Philip Rivers shows gutsy performance in the AFCCG and Mini Camp

Rivers taking a snap from center in Mini Camp
Rivers throwing in drills in both above and below pictures in Mini Camp.

Rivers throwing a completion in both above and below pictures in Mini Camp.
Philip Rivers QB #17 is proving to be a tough QB ready to lead his team to a Super Bowl. Rivers proved in Mini Camp he will be ready for the season. Rivers was throwing every pass in Mini Camp and taking snaps. For more information on Rivers see articles and pictures below:

ESPN: What we learned from minicamp

Quarterback Philip Rivers has full control of this team. Rivers is not the Chargers' best player, or even their best player on his side of the ball. But as the team moves forward, Rivers is the clear leader and motivator. Rivers has built a 25-7 career regular-season record as the team's starter. But after his courageous performance at the end of last season, Rivers forever has the respect and attention of his teammates.

Rivers tore his right ACL in the Chargers' AFC divisional playoff win at Indianapolis. He had minor surgery on the knee before the AFC Championship Game against the undefeated New England Patriots, but still elected to play. His team lost, and so did his knee; he underwent major surgery after the game. Rivers has had a super-fast rehabilitation and was working during the team's minicamp on the first weekend of May.

NFL.com Photos: Chargers at minicamp

Philip Rivers from Chargers.com:

There are two things that Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has proven beyond the shadow of a doubt in his first two years as an NFL starter. One, he’s a winner. Two, he’s as tough as they come.

Since he became the Bolts’ starting signal caller prior to the 2006 season, Rivers’ 25 regular-season wins are tied with Indianapolis’ Peyton Manning for the second-most in the NFL, behind only New England’s Tom Brady’s 28. Rivers has posted an impressive 25-7 record as a starter, including an astounding mark of 15-1 at home. Rivers led the Chargers to the playoffs in each of his two seasons at the helm, and in 2007 his stellar play in January helped the Bolts pick up their first postseason victories in 13 seasons as they advanced all the way to the AFC Championship Game.

Rivers’ toughness, both mental and physical, was on full display in the postseason and the final weeks of the regular season last fall. In a Dec. 9 victory over Tennessee, Rivers had to leave the game after spraining his knee. He returned though in the second half and led the Chargers to a come-from-behind victory in overtime. Rivers continued to play and he played through the final month of the season in pain.

Another knee injury in the Bolts’ Divisional Playoff game also sent him to the sideline, but Rivers refused to let it end his season. His status for the AFC Championship Game was in the balance throughout the entire week leading up to the game, but Rivers toughed it out and played the entire game. It turns out that he had had an arthroscopic procedure done on the Monday following the Chargers’ playoff victory in Indianapolis, and after the loss in New England it was revealed that Rivers had played the AFC Championship Game with a torn ACL in his right knee. He suffered the injury while throwing a touchdown pass in the third quarter of the win over the Colts and gutted it out to play in the most important game of his young career. He’s spent the last few months aggressively rehabbing the knee and is confident he’ll be ready to go when the Bolts open the 2008 season.

Rivers’ commitment to the game and his leadership skills have endeared him to teammates and everyone in the organization. They love his confidence and fiery attitude on the field. Before last season’s playoffs began, the Chargers picked up the option on the final two years of his rookie contract to ensure the quarterback will be in lightning bolts through at least the 2009 season. When asked about the move, Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith simply said, “You know how I feel about Philip Rivers.” His words spoke volumes about his appreciation for the player and leader that Rivers has become.

In 2007, Rivers was sensational down the stretch when the Chargers needed him the most. During the Chargers’ eight-game winning streak that led up to the AFC Championship Game (including Wild Card and Divisional Playoff games), he completed 133 of 214 passes (62.1%) for 1,656 yards with 14 TDs and only five INTs for a rating of 98.2, nearly 16 points higher than his cumulative season rating (82.4).

Just about everywhere he’s played as a quarterback, Rivers has been a winner. Since his junior season at AthensHigh School in 1998, his first as a starting QB, Rivers has never had a losing record. He went 11-2 (1998) and 10-3 (1999) at Athens; 8-4 (2000), 7-5 (2001), 11-3 (2002) and 8-5 (2003) at North CarolinaState, and with the Chargers he’s posted seasons of 14-2 (2006) and 11-5 (2007). Rivers’ collegiate totals at N.C.State included a 3-1 mark in bowl games. He was a five-time MVP in bowl games, including the 2004 Senior Bowl.