Veteran quarterback Rivers to join Chargers
Philip Rivers spent more than a decade picking apart the Indianapolis Colts and irritating their fans.
On Wednesday, he’ll become their new quarterback.
The longtime Chargers star agreed to a one-year contract with Indy on Tuesday.
General manager Chris Ballard has now filled two major offseason needs in two days – adding an eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback to the roster less than 24 hours after acquiring Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in a trade with San Francisco.
What the Colts are getting with the 38-year-old Rivers is a 16-year veteran, coming off a season in which he had his fewest touchdown passes, 23, since 2007 and his most interceptions, 20, since 2016. It was one reason the Chargers decided not to bring back the franchise’s career passing leader.
In Indy, Rivers will be reunited with coach Frank Reich and offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni. Reich was the Chargers quarterbacks coach in 2013 and the offensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015. Sirianni spent five seasons in San Diego, two as quarterbacks coach. In other developments:
❚ The Carolina Panthers are moving on from quarterback Cam Newton.
The team announced they have given the 2015 league MVP permission to seek a trade – although Newton responded by saying he never requested one.
The Panthers appear to have their sights on Teddy Bridgewater as a replacement for Newton. The team is in negotiations with the free agent quarterback from the New Orleans Saints.
❚ The Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to terms with free agent linebacker Joe Schobert, a former Wisconsin standout.
Schobert spent the past four years in Cleveland, where he led the team in tackles twice and made a Pro Bowl.
A person familiar with the transaction said Schobert will sign a five-year contract worth $53.75 million and includes $22.5 million guaranteed.
❚ The New Orleans Saints and record-setting quarterback Drew Brees have agreed on a two-year, $50 million contract.
Brees has said repeatedly that he is taking career decisions one year at a time. His new contract gives the 41year-old, 19-year veteran the leverage to decide after this season whether he wants to continue playing.
Brees missed five games with a throwing hand injury that required surgery but was still productive last season while leading New Orleans to a third straight playoff appearance. Brees’ 74.3% completion rate ranked second in NFL history behind only his 2018 record of 74.4%.
❚ Veteran tight end Jason Witten has agreed to a one-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Witten turns 38 in May and will team up with the coach he once replaced in the “Monday Night Football” announcing booth. Witten retired from the NFL following the 2017 season to take a job as an analyst for ESPN after Jon Gruden left the broadcast booth to return to the Raiders.