Brees stays hot so Rivers cools it on bench

SAN DIEGO -- Philip Rivers' introduction to life in the NFL was the same as for most newly rich rookies.

His veteran San Diego Chargers teammates took him along to dinner at a fancy steakhouse in la Jolla and, as is tradition, made the young multimillionaire quarterback pick up the check -- for a whopping $25,000.

The Chargers haven't needed Rivers since.

While Drew Brees continues to lead the surprising Chargers toward a rare postseason appearance, all Rivers can do is stand on the sideline and watch, waiting for next year, when he's expected to be the starter.

Heck, he hasn't even broken a sweat. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson and wide receiver Keenan McCardell have thrown more passes than the highly touted Rivers, who's thrown none.

"I certainly want to be out there," said Rivers, the fourth pick in April's draft after a standout career at North Carolina State. "Rightly so, Drew's playing great. He needs to be out there. He is the guy. But I have to be ready. You never know when you're going to get called on."

In a perfect world, Rivers would have reported to training camp on time, won the starting job and reduced Brees to trade bait.

These being the Chargers, though, dysfunction is normal.

Brees, San Diego's one-time "quarterback of the future," was all but abandoned by the front office after a 4-12 disaster last season.

Rivers joined the Chargers on draft day, obtained from the New York Giants along with a fistful of valuable picks, for No. 1 pick Eli Manning, who had told the Chargers a few days earlier he wanted nothing to do with them.

Then Rivers held out, missing the first 29 training camp practices and the first two exhibition games before agreeing to a $40 million contract that included a $14.25 million signing bonus.

Brees, determined to keep his job, had no competition in camp, was solid in the exhibition season and has been outstanding ever since.