NFL teams
Eric D. Williams, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Philip Rivers says he didn't ask or expect to be traded by Chargers

NFL, San Diego Chargers

SAN DIEGO -- In his first public comments since speculation about a potential trade to the Tennessee Titans began two months ago, San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers addressed his status with the organization.

"I think deep down in my gut I didn't think I would be gone," Rivers told San Diego-area radio station The Mighty 1090 AM. "But you just never know. I don't think you ever know. There was certainly enough smoke out there to linger a little bit to make you see if there was a fire. But I never felt like, 'Oh my gosh, this is happening.'"

Rivers went on to say that he had plenty of conversations with Chargers brass over the past month, who all assured the 33-year-old quarterback that he would not be traded.

"I took them for their word, which was what it was -- nothing was going on," Rivers said. "But at the same time, are you really going to tell a player a month out, 'Hey, we're trying to trade you.' You know what I mean? So what I'm saying is you never really know, although I'm certainly a guy who wants to believe the truth in every way, and that's what it was."

There had been plenty of speculation about the possibility of the Chargers trading Rivers to the Titans for the No. 2 overall pick, which would allow the franchise to select Oregon product Marcus Mariota.

Rivers, who is in the final year of his contract, had indicated an unwillingness to engage in contract-extension talks, stating he will play out the deal.

Rivers reportedly has heartburn over the possibility of playing in Los Angeles next season if the franchise relocates.

The Chargers held a private workout to evaluate Mariota in Eugene, Oregon, earlier in April. But the Titans stood pat and selected Mariota on Thursday at No. 2.

Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said at the NFL owners meetings in March that trading Rivers was not on the team's radar. Chargers head coach Mike McCoy echoed those comments, stating that Rivers would play for the Chargers in 2015.

Telesco reiterated to reporters last week during a pre-draft news conference that trading Rivers was not in San Diego's plans.

According to ESPN NFL Insider Chris Mortensen, Rivers' agent, Jimmy Sexton, briefly met with the Chargers this week, again stating that his client was not interested in engaging in contract talks. During that conversation the Chargers informed Sexton that they were not trading Rivers.

"We've talked plenty about Philip Rivers," McCoy said on Thursday. "We've stated it from the day the season was over that he's our franchise quarterback. And we plan on him being here for a long time. We've answered that question way too many times this offseason."

Rivers was asked if there's been any change in his stance that he wants to play out the rest of his contract and not sign an extension until after the completion of the 2015 season.

"There's a lot of moving parts in this thing," he said. "So really all I can say regarding an extension is I'm willing to listen. And I say that with the intention that I'm willing to play the year out. ... That's what I signed up for. So that's really where it is. Which one of those happens, who knows.

"Not to be redundant and be boring, I'm fired up to be the quarterback this year. And if it's longer than that, could be. If it's not, then it's not. But that's really where it is right now."

Rivers was ultimately asked if he wanted to be traded.

"No," he said. "And really my lack of comment in the last few weeks has been more of I didn't feel it my position to comment. Those types of decisions and conversations behind closed doors are really not for me to share or to say what's going to happen, or should happen. That was really never my decision."

Rivers expressed excitement about San Diego drafting running back Melvin Gordon in the first round.

"I'm fired up," Rivers said. "I was fired up last night when we made the pick. Melvin Gordon was the topic of a lot of Saturday night conversations in snack and in the QB room, just on highlights alone with some of the unbelievable games he had last year.

"Now, hopefully he has some of those same highlights in a Chargers uniform."

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