Rivers Ready to Win Super Bowl Bling

The Giants' Eli Manning has one. Ditto the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger. The Chargers' Philip Rivers? He's still waiting to be fitted for his Super Bowl bling-bling.

Of the four quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2004 draft, Philip Rivers and the Bills' J.P. Losman are the only ones minus the ring. While Losman, who lost his job to Trent Edwards last year, seems a ways off from collecting one, Rivers doesn't feel likewise.

With all but two starters returning from a Chargers team that advanced to the AFC Championship Game, Rivers is confident his day will come. And it might even be this upcoming season, especially if he's able to rebound from offseason knee surgery.

"Both those guys, as you said, have been there and won one," Rivers said of Manning and Roethlisberger. "I don't think it necessarily adds any pressure. You're measured, ultimately, when your career is over."

The Chargers are hopeful that day comes many, many years from now. They are confident the team is in the midst of a great window of opportunity, with Rivers figuring to improve with age and Pro Bowl running back LaDainian Tomlinson in the prime of his stellar career.

Rivers will always be linked with Manning. The two were part of a blockbuster trade on draft day after the Chargers drafted Manning --- against his wishes - with the No. 1 overall pick, then peddled him to the Giants.

"I think it's competitive fun; I don't know any other way to describe it," Rivers said about peeking at the other quarterbacks' accomplishments. "As individuals and competitors, you always watch the guys you stack up with and came out in the draft with."

Many have compared that 2004 draft with the one from 1983. In that draft, three Hall of Fame quarterbacks were produced in John Elway, Dan Marino and Jim Kelly.

While Elway went on to win two Super Bowls, Rivers correctly pointed out that Elway's first didn't come until his 15th season.

"I'm by no means comparing us to them; of Elway and that bunch," Rivers said. "You're obviously measured over the course of a career."