SI: Time for Philip Rivers to move on from Chargers?

Sports Illustrated’s Jonathan Jones wrote an intersting piece this morning. He wrote a letter to Philip Rivers asking him to please consider waiving his no-trade clause and move on from the Chargers.

On one hand you admire the former Wolfpack legend’s loyalty to the Chargers, but that doesn’t mean Sports Illustrated doesn’t have a point. Rivers is an elite quarterback stuck on a team that simply can’t do much right lately.

Is playing for the Chargers hurting his stock? Is it hurting his standing as a potential hall of fame quarterback? These are a few questions that maybe we should start thinking about as State fans. Rivers has the potential to be NC State’s first NFL hall of famer, but losing season after losing season isn’t going to help that cause. So obviously we should be wanting him to leave San Diego, right? …Well, not so fast.

When Rivers decided to come to NC State over several other top tier schools, we applauded his confidence and drive to take an underdog and make them a contender. Now, however, are we asking him to do something different in San Diego because it benefits us (so we can brag that we have a QB in the NFL Hall of Fame)? As State fans, do we only root for the underdog and for loyalty when it’s self-serving, or are those qualities that we truly have regardless.

Just a few things to ponder as you read what SI had to say.

Here are some highlights of that letter:

“You may not know it because you love San Diego so much. You may not understand it because of your deep loyalty to the Chargers and their fans. But it’s time, Philip. It’s time for you to leave.You’re not getting any younger and your team isn’t getting any better. As bad as last season’s 4–12 record was, 2016 may be even worse.”

“You’ve given so much to this franchise, including your ACL in the 2007 AFC Championship Game. The 42,557 passing yards are the fifth-most among active quarterbacks, and the four in front of you are guaranteed to go into the Hall of Fame. And of the 13 players in front of you on the all-time list, 11 are either in the Hall or will eventually find their way there. But my concern here is for you. I’m not convinced you’re going to make it to Canton if you don’t get out of your current situation. The statistics are there, but your final years where you can really state your case are washing away into the Pacific.”

“Your loyalty to this franchise is unquestioned. You signed a four-year extension last year with the specter of a team moving to Los Angeles staring the Chargers in the face. You believed in the team and stuck around, and you’re being repaid with heartbreaking loss after heartbreaking loss.“You try to laugh to keep from crying,” you said after your team fumbled away another fourth-quarter lead. You deserve better, Philip.”

What do you think? Should Rivers stay loyal to the Chargers, or should he look for a better opportunity to play out his final years in the NFL?