rookie quarterbacks. If they truly believe Mariota will be a great starter for years to come, the timing of a trade makes sense. It's still a wildly risky, career-defining move. Compensation is tricky. The No. 2 pick comes with an affordable contract, but the shouldn't have to give up much more than Rivers. 3. Trade him for draft picks: The would , but we just don't see it as realistic. Quarterbacks are just too valuable to trade one away without getting one in return. Rapoport reported that it would take "multiple" first-round picks to acquire Rivers, but the No. 2 overall pick is not your average first-round pick. This is not your average trade speculation. These are the type of trades that get talked about for decades. Rivers . The latest Podcast and plays "What's More Likely?" Find more content on .