Why Colts starting Philip Rivers is fun and doesn't deserve any hate

Billy Heyen

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Why Colts starting Philip Rivers is fun and doesn't deserve any hate image

The Indianapolis Colts have received some hate this week from certain sides of the sports world. 

There are those who don't like that the Colts have brought Philip Rivers out of a five-year retirement to start at QB on Sunday amid a nightmare injury situation at the most important position in sports for Indianapolis.

On Saturday, ESPN's Adam Schefter confirmed in a report that Rivers will indeed be the Week 15 starter against the Seattle Seahawks.

As there has been all week, there will be skeptics. There will be those who think this is an indictment of the development of young quarterbacks.

Shoot, ESPN's Ryan Clark said this week, "I believe this is foul... I believe this is incompetent, and I also believe it is irresponsible."

It's not any of those things, though.

This is fun.

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This is sports providing us something that we never could've predicted, not when Rivers was signing a one-day contract in the summer to officially retire with the Chargers, not when Rivers was a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The best parts of sports are the ones you can't script.

That's why we watch these games. You don't know the ending.

Rivers, 44, could truly and utterly fall flat on his face on Sunday. The move might fail miserably for the Colts.

They didn't have much choice, though. Sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard? Career journeyman Brett Rypien? Or Rivers, the QB the last time the Colts went to the playoffs?

Their season needed saving after Daniel Jones' torn Achilles. Anthony Richardson is still out. Rivers was the guy they chose as the potential savior.

And the absolute best, most thrilling part of sports is that Rivers actually could save their season. Father Time might be working against him, and eventually, that fella always wins.

But sometimes, Mr. Time can be held off for a little while. Sometimes, the cagey, wily veteran shows that there's still some magic left.

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Rivers' right arm, uncorking throws pretty much from his hip, and his classy, Southern brand of trash talk -- those have always been the story with Rivers. 

Now, he gets a chance to write an exhilarating script. Maybe the ending is a bummer. But maybe not.

And there's nothing "foul" about it.

For Rivers, for the Colts, and for sports fans everywhere: This is just so daggum fun.

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Staff Writer