To be honest, I never thought the San Diego Chargers should have drafted a QB before the 2004 NFL Draft. I do wonder if the Chargers' organization would now agree with me. Nevertheless they drafted QB Eli Manning and traded him for the fourth pick in the draft, NC State QB Phillip Rivers.

The reemergence of starting QB Drew Brees and the rise of TE Antonio Gates have left Rivers sitting on the bench. Rivers has only played in two NFL games, and does not appear to have the ability to succeed Brees as starting QB of the San Diego Chargers. Let us face it, the organization is paying money as if they have top tier quarterbacks.

It is time to send the young Rivers packing. He might become a great QB in the NFL, but Brees owns the system, and there is no need for a change. I can see the Chargers getting a couple of high draft picks for the services of Phillip Rivers. Make it happen, before his stock goes down, and I can see this trade occurring in the next NFL offseason.

I feel bad for Rivers because he played well in the preseason. He definitely is ready to start for some teams in the league. The question now is where will he play in the 2006 NFL season. Regardless of what happens in the offseason, Phillip Rivers appears to mature enough to handle it, and this is evident by his silence on his playing time.

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