CARSON, Calif. (AP) – Rookie quarterback Phillip Rivers ended his lengthy holdout, signing a six-year contract with the San Diego Chargers on Monday night.
Rivers, taken by the New York Giants with the No. 4 pick in this year’s draft, was acquired by Chargers in the deal that sent quarterback Eli Manning to New York. Manning was selected by San Diego with the No. 1 overall pick.
Rivers missed four weeks of training camp and two preseason games.
Chargers spokesman Scott Yoffe did not disclose the terms of the deal.
San Diego general manager A.J. Smith had said the team’s proposal exceeded the deals for Robert Gallery and Larry Fitzgerald, who were selected with the second and third overall picks.
Gallery signed with Oakland for seven years with $18.5 million guaranteed and $60 million with incentives. Fitzgerald’s six-year deal with Arizona calls for $20 million guaranteed and $60 million with incentives.
The Chargers have three other healthy quarterbacks on the roster: Drew Brees, last year’s starter; Cleo Lemon, the team’s No. 3 quarterback last season; and free agent Joe Germaine.
Veteran Doug Flutie is expected to miss several weeks following surgery on his left knee.
AP-ES-08-23-04 2322EDT
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