"Is quarterback the most demanding position in sports? It's close enough to make no difference: players must memorize a complicated playbook, orchestrate an entire offense, scan for open receivers while 280lb opponents sprint toward them with violent intent, and then thread a pass to a target who could be 30 yards downfield amid a crowd of defenders. Now try doing all that as a 44-year-old grandfather, exactly 1,800 days since you last started an NFL game."
"After injuries suffered by starting quarterback Daniel Jones and rookie backup Riley Leonard, the primary reason that the Colts invested in this seeming impossibility in the first place is Rivers' familiarity with what head coach Shane Steichen's passing game. Steichen had several years of working closely with Rivers at the Chargers, where the quarterback played most of his 16-season career before his first retirement, so at least the offensive designs and play calls would be familiar."
Quarterbacking demands memorizing a complicated playbook, orchestrating an entire offense, scanning for open receivers while 280-pound opponents sprint toward them, and threading long passes through crowded defenses. Philip Rivers returned to start for the Indianapolis Colts at age 44, marking a 1,800-day gap since his last NFL start. The prior longest layoff belonged to Steve Deberg in 1998. Injuries to Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard compelled the Colts to turn to Rivers because of his familiarity with Shane Steichen's passing system from their Chargers years. Rivers had been coaching high school football and his players noted offensive similarities, and the game initially showed signs of reduced throwing velocity.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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