Rivers Talk May Not Be Silly
April 22nd, 2015
Don’t completely dismiss any chatter of Philip Rivers to Tampa Bay.
So lets gets this out of the way immediately. No, Joe doesn’t think you will see quarterback Philip Rivers wearing a Tampa Bay Buccaneers jersey in 2015, nor should you.
But it’s not as crazy as it may seem.
From what Joe has been able to gather, this subject has gained steamed due to the elbow grease of Rivers’ agent. It simply doesn’t add up for the Bucs, or the Titans. If you believe rumors that Rivers will be sent packing, Nashville is a likely destination because it is near Rivers’ home in northern Alabama.
Rivers is 33. He will turn 34 in December. Reasonably, Rivers has three years of quality life left as an NFL quarterback, perhaps five at most. If you were Rivers, wouldn’t you want a shot at a Super Bowl before your playing days are done? Does anyone really believe the Bucs or Titans are just a quarterback away from being a serious Super Bowl contender?
The Bucs do have the weapons Rivers would covet, but an offensive line that would scare a vampire into running for the afternoon sun while holding a crucifix. Not a good combo for an immobile quarterback like Rivers.
But here is what gives Joe pause into thinking this Rivers chatter may not be completely outrageous. Bucs coach Lovie Smith is a man who shoved all his poker chips last year into the middle of the table for a neverbeen like turnover-prone Josh McCown last year.
If Lovie was willing to risk his career on the back of McCown, don’t you think Lovie would listen long and hard to a sales pitch from San Diego if Rivers was part of a swap?
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:09 am
so we’re gonna do another darelle revis type trade with the first pick in the draft and set san diego up for the next 10 years? sadly I wouldn’t be surprised. he’s 33 and saying he has 5 years of football left is a bigger risk than saying we’d make the playoffs with mike glennon
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:20 am
Fine just as long as we keep that first pick, or they send us 3 or 4 1st picks.
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:21 am
I know one is not supposed to post links….but in Jameis’s own words addressing the “crab leg caper”….on SBNation……SAD and depressing to hear him construct a plausable lie !!!! …even sadder Buc fans here enabeling Jameis….
the guy is a train wreck waiting to happen….
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:32 am
So now, the guy who hypes Winston, the QB with O-lineman speed, suggests that Rivers is too immobile to be the Buc’s quarterback?
Have all of the Winston supporters (I’m especially looking at you Buc1987) abandoned even the pretense reason and accountability?
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:32 am
With the way contracts are setup there is no real incentive to trade for aging players anymore. We can get a potential franchise QB @1 whose entire 5 year contract will only cost about 5 mil more than 1 year for Rivers.
I like Rivers, but this whole idea seems really dumb to me.
@bucs4lyfe – You pretty much nailed it with the Revis trade comparison, this has the same sort of smell to it. I didn’t like that trade a bit and it came back to bite us in the ass.
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:34 am
Give them our…….
1st overall & Doug Martin
For
Philip Rivers
Antonio Gates
+
Chargers 17th & 48th picks in 2015 & their 1st in 2016
Check the availability of offensive line prospects that have been rumored to released or traded
Examples:
• Evan Mathis
• Kraig Urbik
• Alex Boone
Draft a Offensive Line Prospects
WHATEVER U DO BRING IN LINEMAN EARLYYYY—
So that the unit can Jell & build some käntəˈn(y)o͞oədē…
It would be real hard to stop this line Up
Example:
Philip Rivers
• Mike Evans
• Dorial Green-Beckham ( 3rd Corner Can’t Match Up with this Dude)
• Vincent Jackson
Antonio Gates
If not Gates, there’s always Adrian Peterson Lol
GoBucs!!!
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:36 am
Draft a FEW Offensive Line Prospects
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:41 am
Sure lets take Revis, Mankins, Big MRSA Toe, and Rivers. Sure Florida is the place to retire. Why not send our 1st round pick,….we’ve done it before. Lets just keep setting this team back.
We need to build thru the draft, and stop trading our picks away for all these vets. Please draft hurry,…before we do something stupid.
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:45 am
Joe…The only thing that scares me about this scenario is that they have a pile of money they are sitting on for some reason….
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:45 am
Screw that crap. Anything short of every SD draft pick for this draft AND the next or no deal. Everything’s for sale but something you don’t want to part with isn’t gonna come cheap. There should be no sense of “fairness” to any trading of the #1 pick…it should be overwhelmingly lopsided in our favor or no deal.
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:45 am
I love this deal! We give them a fourth rounder next year for Rivers…wait, they won’t like that???? Well…. Then, no thank you. Jameis has 10-12 years left. The Glazers can do the math. This has nothing to do with Lovie, Licht, or their job security.
The Glazers say Winston, and it’s Winston.
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:46 am
Lineman Prospects
Examples:
Projections
LG/LT (Swing Tackle Options) ←Value Picks
• Ereck Flowers 1st
• D.J Humphries 2nd
• Donovan Smith 6’5″ 335 Penn St. (Top 3rd)
• Jamon Brown 6’6″ 326 Louisville (Bottom 4th)
Center
• B.J. Finney 6’4″ 303 Kansas St. (Top 4th)
• Shaq Mason 6’1″ 300 Georgia Tech (4th )
• Max Garcia 6’4″ 307 Florida
• Dillion Day 6th
Right Guard
• Tre’ Jackson 6’4″ 330 Florida St.(Mid 2nd )
• Laken Tomlinson 6’3″ 330 Duke (Mid 2nd )
• John Miller 6’2″ 312 Louisville (3rd)
Right Tackles
• Rob Havenstein 6’8″ 333 Wisconsin (top 3rd )
• Rob Crisp
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:49 am
Also just because there are rumors that Rivers wants out of SD, has NOTHING to do with Tampa and it’s #1 pick.
Let us know when there are rumors that Tampa is considering it or is even in the mix. Until then the whole damn thing is bunk. Just something to talk about for now, to bide our time.
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:51 am
me no like it. he’s old and would get killed. time to stop signing players who are thinking more about whats next in their career than getting better.
heck, i’d take JW before i’d do this deal.
trade back or take JW
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:52 am
Trade for the Proven Commodity
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:52 am
Hey Joe…hopefully you can explain to me @ Pete & Shortys why my comments need to be pre screened…..I have NEVER posted anything inappropriate,malicious,distastefull on JBF….perhaps you can enlighten me otherwise with examples from your archives
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:54 am
@ fungi
the new policy here is no negativity towards JW.
only pro JW poster need apply 🙂
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:55 am
Such a trade would still come down to Rivers wanting to be here, and I just don’t see why he would. The Bucs are not just a QB away from a SB. This is the silly season. Wasn’t it just a couple of weeks ago that the Saints were trading Bress to the Bucs for Jameis?
8 more days until we can celebrate the Bucs having their first ever FRANCHISE QB!!!
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:58 am
The Bucs have money, but it has been reported that resigning Lavonte is a top job after the draft.
A team full of old farts is a team with injury problems.
I dismiss this Phillip Rivers trade deal. We are in silly season, 8 days left. I still think the Bucs will take Jameis and go OL with the 2nd pick.
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:59 am
Sure Rivers wouldn’t best athlete in the NFC South, if we’re fortune enough to acquire such a quarterback.
But If we did……
We would have the 2nd best QB in the Division –W/ an axe to grind with Drew Brees
#aw-tuh-mat-ik
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:00 am
The team is 2-3 years away from making any waves. Whether it be Jameis, Marcus or Phillip at the helm. Hell it’s going to take at the very least 2 years to put together a decent o-line that plays in sync.
Rivers would be a waste anyways, just like Revis.
I’m done talking about it until I actually see someone for SD is shopping him to Tampa Bay. Until then, what’s the point?
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:01 am
Don’t listen 2 me though, Listen to a proven NFL Champions Tedy Bruschi
ESPN First Take – Philip Rivers out, Marcus Mariota in for Chargers – Good or Bad Move ?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5V_dhY5oyQ
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:02 am
I cant wait for this draft to be over so Joe can quit trying to me an aneurysm in the mornings.
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:03 am
We need a proven QB at the Helm
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:04 am
JoeJoes Fungi Nails…sometimes certain words get screened. For example the word Brady was screened for almost a year and it triggered “comments awaiting moderation”. I don’t know why but it does. You have to comb through your post and try to find the word.
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:06 am
LUV has San Diego or Rivers mentioned Tampa Bay as a possible landing spot yet? Nope.
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:06 am
Re-Unite Rivers w/ Vincent Jackson + Mike Evans
Good Lawd Bruh
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:08 am
@Buc1987
Don’t matter the — BUZZ is building…lol
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:08 am
Rivers for Glennon strait up.
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:10 am
Rivers has three good years left behind a good offensive line…..behind a lousy offensive line, he might be one and done.
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:11 am
Bucs need to build through the draft. Only way to become a long time contender in the NFL. Rivers would only be duct tape for the next few years.
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:12 am
LUV….yawn.
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:12 am
Keep Glennon
Philip Rivers would be the perfect Mentor for Mikey
Remember Both were Coached Up By Dana Bible
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:13 am
It would take Rivers and a minimum of MULTIPLE first rounders to make me ok with this.
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:15 am
@87
Lol,
No worries-I’ve been doing the same thing w/ your undying LUV for Winston Lately
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:15 am
The media and NFL has you all doing exactly what they want you to do.
Talking about unrealistic and farfetch scenarios.
This is no different than Jaws and his lies. You DONT TRADE AWAY THE FIRST PICK!!!
People always talk about what it’s like to have a Megatron well you wouldn’t know if you trade away the pick.
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:16 am
They love Jameis. They’re not going to trade away their one chance at a 10+ year stretch of winning.
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:17 am
Buc1987 Says
“Also just because there are rumors that Rivers wants out of SD, has NOTHING to do with Tampa and it’s #1 pick. “
I agree. Tampa has done too much research into both Winston and Mariota to not take one of them. The only chance I see of them taking a trade is for 2 fist rounders THIS YEAR and one next year, with some 2nd rounders thrown in.
That sort of deal could never happen, but if it ever did, they would be fools to pass it by.
But let’s be honest…Jason Lost could NEVER pull off a deal like that. Heck, with him working the deal, we’d end up with 10 years of 7th round picks.
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:18 am
@Tom Edrington
Miss U on the BleacherReport my brotha (LUV’d your post)
But Philip’s been playing behind a terrible offensive line the last few years. Yet he’s still been productive-Dudes a Beast
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:19 am
@Meh
Yep at least 2
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:21 am
Rivers would have no success, as the Bucs are 2-3 years from being any good. While it is possible to fill the holes on the offensive line if they went crazy over OL draft picks this year, it would take 2-3 years at best for most of those players to develop into true starters.
And the rest of the team will have suffered for it.
Sorry, LUVMYBUCS, but this would be a bad deal. The Chargers just cannot offer enough.
But I also don’t believe Rivers would agree to come to Tampa.
And, btw, anyone know how long his current contract lasts and its numbers?
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:23 am
I want rivers over Jameis but I doubt it happens. I would think we would get rivers and their pick at 17 plus one more pick. I think they want Mariota so they would just pay less to move to #2.
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:26 am
When is the last time phillip rivers won anything?? Don’t worry I’ll wait. Add the fact he’s 34 and coming off injury. He has never been peyton manning so the whole world needs to stop with this crap
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:28 am
@joe
Moderation??
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:29 am
@BuccaneerBonzai
Great Deal for Both teams-
SD gets Mariota + Kids stays close to Home.+ Southern California’s–amazing Polynesian community.
SD also can free Up some cap space-Since they’re moving to a new arena.
We Get Surefire Hall of Fame Quarterback for at least the next 4 to 7yrs.
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:29 am
Ha Bonzai and I agree…the stars must have aligned or it’s going to be a full moon out tonight..
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:31 am
SD gets Mariota + the Kid stays close to home
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:32 am
Thinking it over, there is a small chance doing it could benefit the Bucs. Rivers would be a wash for us, unless it’s to groom a future pick.
But the added picks could help us.
The Buccaneers are, as I mentioned above, 2-3 years from being a complete, developed team. Adding more picks right now would shorten it somewhat. It wouldn’t be enough to help Rivers though, and we would probably not have a number one pick unless we acquired it in trade, because Rivers would make enough difference to keep us in the middle of the first round.
If enough first and second rounders were offered, then it may be worth it, because Winston (or whoever) won’t be good for a few years anyway.
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:33 am
@BuccaneerBonzai
So If SD give Up Philip+17th, 48th this year+ the 1st next year you wouldn’t do the deal?
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:37 am
It really depends on the Glazers long term commitment to Lovie.
If the fuse is shorter than we’ve been led to believe then Rivers makes sense… there’s not enough time to develop any rookie QB.
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:38 am
If we pulled off a trade for phillip rivers it would probably be the angriest I have ever been at the Bucs.
Im a true fan so ill never stop being fan, but damn I’ll hold that grudge with me to the grave
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:39 am
Am I the only one that realizes Rivers hasn’t won anything to speak of in the NFL?? And you’ll want him at age 34 coming off injury?? He’s not Peyton guys. Here we go with these buc fans that excepts and overpays for anyone who “had” a name in the nfl lol
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:41 am
Rivers is less of a risk than a rookie QB. Jameis Winston was a great college QB, but he’s never thrown a pass in the NFL! Philip Rivers has! He’s been a top tier QB for the last 7-8 years. He’s durable. He’s strong armed. He’s reliable. So he’s 32…he’s got 5-6 years left. a rookie QB will take 2-3 years to get up to speed and get comfortable with a new system. Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans are a dangerous pair of WRs now! GMC and LVD are in their primes now! If we could upgrade the O-line and add a pass rusher we could challenge for the division title this year….why wait? It seems like the cycle in the NFL is that teams go thru 5 year cycles where they build the team up, try to make the playoffs, and then rebuild with younger, cheaper players. We could start our 5 year cycle right now! IF Rivers were to come to Tampa (and the line issues get addressed) we are instantly as good as ANY team in the NFC South…this year!
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:45 am
That’s a great pic of Rivers. He looks like a ventriloquist dummy. lol
April 22nd, 2015 at 8:52 am
Yep I’m sold Bring in Rivers!!!
April 22nd, 2015 at 9:04 am
We are not drafting Jameis in hopes he will be as good as Rivers. We are drafting him in hopes he will be MUCH better than Rivers. Rivers is an above average QB that is not always the difference maker for his team. He’s won 4 playoff games in 11 seasons. I have no clue what Jameis’ upside is but if L&L don’t think it’s higher than Rivers then maybe we do have issues..
April 22nd, 2015 at 9:09 am
Bonzai how would a team give TWO first rounders this year? Only one team has two first rounders this year.
April 22nd, 2015 at 9:13 am
“JoeJoes Fungi Nails Says:
April 22nd, 2015 at 7:21 am
I know one is not supposed to post links….but in Jameis’s own words addressing the “crab leg caper”….on SBNation……SAD and depressing to hear him construct a plausable lie !!!! ”
Just for one minute, put aside the feelings that you already towards him. Just consider if that explanation is the truth.
Doesn’t that make a lot more sense to you? I’m not saying it’s ok. What I’m saying is the hookup happens in all college football hotbeds. The bagman also exists in the same places. No program is immune to it.
That seems far more logical than a nationally known Heisman Trophy winner shoplifting all on his own. Think about it, if needs food, he can get it from all sorts of people.
But, I realize that you will not even allow for this to be a possibility.
April 22nd, 2015 at 9:24 am
rivers would take one look at the bucs 0-line and say I am going to los angles instead. rivers is non mobile a pure pocket passer. he does have a dan marino extremely fast release. but he would have to keep throwing it out of bounds to avoid the knock downs and sacks.
April 22nd, 2015 at 9:27 am
Look at it this way….Lovie Smith’s predacessor was fired after 2 disappointing seasons. Lovie went 2-14 last year. Do you think he is honestly worried about who the Bucs QB will be 10-12 years from now? Rivers (a pro-bowl QB with a career passer rating of 95!) gives the Bucs a chance to win the division NOW and for the next 5-6 years! A rookie QB probably goes 4-12 or 6-10 this year and maybe 8-8 next year. You think Lovie still sees himself as HC after 3 seasons with a 16-32 record? Lovie NEEDS TO WIN NOW! And Philip Rivers (and an upgraded O-line) instantly make this team as good as any team in the NFC South! So which way will Lovie go….groom a young QB for the next head coach? Or bring in a pro bowl vet who can win now? I know what I’d do in his shoes!
April 22nd, 2015 at 9:37 am
Philip will shred the defenses we face this year.
Its not like we have a difficult for one of the best QB’s in NFL.
Dude has only placed in ONE losing season
April 22nd, 2015 at 9:48 am
If the offensive line weren’t horrible, this would absolutely be worth doing. Rivers will be a top 10 QB for 3-5 more years and neither of the 2 QBs in question are guaranteed anything. But the offensive line is horrible and we’d be wasting Rivers just like we would most QBs. The line is simply too atrocious, it’s why if they draft a QB there’s no way he should start right away. Let’s make sure the line isn’t a debacle before throwing any QB to the wolves.
April 22nd, 2015 at 9:52 am
Joes writes:
The Bucs do have the weapons Rivers would covet, but an offensive line that would scare a vampire into running for the afternoon sun while holding a crucifix.
Not a good combo for an immobile quarterback like Rivers.
AND Winston is a mobile QB .. HE can run fast enough to get out of the way of an electric wheelchair in a Walmart.
FUNNY…..
Rivers is proven but he can only give you 3 years.. Really 3 years of a GOOD QB is a lot more than we have had for a LONG time…
Proven NFL QB or the college QB with questions
Man you love of this kids is endless…
87 and Joe the Winston Fan Club…Like the Capt on the Titanic will go down with the Ship
April 22nd, 2015 at 9:54 am
Rivers is two years away from being a Josh McCown. Call me up in dreamland. He will never be a Buc in this lifetime.
April 22nd, 2015 at 10:06 am
Buccfan37 Says:
April 22nd, 2015 at 9:54 am
Rivers is two years away from being a Josh McCown. Call me up in dreamland. He will never be a Buc in this lifetime.
_______________________________________________________________
Lol…for real? On Josh McCowns greatest day ever, he was half the player Rivers was. McCown literally had 5 great games in his career and has miraculously turned it into like $15 million guaranteed. Ridiculous to even mention McCown with Rivers unless the question is “Name 2 NFL QBs”
April 22nd, 2015 at 10:06 am
Of course this will not happen. @Jeagan, there are two guys who are worried about the franchise for the next 10 – 12 years. Their last name is Glazer and they have veto power. They are not going to put another short term, band aid QB in here so that they can be back in thin same situation of looking for a QB 3 years from now.
April 22nd, 2015 at 10:09 am
I definitely would like Rivers in Tampa as a proven commodity over the uncertainty of Mariota or Winston. While yes Rivers is old, I do believe he has 3-4 good years left which should be good years over waiting for/hoping for/praying for a rookie QB to mature.
I don’t think it should be a straight up 1st overall pick for Rivers though. The Bucs should get back at least San Diego’s other 1st round pick and additional early round picks.
April 22nd, 2015 at 10:14 am
Its not like we have a difficult schedule, for one of the best QB’s in NFL History
Per: NFL.com
Strength of schedule
The correlation between strength of schedule and teams making the playoffs has been extreme in the last five seasons. Teams with a Top 5 toughest strength of schedule in that span have made the playoffs 24.1 percent of the time.
Teams with a Top 5 easiest strength of schedule have more than doubled that percentage, making the playoffs 50.0 percent of the time. In 2015, that’s good news for the Falcons, Colts, Texans, Buccaneers and Saints — who have the league’s easiest schedules
April 22nd, 2015 at 10:21 am
Rookie QB or 3 years to develop a QB… Also the next QB class looks better than this one..
Who fairs better in the NFL rookie QBs or ones that have time to develop…
Easy answer…
Proven over Rookie… Develop behind a prove QB or on your own…
10 year QB or is that Winston so I guess you have 25 million on him in Vegas to be the Hall of Famer.. Right not your money just a fan that can yell and scream …..
Be smart BUCS get a proven once in your history…
With another 1st and a 2nd and a few more
April 22nd, 2015 at 10:23 am
Bucfan4life….the Glazers want to sell jerseys, put fans in the stands, and make money! They do this when the team WINS! How many years have the Bucs been on the outside looking in now? The league moves in cycles…4-5 year windows where teams build up and tear down. The Glazers only care about one thing in 10-12 years….how much the team will be worth. Not who the QB is…let alone a QB who will be hated by a large % of the population because they think he is a thug and a rapist (I’m not saying I believe that, but there are many who do). Rivers is a known commodity. A pro-bowl calibre QB! He gives us that 4-5 year window. He gives us a chance to compete in a weak division! He gives us a chance to return to the playoffs the soonest. That’s what the Glazers want. That’s what I and a lot of other fans want….to be relevant again. To not have a season be over before Thanksgiving!
April 22nd, 2015 at 10:36 am
Glazer time to Fire Up the Jet for #PhilipRiverSnHis7chillren
April 22nd, 2015 at 10:37 am
Yet another great photo of the player for this article. Joe, you have a knack for making normal guys look like complete dorks.
April 22nd, 2015 at 10:39 am
Gon’ take the kids to Magic Kingdom brotha-On Us
April 22nd, 2015 at 10:41 am
Rivers isn’t going to sign an extension if he’s traded to a bad team. If he’s not a Charger, he’ll be a Cardinal.
April 22nd, 2015 at 10:47 am
The TB bucanneers have traded the first overall pick to the Chicago bear for qb jay cutler. – Rodger goodell 4/30/15
April 22nd, 2015 at 12:45 pm
Hell. No.
Rivers is at the end of his career. He is also TURNOVER MACHINE.
And acts like a total baby when things don’t go his way. How many times have you seen DL and LBs mocking Rivers when he starts crying after a bad play?
I appreciate he plays with passion, but I do not want him here in Tampa.
I’d much rather roll the dice on a draft pick being our franchise QB for the next 7 – 10 years than on a guy who is about to be 34 and maybe has 2-3 years left.
April 22nd, 2015 at 1:17 pm
Rivers? Do it! Do it now!
April 22nd, 2015 at 1:18 pm
My biggest fear is that I drive the 2 hours to Raymond James Stadium for the draft party and find out that we traded out of that pick…
April 22nd, 2015 at 1:34 pm
@ Unbelievable – I am right there with you buddy. Can someone explain to me what, exactly P. Rivers has won again? He’s had weapons and they still haven’t sniffed the SB. So, we’re going to trade our #1 pick and potential 10-12 year starter for a guy who has the same amount of SB wins/appearances but with only 4 seasons left in him. If this was any team but the Bucs I would scoff at even the suggestion.
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:07 pm
Actually the better question is how many int did he have last year. I know that was an important topic of conversation last couple of weeks.
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:53 pm
Someone above said Rivers for Glennon straight up (too lazy to scroll back up). Most damn sensible thing I’ve read all day. No need to mess with the first or any other pick. They’ll be losing him and want something for him. Doesn’t mean our #1 goddamn pick