Colts hoping for lucrative payoff from betting big on Rivers
By Michael Marot
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) » Frank Reich jumped right into research mode when he knew Philip Rivers would hit free agency.
The Indianapolis Colts coach studied tapes of Rivers’ throws from an uncharacteristically poor 2019 season to compare with those he made earlier in his career. Reich saw no difference.
When offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni and tight ends coach Jason Michael concurred with Reich’s opinion, general manager Chris Ballard went all in on a 38-year-old quarterback the Colts believe can make them a title contender.
“I really think he’s the same player he was five years ago physically and he’s taken good care of his body,” Reich said recently. “I think he’s at a stage in his career where this is the right thing, this is a great move for him. He’s a great fit for us.”
There’s plenty to like about Rivers.
He has a reputation as the consummate pro and as a family man, active in the community. He understands the offense and the philosophy of Indy’s offensive brain trust after spending three seasons in San Diego working with Reich, Sirianni and Michael.
He even has a resume to back up his trash talk.
The eight-time Pro Bowler needs 60 completions, 2,091 yards and 24 TD passes to move past Dan Marino for No. 5 all-time in each category. Rivers needs 729 yards and three TD passes to become the sixth player in league history to throw for 60,000 yards and 400 TDs.
He shattered Chargers career passing marks, previously held by Dan Fouts, while throwing 44 fewer interceptions than the Pro Football Hall of Famer. Rivers has even outlasted Eli Manning, the guy he was swapped for during the 2004 draft in a move that defined the Chargers and Giants franchises for more than a decade.
But the Colts didn’t make this move because of Rivers’ past. They made it for the future.
“This guy is a fighter and he’s never going to quit. That’s what makes him special,” Sirianni said. “I get excited about our running attack combined with how good Philip is in the playaction game.” Still, there are questions. Rivers readily acknowledges his 17th NFL season could be his last. He’s already accepted a post-career head coaching job at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama. And the Colts invested $25 million for one season on a guy critics contend is rapidly declining.
Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian doesn’t see it the same way.
The architect of Indy’s most successful decade believes the Colts followed the formula he implemented when bringing the then 34-year-old Reich to Carolina for its inaugural 1995 season, and again in 2011 when he signed the then 39-year-old Kerry Collins to replace the injured Peyton Manning.
“What you’re looking for is a quarterback who can play at a reasonably high level, and when a quarterback reaches a certain age, it starts to get a little worrisome,” Polian said. “Philip has played well, has been pretty healthy throughout his career. The final piece of it is familiarity with a player. You don’t want to start over with someone you don’t know. That’s risky. They know him, he knows them, it’s the perfect marriage.”