Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates were seen yelling at each other on the sideline during Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs, but Rivers said afterward that it wasn’t what it seemed.
“Really, what he said doesn’t matter,” Rivers said when asked what had Gates hot. “Brothers fuss and fight, if any of you have brothers. I love Antonio and I think he’ll tell you the same thing. It’s two of probably the most competitive guys on the team, been here long as anybody. I think we’re kinda at our last straw, you know? You’re sitting at 2-8 and he and I both, from being together so long, we’re like ‘C’mon, we gotta figure this out!’ I think it’s more that than anything. It’s kinda . . . whatever. We argued for a second. I don’t think either of us thought about it twice. Obviously, the cameras do. It’s no big deal.”
Gates agreed, saying both of them are frustrated by their 2-8 record but neither of them has a problem with the other.
“It’s just the losing,” Gates said. “We’re two guys who love each other, out there competing. Things over the last six weeks, the struggling. That’s what it comes down to. Don’t nobody want it as bad as we do. We’ve tried so hard for so long. We both are in position to help the team. He saw something one way. I saw it the other way.”
So there are no problems between Gates and Rivers. Except that both are unhappy with having the worst record in the NFL.
