Catholic and pro-life quarterback Philip Rivers

I was asked to celebrate Mass with the San Diego Chargers when they were in town two weeks ago to play the Redskins.  It was a quite a thrill for this life-long football fan.  Six players and coaches attended the Mass at the hotel in which they were staying.  I told them how inspiring it was to be with them. They live in a different world...a very big world.  But, there they were, getting small like the rest of us in humbling kneeling before God in worship and adoration during Mass.

One of them was their quarterback, Philip Rivers.  He appears to be a serious Catholic.  He was very devout and prayerful during the Mass.  I talked to him for a few minutes after Mass. His wife just gave birth to their seventh child, so I congratulated him and told him that we were praying for his daughter and family at Mass.  Below is an interview with ESPN Magazine from August of this year.  The last question is ridiculous and offensive, but Rivers handled it (and all the questions) with tremendous humility and grace.



Rivers, 31, doesn't have time to peruse fan forums, so we fired your comments at the four-time Pro Bowler before July's Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year Awards in LA. Shocker: Rivers fired back.

 

He's a crybaby on the field and is always yelling after he throws picks.
-- From ESPN.com comments

Rivers: I play with the same energy, passion and fire that I played with as a 10-year-old in north Alabama, and I'll continue to play that way. I think sometimes that's misrepresented. There's nothing I say out there that I can't say to my mom, wife or daughters. It's all clean.


Rivers has shown that if he's given the O-line and receivers, he can put up big numbers. If I was the new coach or front office, I'd rebuild other positions, figuring I had a legitimate QB.
-- From USAToday.com comments

Look, I'm my own worst critic. I've made mistakes in areas that I need to improve -- most notably, turning the ball over. But I have great faith in our receivers and the guys up front, and I'm excited about our new offense. We'll still push the ball downfield, but you'll also see more high-percentage passes and intermediate throws than in the past. We have an opportunity for a bounce-back season. It's a matter of doing it now.


A good coach would make all the difference with him. True fans see that Rivers lost respect for Norv Turner, but Rivers is a quality guy and will not talk bad about his coach.
-- From NFL.com comments

Yeah, that couldn't be further from the truth. Norv was great all of our years together. We lost games for a lot more reasons than his coaching. We'll have a great relationship forever. I owe him thanks and credit for the player I've become.


Six kids? Regardless of your profession, it's impossible to be a good parent to six kids. Not enough hours in the day.
-- From TheBigLead.com comments

It's a two-year rotation: Once the diapers come off of one, we usually have a newborn. And we have another one on the way, due in October. I help when I can, but my wife, Tiffany, is the key. My big, growing family keeps everything balanced and grounded. My oldest is 11 now, and the kids are getting into football. They're Daddy's biggest fans, and they don't get on you as bad as most fans. If you throw an interception, they still love you.