Chargers' Philip Rivers on Antonio Gates: 'I stick with him no matter what'

The four-game suspension San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates received Thursday for PED use caught everybody off guard, but he has the full support of his most prominent teammate.

Philip Rivers spoke to "The Mighty 1090" sports radio show Monday and the quarterback said the entire locker room is behind Gates.

"I stick with him no matter what. I speak for the guys in that locker room," Rivers said. "It bothers him and I know it bothers him because he takes great pride in doing things right and being a pro."

Rivers added that he believes Gates didn't take the banned substance intentionally.

"The guys who know him know it was an accident," Rivers said. "You hate it for him because of perception and me knowing him the way I know him, I know it was without knowing. He's first-class in every way. It's tough knowing he's going to have that tagged to him."

With Gates missing the season's first month, many feel San Diego won't be able to recover in the standings. Rivers, though, had a short response to all the naysayers.

"I think we're far from dead ... we've been through worse."