Rivers wants the opp to go to the SB and he knows time is running out and his best shot and moving on with the uncertainty that the Bolts lease in SD may transfer into LA, he's not up to that. From what I gather from his father who used to coach football at Wakefield HS, not far from me, he tells me Phillip is very loyal and he'll finish where he started, just as he did at N C State.
Playing out his option only gives him leverage and yeah, it will make SD think about their future, with PR or without PR. They didn't resign Matthews and they aren't building depth on this team and their OL goes through the turnstyle each year, mostly because of injuries.
Denver is a possibility as is New Orleans for Phillip and as we know both QBs in those two towns are probably on their last legs, PR probably has 3 solid years left.
I'm with SP and I'd trade PR. Arizona is also a possibility.