Quarterback Philip Rivers surpasses the Football Hall of Fame

CRITIQUE:

“But Philip Rivers never dominated a season! It was Brady, or Manning, or Brees or Rodgers.”

CONTEXT:

Hold my beer.  Rivers was demonstrably dominant for three straight seasons:

"“From 2008 to 2010, Rivers led the NFL in passer rating (103.8), yards per attempt (8.9) and yards per completion (13.2). That was ahead of future Hall of Famers Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning.”  – Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune."

Rodgers, Brady, Brees and Manning traded off holding top spots from year to year. Did any do better than three straight years leading in those key categories?

It is absolutely true that they don’t call it the Hall of Statistics, but the Hall of Fame.  And that plays to Rivers’ advantage:

The definition of Fame is to be known very widely.  Did you know Rivers played a conference championship on one knee?  Did you know he held the second-longest starting streak in history, 244 starts without missing a game? That he was the incessant trash talker who never dad gummit swore? That he has enough kids to field a baseball team?

Do you know he is famous for his fiery, competitive temperament? Do you know that coaches and players are in awe of his football knowledge and insight? That he wears his heart on his sleeve, and never lost the boyhood enthusiasm to play for love of the game?

He is five years away from consideration for the Hall of Fame, but he is already the GOAT in the Fame of Holler. And yes, he is also famous for being one of the best quarterbacks ever to never win a dad gum Super Bowl.

I’m betting you knew most of the above. But how do you know those things?  Because Phil is famous for being Phil. He doesn’t sell insurance or beer or hair product (though that would be hilarious, with his usual bowl jobs and buzz cuts — Goll’EE!).