Philip Rivers

San Diego Chargers offensive tackles King Dunlap (77) and D.J. Fluker (76) protect quarterback Philip Rivers during an NFL game against the New England Patriots on Dec. 7, 2014, in San Diego.

(AP Photo)

San Diego general manager Tom Telesco tried to make it "crystal clear" at a press conference on Wednesday that the Chargers have every intention of having Philip Rivers at quarterback for the 10th season in 2015. Telesco needed to keep the assurances coming because the NFL rumor mill is working overtime on getting Rivers traded to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for the second selection in next week's NFL Draft.

Telesco prefaced his press conference by saying he wasn't going to lie. So when he was asked if he'd discussed trading Rivers to the Titans, he answered, "I'm going to leave that go," and moved on to other questions about Rivers' future in San Diego.

It's the Chargers' future in San Diego, though, that serves as a key link in the chain needed to pull Rivers cross country. The narrative goes that the Chargers are bound for Los Angeles in 2016, and Rivers, approaching the final season of his contract, doesn't want to go to L.A. So try as they might, the Chargers haven't succeeded in getting Rivers to sign a contract extension.

On the other side of the trade, the Titans like what they saw from quarterback Zach Mettenberger as a rookie in 2014, so they aren't locked into taking Oregon QB Marcus Mariota with the No. 2 pick after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston at No. 1.

A trade would bring Rivers to Nashville, not too terribly far from where he was an Alabama prep star at Athens. San Diego could use the No. 2 pick on Mariota. The Chargers sent a contingent that included Telesco and coach Mike McCoy to Eugene to work out Mariota in a pre-draft evaluation, even though it's doubtful he'll be available when San Diego makes its first choice at No. 17 in the first round.

Working out Mariota, Telesco said, was "just kind of what we do" in preparing for the NFL Draft.

Telesco said - several times - on Wednesday that the Chargers want to keep Rivers.

"Philip's our quarterback," Telesco said. "It's our plan and intent that he's our quarterback well into the future. In all my discussions with him, he's shown a great amount of respect for his teammates and a great amount of respect for this organization. He's been here every day, working extremely hard, being the leader that he is, that we've all come to know him for. I know he's really excited about this season, as are we."

The Chargers started their offseason program this week with voluntary conditioning workouts.

The reporters at Wednesday's press conference wouldn't let go of the trade topic, though.

"I think I've been pretty clear what our intentions and plans are -- crystal clear," Telesco said. "... It's up to you guys. I've been crystal clear what our plan and intent is. He's our quarterback and, hopefully, for many, many years moving forward. He's got a lot of good years left in him. Through eight games last year, he was an MVP candidate. We're thrilled to have him."

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With the Chargers reporting for workouts this week, the players speaking with the media were united in wanting Rivers to remain the quarterback.

"That's our quarterback," left offensive tackle King Dunlap, a former Auburn star, told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "That's our quarterback."