As much as the Chargers feel they are done with Rivers, the Patriots seem to feel the same way about Brady. Belichick was reluctant to let go of Jimmy Garoppollo a few years ago because, like always, he was a few moves ahead and could probably see TB’s imminent decline better than most. With the Patriot’s divisional round exit this season, many speculate the greatest dynasty in the history of sports is coming to an end, and I sure hope they’re right but I’m really not so sure. However, a potential signing of Brady to the Chargers makes a whole lot of sense. The Chargers are severely inept at filling seats in LA. Tom Brady would fix that problem overnight. Although he is old and not what he used to be, Brady should be a viable QB option for at least a few more years. That being said, he’ll be asking for a lot of money after taking a severe pay cut playing with the Patriots his entire career. I would think a two year deal worth somewhere around $60M is the best the Chargers can hope for, but it will likely require more money than that to pull Brady in.
Thank You, Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers has spent the last 16 years playing in the NFL, all of which with the Chargers. His career with the Chargers is the result of Eli Manning obnoxiously refusing to play with the team after the 2004 draft. The Chargers swapped their draft pick with the Giant’s draft pick and ended up with Rivers, who went on to throw for 59,271 passing yards, 6th all-time, and right above number 7, Eli Manning. He’s been the face of the Chargers for well over a decade but now the sun is, unfortunately, setting on the Philip Rivers era. Last season he threw the second most interceptions in the NFL, just behind Jameis Winston, in what was a sudden decline from his stellar 2018 season. The Chargers have expressed that it’s time they move on from Philip Rivers, and he recently moved himself and his 9 kids and wife to Florida. It’s unclear what Rivers career will look like from this point forward, however if he would like to continue to play there’s certainly options available to him. Potential landing spots include: Panthers, Raiders, Colts, Bucs, and some have even speculated the Patriots (although I’m doubtful.)
Some Context
I’m going to dedicate this blog entirely to writing about the Los Angeles Chargers. If you’re not a Chargers fan, this post will provide some background information about the organization, and if you are a Chargers fan, I’m sorry.
Formerly the San Diego Chargers since 1961, the team relocated to Los Angeles ahead of the 2017 season. The Chargers have teetered around mediocrity all the while, with an overall record of 452-453-11 and have never won a Super Bowl. Probably the most important thing to know about the Chargers is they are always playing in close games. And, most seasons, they lose those close games. This last season, 9 of 11 of the Chargers losses were by a touchdown or less, a historically bad ratio. Never in the history of the NFL has a team lost that many close games in a single season.
Billionaire owner, Dean Spanos, moved the organization to Los Angeles after a dispute with the city regarding funds for a new stadium. Instead of paying the difference between funds already provided and the $1B goal for the stadium, Spanos opted to pay the pricier $550M relocation fee to move the organization to Los Angeles, and in theory immediately increase its value by billions just from being located in a more lucrative market. Spanos probably knew they would have trouble finding fans in Los Angeles, especially if they kept losing games, but I think he would do things differently if he knew just how little demand for the Chargers there was in LA. During the 2018 season, the Chargers were perhaps the most talented roster in all of football and without a doubt the most balanced team. Due to stud safety Derwin James and DE’s Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa, the Chargers had a top ranked defense to complement their top ranked offense, bolstered by renewed energy from Veteran QB Philip Rivers. They went 12-4 during the regular season and lost to the Patriots in the divisional round. Despite the best outcome in years for the Chargers, they had the lowest attendance of all 32 teams in the NFL, 32,768/game. In comparison, the number one spot on the attendance list belongs to the Dallas Cowboys with an average attendance of 91,620. They went 10-6 that year.
The Conundrum of the Los Angeles Chargers 