CHARGERS: Rising Rivers: Quarterback expects more consistency in 2008

By MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Thursday, September 4, 2008 12:28 AM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- Philip Rivers likes to talk ---- always has and always will.

But that well-running mouth of his was causing the Chargers quarterback a lot of grief late last season. Television cameras caught Rivers yelling at Denver quarterback Jay Cutler during a nationally televised game in December, and the lenses again were on him as he mixed it up with some Indianapolis Colts fans during a January playoff game.

As quickly as his lips flapped, Rivers developed a national reputation as a trash talker and a quarterback who lacked maturity. His propensity for yapping was the subject of criticism as the Chargers prepared to play the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.

Then Rivers played valiantly in the title game with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Suddenly, perceptions of him spun 180 degrees at a rate that even Tony Hawk could appreciate.

"Honestly, I was a little bit pleasantly surprised by the reaction from the outside world," Rivers said earlier this week. "It's funny how quickly it spun.

"But what I've learned in sports is that you have to keep going. It's not like you earn a title or get a spot and just stay there. You have to keep going back out and playing every game. It's a game-to-game deal.

"One week ---- not just me, but anybody ---- you can be riding high and the next week it's, 'That guy can't play.' You try not to get too caught up in the positives and the negatives, and you go at it again."

Rivers fervently rehabilitated his injured knee in the offseason and enters his third season as a starting quarterback firmly established as a team leader.

On Wednesday, Rivers was voted one of the Chargers' offensive team captains, further proof that respect from teammates has reached its highest level.

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson has seen the progression during Rivers' five seasons with the club.

"He's just become more of a leader in all areas of his game, where it used to be where he would lead on the field and, at the time, didn't say too much to guys," Tomlinson said. "Now you see him lead in the classroom, and obviously, out here on the field, telling guys what to do, leading off the field, setting an example for guys the way it should be and the way you approach getting prepared for a game."

Rivers allows that playing hurt in the AFC title game helped boost his stock ---- "That isn't why I played in the game at all," he said, "but certainly, you do gain a little bit by doing it" ---- and said he's more concerned with improving as a quarterback.

He had a bumpy start last season, committing 17 turnovers (12 interceptions, five fumbles) in the first 10 games before playing efficient football down the stretch. He had just three interceptions and one lost fumble during the final six games of the regular season.

Rivers views last year's struggles as a blessing in disguise. The team went 14-2 in his first season as a starter in 2006, when the coaching staff did its best to minimize pressure on him.

"That was good for me to go through that," Rivers said of last year's tough stretch. "I had a false sense of what the position entails, going 14-2 and really every mistake I made was swept under the rug because of my first year starting and we were winning.

"Last year, I got a taste of it, making some poor plays and some poor decisions, and it cost us and the team was struggling. Continuing to lead and help us fight through that adversity, I think it made me tougher and a better player."

Chargers coach Norv Turner said the nature of the position is that people remember quarterbacks' mistakes more than the good stretches. For example, few people recall that Rivers tied a club record by completing 15 consecutive passes against Green Bay last September, but nearly everybody remembers the ill-advised interception he threw with under two minutes to play that helped the Packers seal the victory.

"Consistency and eliminating negative plays," said Turner, citing where Rivers needs to make strides. "You can go and play great for 3 1/2 quarters and have a negative play that affects your team greatly in the wrong way, and that's usually the play that people remember."

Rivers and the Chargers open the season Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, and Carolina coach John Fox is a huge admirer of Rivers.

"I have the utmost respect for Philip," Fox said Wednesday during a conference call. "He's a bright young player, and it's no surprise to me that he's had the success he's had.

"He's a good team quarterback. He's not going to kill you and he's not going to make the dumb play. He's definitely talented enough to make the good ones, and that's what you ask for out of your quarterback."

Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com

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