Basically San Diego plans to scrap this guy after the season, either tag and trade or just let him walk. However, imagine this scenario, brees wins the super bowl, throws 20 playoff TDs and is named Super Bowl MVP. If you are AJ Smith what do you do? If you let him go they burn you in effigy in SD, if you keep him you have to pay him, and he will want as much as Rivers, which would equate to two 40 million dollar QB's. I heard someone say trade Philip rivers, but i bet you would not get what you gave for him, and the cap hit would be huge. Brees can play the chargers right into a corner, with no escape for the chargers
It is true that the Chargers would not get their complete investment back out of Rivers. However, if you consider that the Chargers made all these moves in order to get a franchise QB, and you assume that Brees becomes that franchise guy now, the result is the same. So as long as you can get something for Rivers -- what you thought you would get for Brees before the season -- you come out the same. The catch is the salary cap implications. Due to the signing bonus, I would imagine it may be cheaper to keep Rivers as a backup for a couple years for insurance rather than trade him. We're a ways from annoiting Brees yet though.
Poor San Diego having that option. I have heard that 'howdy doody' Shanhan is growing disenchanted w/ Plummer (like he did w/ Griese & even Bubby Brister) who has option @ season's end. Might the loser of the PR/DB battle end up in the Mile high city?
I think Brees will go to Miami or Green Bay after the season's over. I think San Diego will be greedy, though, and put the franchise tag on Brees so they can trade him and squeeze him for all he's worth. On second thought, that's probably the smart thing to do. Letting him walk away for nothing really accomplishes nothing.
I dont see Brees going to GB unless Favre is gone, he wont play second fiddle again....I also think teams will be lining up to give a 1st round pick for Phil Rivers, which is all they spent on him....the number 1 reason Rivers is super attractive to anyone that trades for him? besides his tremendous talent, his cap number throughout the whole contract will be greatly reduced because the Chargers will absorb the whole signing bonus on next years cap(which they have rom to do, so its not a long term encumberance for them either, its one year of cap charge)....if you think he could be your guy and a lot of teams will, of course you would step up in that situatuion and make the deal....heres a scenario for you, Brees leads the Chargers to the Super Bowl but loses, they decide to sign him long term, the Chargers call the 49ers and offer them the Giants #1 and Rivers for the #1 overall, the 49ers jump on that in a hurry(any team in the top 5 would work, Dolphins included)....then the Chargers turn that around and trade the #1 pick to some team thats desperate for Matt Leinart(Raiders come to mind) and pick up a high #1 this year, another #1 next year and additional later round picks, plus they have their #1 which would be 31st or 32nd....the future is bright in SD, very bright....
BOLTS TRYING TO TRADE RIVERS? In response to the story from earlier this morning regarding our position that the Chargers should seriously consider trading 2004 first-round quarterback Philip Rivers, one of our regular sources has informed us that, indeed, they are. We've also confirmed that, if the Chargers trade Rivers before his option bonus comes due in 2005, his new team would pay the full option bonus, and the Chargers would suffer no additional cap consequences. The only concern we'd have in moving Rivers is that Drew Brees' performance this year might be fueled in large part by his unique circumstances. With virtually no pressure on his shoulders heading to the 2004 season and his departure from San Diego a done deal at the time, Brees was able to relax and play football. It remains to be seen whether he'd be so loose -- and effective -- after receiving an eight-figure bonus and a long-term commitment from the Chargers. Thought you guys might find this interesting...
So the option would vest with the new team, but the signing bonus has to accelarate onto the Chargers cap, thats unaviodable....
but do you think a team will want to take up that signing bonus, other teams that would be interested might not want to pay the money. its a high pressure situation for SD because imagine they trade Rivers and he becomes great they didnt even give him a chance. they pay brees a lot of money witha long contract and he folds under the pressure and played like he did last year. Its a risk but i guess everything is in the NFL
The great thing about the situation for the buyer is that the whole signing bonus has been paid already and will accelerate onto the Chargers cap so the new team will be getting a hell of a deal in that respect....
