Rivers eager to prove critics wrong after joining Colts
All Philip Rivers really wanted was a chance to play one more NFL season.
So when the Indianapolis Colts gave him a shot, the eight-time Pro Bowler took it.
Rivers officially ended his 16year tenure with the Chargers on Saturday by signing the $25 million deal he agreed to earlier this week.
“I still love to play, I know I can play at a high level,” the 38-yearold quarterback said on a conference call, acknowledging he was ready to walk away from football if he received no offers.
“It was one of those things where we said if there’s nothing out there, then that’s our answer. But if there’s an opportunity with a team ... it ended up being with this organization and that made it that much more exciting,” he said.
Rivers feels he has plenty to offer even after one of his worst seasons.
He threw 23 touchdown passes, his lowest total since 2007, and 20
interceptions, matching the second-highest total of his career. While some blamed the troubles on a poor offensive line or Rivers trying to do too much to rally the Chargers late in games, others contended his skills were rapidly deteriorating.
Now, with a fresh start, a strong running game and one of the league’s top offensive lines, Rivers insists he will prove the critics wrong this season.
“I feel great and if I feel like I do next year then I’ll be excited to keep on going, depending on how the team feels about it,” Rivers said. “I do want to coach my oldest son (in high school). I have two sons, they’re 12 and eight, so we’ve got a little time. I don’t think you’ll see me in the Tom Brady range, but I feel good and I feel like I can help a team win a championship.” DRAKE STAYING WITH CARDINALS ON ONE-YEAR DEAL » Running back Kenyan Drake’s agency says he will sign his one-year, $8.5 million tender to stay with the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cardinals placed the transition tag on Drake earlier this week, which meant the player could negotiate a deal elsewhere but Arizona had the right to match the
Philip Rivers passes against the Broncos during the second half on Dec. 1 in Denver. Rivers officially ended his 16-year tenure with the Chargers on Saturday by signing a $25 million deal with the Colts.
offer. Drake’s agency, SportsTrust Advisors, announced that he would sign.
The 26-year-old Drake came to the Cardinals in a mid-season trade from the Miami Dolphins. He was productive in eight games, running for 643 yards and eight touchdowns, including a four-touchdown game against the Cleveland Browns in Week 15. He also caught 28 passes for 171 yards.
Hockey
MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SWITZERLAND CANCELED » Health concerns and travel bans closing international borders stemming from the new coronavirus pandemic left the International Ice Hockey
Federation with no choice but to cancel the men’s world hockey championships.
The decision to cancel the 16-team tournament to be held in Switzerland in May essentially wipes out the IIHF’s entire spring calendar of world championship of events.
The governing body previously canceled the women’s world hockey championships set to be held in Canada and the men’s Under-18 championship to be played in Michigan next month.
College basketball
DUKE SOPHOMORE POINT GUARD JONES DECLARES FOR DRAFT » Duke sophomore Tre Jones says he will enter
the NBA draft.
The point guard was named to the third team of The Associated Press AllAmerica team on Friday after being named Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year by the league and runner-up for the same award from the AP.
Jones averaged 16.2 points and 6.4 assists for the Blue Devils, the highlight being his buzzer-beating shot off his own intentionally missed free throw to force overtime in a wild comeback win at North Carolina on Feb. 8.
Soccer
MEXICAN LEAGUE PRESIDENT SAYS HE HAS CORONAVIRUS » The president of Mexico’s Liga MX soccer league announced Friday he has tested positive for coronavirus.
League President Enrique Bonilla said in a statement that “I don’t have serious symptoms.” He says he’ll remain in isolation and keep up with the situation of Mexican first-division soccer.
Mexican first-division soccer matches were suspended this week until further notice to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mexican soccer learned Tuesday the head of Atlético de San Luis team, Alberto Marrero, also had coronavirus.