NFL Rumors: Joey Bosa to sit out season if he doesn’t sign today
By David Rouben
If Joey Bosa is going to play football in 2016, it has to be with the San Diego Chargers.
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Joey Bosa entered the 2016 NFL Draft brimming with talent and loaded with promise. Following a successful college career with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Bosa was touted as a potential No. 1 overall pick, and quite possibly the best defensive player in his class. It looked like the San Diego Chargers got great value in picking Bosa third overall, but it didn’t take long for relations between the two sides to sour.
Adam Schefter has reported that the two sides have not been in touch since July 28, with Bosa holding out like many Chargers stars before him, including Ladanian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers.
But Bosa’s gambit might come back to haunt him, as the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport points out that the Chargers are the only team he can play for this season:
If a drafted rookie (Joey Bosa) isn't signed by today, he can't be traded in '16. But, teams have no room in their rookie pools to sign him
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 9, 2016
As such, expect trade rumors to swirl around Bosa’s name, even if he ends up signing an 11th-hour deal with San Diego. Given the team’s uncertain future, it’s understandable that Bosa would be a bit apprehensive about signing with the Chargers. If anything, Bosa’s holdout could make the team’s move to Los Angeles even more likely.
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For her part, Mama Bosa continues to hold out hope her son can get away from the Chargers. If he wants to play football, though, and assure maximum long-term earning potential, it might be time for Bosa to put up or shut up.