TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Rivers Admits He Told Charger Fans To 'Shut Up'

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: November 27, 2007

SAN DIEGO - Philip Rivers didn't deny that he told booing fans to shut up early in Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Rivers had just completed an eight-yard pass on third down to Legedu Naanee, which was a yard short of a first down on San Diego's first offensive series. The fans at Qualcomm Stadium booed for the second straight play; the first time was when LaDainian Tomlinson was stuffed for no gain on second down.

Video replays appeared to show Rivers telling the fans to shut up. The Chargers would go on to beat the Ravens 32-14 to take a one-game lead over Denver in the AFC West.

Rivers said he understands why the fans were steamed.

"Again, it's an emotional game. To be honest with you, I love the fans," Rivers said with a laugh on Monday. "I mean, I really do. It was early in the game, it was the first series, you're coming off a completion. and it wasn't necessarily for me, it was kind of like for our team, like saying, 'Hey, relax a little bit.'

"But again, we understand some of their frustrations in a sense that we were 5-5 and expectations were so high. Again, it was nothing more than that. Shoot, we've all told our sibling or brother to shut up before and then you love them five minutes later, so I hope that's the case."

BEARS: Running back Cedric Benson will miss the remainder of the season with an injury to his lower left ankle that will require surgery.

BILLS: Coach Dick Jauron wasted little time in announcing rookie quarterback Trent Edwards has reclaimed the No. 1 job ahead of J.P. Losman, and will make his fifth start - and first in five weeks - on Sunday when Buffalo travels to play Washington.

Jauron's decision came a day after the Bills offense showed little spark as a whole while Losman struggled individually, committing three turnovers, including two interceptions, in a 36-14 loss at Jacksonville.

FALCONS: Despite openings at several major college programs, Bobby Petrino intends to return in 2008 for his second year as coach.

"I haven't given it one bit of thought," Petrino said. "I certainly don't want to get into any speculation and rumors and having to deal with that. I'm focused on our football team here and focused on playing the Rams this week."

JAGUARS: Lost two of their three tight ends for the season, a significant setback for an offense that uses multiple tight ends in nearly every formation.

George Wrighster tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Sunday's 36-14 win against Buffalo, and Greg Estandia injured his shoulder.

Both players were placed on injured reserve Monday and will have season-ending surgery.

PACKERS: Green Bay players no longer can offer teammates financial incentives for their on-field performance, but the NFL will not punish them for violating the league's "bounty rule."

League officials began looking into a report last week that Packers defensive players offered incentives to teammates for achieving specific defensive goals.

RATINGS: The unbeaten New England Patriots' comeback victory against the Philadelphia Eagles earned the highest overnight rating for a Sunday or Monday night game in two years.

The Patriots' 31-28 win Sunday on NBC drew a 15.6 overnight rating in the nation's largest markets. It was another late November game involving an undefeated team - the Indianapolis Colts' 26-7 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers on a Monday night - that received a 15.8 on Nov. 28, 2005.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT