Philip Rivers signs four-year contract extension with Chargers

Ian Rapoport said on “NFL Total Access” that a month ago there were “serious doubts” the Chargers could resign the quarterback after Rivers openly spoke of his disappointment with the teams direction.

Tonight, those rumblings were proved to be petty rumors fabricated by the media, as the Chargers announced a new four-year extension with their quarterback that will keep Rivers in San Diego through 2019.

Earlier this offseason, there were reports that Philip Rivers didn’t want to stay with the San Diego Chargers if the team moved to Los Angeles.

In 2014 Rivers threw for 4,286 yards and 31 touchdowns for a Chargers team that finished 9-7, good for third in the AFC West. Mayor Kevin Faulconer has said that if the sides haven’t agreed to a term sheet by September 11, there won’t be a special election in January.

Rivers spent two seasons as Drew Brees’ backup before becoming San Diego’s starter in 2006.

Rivers has started 153 consecutive games – every contest since 2006 – but last season played through a painful back injury down the stretch. He’s thrown 252 career touchdowns to 122 interceptions. He was sacked seven times in a season-ending loss at Kansas City that cost the Chargers a playoff berth. Many argue Rivers is still an “elite” NFL quarterback despite his age, pointing at his resurgence over the past couple seasons. Manning and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, the other big-name quarterback taken in the 2004 draft, each have won two Super Bowls. The $65 million guaranteed would give Rivers the highest guaranteed money of any player under a current contract.