2013 Philip Rivers’ “Final Audition” with the Chargers?

Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Times believes that the 2013 season could be a make it or break it campaign for Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers.

“No one will say it, but I think that 2013 is the final audition of Philip Rivers,” Acee said on NFL Network’s “Path to the Draft.”

Acee also mentioned that the Chargers unwillingness to restructure Rivers’ contract is a sign that they’re unwilling to commit to him in the long-run.

Rivers, 31, has a $17.1 million cap figure for the 2013 season, while the Chargers currently have close to $5.9 million in total cap space, according to numbers provided by the NFLPA. Rivers is still under contract for another three years after signing a seven-year, $98.25 million deal back in 2009.

Rivers, who will be entering his tenth season with San Diego, has never fully delivered and taken the Bolts to the promise land. Since taking over for Drew Brees at the start of the 2006 season, Rivers has lead the Chargers to four consecutive AFC West championships resulting in a 3-4 postseason record and just one AFC title game appearance.

Interestingly enough, the Chargers have finished second in their division every year since 2010. Consistency is not the issue for the Chargers. It’s getting over the hypothetical “hump” and elevating to the next level. That’s something Rivers has never done.

“Number one, I think everyone around him has to play better,” Chargers head coach Mike McCoy said last month at the NFL owners meetings last month. “The entire team has to play better to help the quarterback out. Whether it’s protection, having a good running game, certain routes, and receivers not dropping balls…”

With a new head coach, a new general manager and a new outlook on the future, this could be one of the final chances Rivers will get to prove himself worthy of long-term commitment by the San Diego front office.

This very well could be the last chance Rivers had to impress the new regime. Another poor season and the Chargers could be going in another direction.