Colts: Philip Rivers trash-talking Roquan Smith is pure gold
By Adam Weinrib
Colts QB Philip Rivers got in Bears LB Roquan Smith’s face after trying to catch him on a hard count.
With the No. 1 defense in the league buoying his effort, Philip Rivers has been very comfortable nursing a two-score lead at Soldier Field on Sunday.
Perhaps a little too comfortable.
Up 16-3 in the fourth and looking at a 4th & 1, Rivers attempted to get the Bears defense to jump on a hard count through traditional methods before resorting to something a bit more unconventional: a batch of his patented polite trash talk.
The target of his ire? LB Roquan Smith, who stepped out of bounds on a potential pick earlier in the game, and had just been cooked by Jonathan Taylor. Firmly holding the upper hand, Rivers decided to rub the juke in Smith’s face a little bit.
Philip Rivers mixing in a little polite trash-talk to Roquan Smith before calling a timeout. pic.twitter.com/VvCB2cEltv
— Matt Schick (@ESPN_Schick) October 4, 2020
“He turned a CORNER on you.” Yes, he did, Phil. And it felt great.
Oh, and it didn’t end there!
Right after Rodrigo Blankenship nailed a kick to make it 19-3 post-conversion, Rivers jawed at Smith from much further away, making the sidelines his personal playpen. Can’t catch him from over here, Roquan!
Philip Rivers, screaming at Roquan Smith from across the sideline, all to tell him he's a fart pic.twitter.com/rNiEssNPXK
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 4, 2020
There’s nobody better, gosh darn it.
Thus far, Rivers has been completely as advertised for the Colts, rocking with a tight pocket and projecting an excellent blend between a game manager and someone who can still make all the necessary throws with a top defense at his disposal.
Oh, and he’s getting blocking up front like never before, and has a two-TE set that makes perfect sense even without Jack Doyle.
We’ve loved the first month of the Rivers experience, and though we understand that we’re probably here for a good time and not a long time, let the good times roll. We’re happy to be the final stop on Rivers’ Hall of Fame trek, possibly allowing him to nab the career-completing accolades he needs to make it to Canton.
