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While the last dispatch on the Philip Rivers contract talks sounded dire, the latest one strikes a very different note.

According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, the Chargers and Rivers have made “significant progress” toward a new deal, but the Chargers are prepared to use the franchise tag on Rivers in both 2016 and 2017 if need be.

That’s a ridiculously large investment for the short term, as in $25 million next year for the exclusive tag and a 20 percent raise on that in 2017 ($30 million).

And if they’re going to do that, there’s little reason to balk at any demand Rivers makes now, as those are the kind of cap-strapping numbers that will make it harder to field a team around him. But if they’re prepared to push Rivers into the $20 million-plus club, it’s clear they’re willing to make a big investment.

But if they’d cap him twice, they’re creating a floor of $55 million for the guarantees in a long-term deal as well.

La Canfora reports there are still some issues holding up a deal now, and that it might not happen prior to the season.

But that’s very different than the report that it was “virtually certain” that a deal wouldn’t get done before the season starts.