NFL legend and current NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders doesn't believe in the Denver Broncos in their current form, but he does believe in them if they go out and get a quarterback he really seems to believe in: Philip Rivers.
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Sanders believes Denver trading for Rivers would put the Broncos right back in Super Bowl contention — jumping them over Tom Brady and the Patriots — and in fact, he guaranteed that would be the case.
Here's what he had to recently say on the NFL Network, as transcribed by Zack Kelberman of CBSSports.com:
"Send him to the Denver Broncos and get ready to get your ring sized, OK? Because that's what they need," Sanders said emphatically. "I don't even know who's QBing for the Denver Broncos. I don't even know if it's a battle to be had in training camp."
"All I do know is every time Philip Rivers gets close, the management team there allows those really good guys that he has to get out of town by some form or fashion. And I don't know how it keeps happening, but this guy takes a licking and keeps on ticking, and he still brings results."
What Sanders doesn't seem to be taking into account is the logistics of a trade for Rivers. Why in the world would the Chargers, now in Los Angeles, trade their starting quarterback to not just a conference foe, but to an opponent within the same division? Not only that, but the Chargers are going to want to make a great first impression in L.A., and even though Rivers may be nearing the tail end of his career, he still has a lot to give at 35-years old. He can be the face of the franchise in its new city for another few seasons, and though he does have a sub par 4-5 postseason record, he'll without a doubt keep Los Angeles in playoff contention — thus, relevant.
It doesn't make any sense for the Chargers to trade Rivers, especially to the Broncos. Still, Sanders doesn't think that should stop Rivers from starting to set his sights elsewhere. In a statement that speaks more about the Chargers than it does Rivers, Sanders suggested that the quarterback should take a page out of the NBA star book.
"If he's ever gonna win it and win it all, he's gonna have to leave, baby!" Sanders said. "He's gonna have to pull a Kevin Durant, he's gonna have to pull a Chris Paul. He's gonna have to be LeBron, before LeBron was LeBron, if he wants to win."
The Chargers start the 2017 season against the aforementioned Broncos on Monday Night Football.
