Philip Rivers is back under center Sunday. Getty Images

He was Old Man Rivers when he retired at 39, and now? He is 44-year-old Grandpa Phil, back in the saddle on a desperate colt for an emergency rescue playoff mission.

Antonio Gates got his bust in Canton last summer, and the Hall of Fame tight end has no doubt his old Chargers quarterback will be joining him one day. But one day won’t arrive for another five years, now that Philip Rivers, proud father of 10, decided to shock the football world and carry the banner for the forever young crowd to quarterback the Shane Steichen Colts in their moment of need as long shot Super Bowl contender.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Gates told Serby Says.

His message to Colts fans:

See Full Page