Joey Bosa, the No. 3 overall draft pick by the San Diego Chargers, still hasn't reported to camp after a contract dispute — and it doesn't appear to be ending soon.
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The dispute is reportedly over offset language (which gives a team the ability to wash its hands of a player who is released instead of paying guaranteed money to the player, who would also receive money from a new team if he's signed to another contract) and his signing bonus.
According to Pro Football Talk, the Ohio State product wants either no offset language or his signing bonus up front, while the Chargers want offset language AND to defer the signing bonus.
The two sides reportedly haven't spoke in nearly a week, and there appears to be a concern that Bosa could hold out for the entire season. If he does so, the player compared by some to J.J. Watt, Jared Allen and Michael Strahan could end up back in the draft pool next summer.
Here are a couple of notes on the Chargers-Bosa situation. First, the Chargers can trade him through August 9 only.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 4, 2016
Second, if he doesn't sign by the Tuesday after Week 10, he can't play at all in 2016.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 4, 2016
Third, if he doesn't sign this year, the Chargers would hold his rights until the start of the 2017 draft. He would then re-enter the draft.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 4, 2016
Finally, Bosa can't talk to any other team or attend the Scouting Combine before the 2017 draft.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 4, 2016
The Chargers have experience taking players who have issues with San Diego, trading Eli Manning in 2004 to the New York Giants for Philip Rivers after the quarterback said he wouldn't play for the franchise.
This would certainly be a unique circumstance, and you'd imagine San Diego wouldn't be willing to risk losing a projected talented player like Bosa. We'll see if these two sides can get together.
