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INDIANAPOLISJack Doyle’s hatred for Philip Rivers around 2008 was just a pre-requisite for any teenage sports fan in Indianapolis.

In the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Rivers and the Chargers eliminated Doyle’s favorite team from the playoffs.

From 2007-10, the Colts were 1-4 against Rivers’ led teams.

So, Doyle’s displeasure for Rivers was understandable, and acceptable.

“I remember those tough losses to the Chargers,” Doyle said to Colts.com earlier this offseason. “I couldn’t stand Philip Rivers as a kid (laughs), as we all probably did.”

Unable to hold back a smile when thinking back on those teenage days, Doyle has come full circle on his opinion of Rivers.

“Then I got to the NFL and you learn the reason I couldn’t stand him is because he was good at what he did and you gain a respect for him when you watch him on film,” a wiser Doyle now says.

“And we got to see a ton of him because of Coach Reich and Nick (Sirianni) coming over and installing the offense. Then getting to talk to him and hearing him in meetings, he’s just awesome. He’s just a football guy. I love the way he’ll hop in and put some touches on a route in the way he sees it. Getting to know him in that way has been a lot of fun.”

Yes, Rivers does come to Indianapolis with a 6-2 record against the Colts.

Such a record for an opposing quarterback of the Colts over the last decade-plus is a rare commodity.

While Doyle’s early memories of Rivers aren’t as flattering, Nyheim Hines was always a fan growing up in the Raleigh area.

Hines, 23, wasn’t even in kindergarten when the now 38-year-old Rivers began his collegiate career at North Carolina State.

As Hines has done the math, it’s pretty amazing he is now a teammate of the guy he watched quarterback the local college team.

In fact, Hines won the ‘Philip Rivers Award’ in 2015 for Offensive Freshman of the Year at N.C. State.

“That is actually I think the last time NC State wore Nike and that is how I kind of remember it,” Hines now says. “I remember seeing him in the Nike (No.) 17. Just seeing him lead that team, they had some great players and just seeing him win some games and I remember thinking, ‘Dang, maybe soon I’ll get to play there and help them win games, too.’ Funny how life works, it kind of happened.”

“He was in (college) from 2000-03, I was born in 1996 and started doing the math in my head and I was like, ‘Wow, that guy has played a lot of football.’ So whenever he talks I am definitely going to listen.”

Safe to say, Rivers has the full attention of his new teammates, even after a virtual spring program.

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