INDIANAPOLIS – Chargers quarterback 
Rivers enjoyed a stroll around radio row Thursday evening. He visited with a few San Diego radio stations and even stopped by a Raleigh, N.C., show he listened to in college at North Carolina State.
“It was good having it be the first time I’ve seen it,” Rivers said about the hectic atmosphere of radio row. “It was neat; obviously you feel the energy.”
On Friday, Rivers attended the Walter Payton Man of the Year press conference along with fellow finalists Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Matt Birk and Chicago Bears defensive back Charles Tillman.
Rivers, Birk and Tillman also got to have lunch with Payton’s family and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday.
The sheer number of media in Indianapolis has left an impression on the Chargers’ quarterback.
“Obviously this game has meant a lot for the teams playing in it, but what it’s turned into from a media standpoint is really unreal,” Rivers said of the Super Bowl coverage.
Rivers is also spending quality time around Indianapolis with his younger brother Stephen, who will be a sophomore quarterback at LSU this fall.
“He was able to come just for a day or two. I hadn’t really seen him since last summer because both our football seasons,” Rivers said. “It’s good just to hang out and he’s getting to meet some neat guys and take it all in.”
On Saturday night, Rivers will find out if he is the 41st recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year award at the first-ever “NFL Honors” awards show (to air 6-8 p.m. PST Saturday on NBC).
“Dean Spanos and his whole family are very involved in the community, the organization is also very involved in the community and they’re so supportive,” Rivers said. “As players you want to live that as well so while this is very much being honored as a finalist for a community award, it’s certainly also an organizational award that I feel very proud to be a part of.”
If Rivers wins the award he will become the fifth Chargers recipient to win Man of the Year, joining the likes of Charger greats quarterback John Hadl, kicker Rolf Benirschke, linebacker Junior Seau and running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
