Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers According the NFL sources, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has signed a six year, $92 million, contract extension to stay in San Diego.

The deal will keep Rivers off the free-agent market next spring, and will stop the need for the Chargers to be forced to exercise a franchise tag in order to keep him in San Diego.

Over his three seasons as the starter in San Diego, Rivers has amassed more than 10,000 yards passing and has thrown for 77 touchdowns.

The source told ESPN that the Chargers believed that they would have a difficult time inking their pro bowl signal caller, however, over the weekend the negotiating took a positive turn when Rivers apparently became personally involved.

Rivers said he was "thankful to have many more opportunities to suit up
and go out there and be the quarterback for the Chargers and short term, to be able to just do all I can to lead us to a championship."

Now, Chargers GM A.J. Smith can say he has done an exemplary job in keeping the nucleus of his roster intact with contract extensions.

Rivers was entering the final year of the six-year, $40.5 million rookie contract he signed in 2004. After sitting behind Drew Brees his first two seasons in the NFL, Rivers became the San Diego starter in 2006, when Brees departed for New Orleans as a free agent.

Tight end Antonio Gates said his teammates had a lot of fun kidding Rivers at practice about his huge deal, but they know the money won't change him.

"At the end of the day I know what it means for him to go out here and play football and know the passion he has for us to win," Gates said.