The San Diego Chargers and Joey Bosa have made a mockery of negotiations.
Last year, the Chargers went 4-12. The consolation prize? The third-overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. With that selection, general manager Tom Telesco chose Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Joey Bosa. Both sides were seemingly elated.
The elation has now turned to anger. On Wednesday, the Chargers announced in a too-honest-to-believe press release that they extended their best offer to Bosa. It was flatly rejected. The two sides continue to stare at an impasse that is moving toward legendary status.
The current Collective Bargaining Agreement that was signed in 2011 instituted a rookie wage scale. The idea was to move more money toward veterans while eliminating holdouts. Both have come to fruition, except in this case.
Fans and pundits are scrambling to assign blame to either Bosa or San Diego. There is room for both to get heat. The Chargers knew that Bosa was their man well before turning in the draft card. With the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles clearly taking quarterbacks Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, San Diego had the luxury of certainty.
Somehow, the Chargers screwed the proverbial pooch. Management and Bosa’s representation can’t come to terms on offset language among other minor details, leading to an elongated holdout. Bosa’s mother ratcheted up the contempt with a Facebook post stating her regret that her son didn’t pull an Eli Manning (Manning was drafted No. 1 overall in 2004 by the Chargers, but forced a trade after stating he would never play for the club).
With the deadline come and gone to trade a draft pick, the Chargers have two options. San Diego can either allow Bosa to sit out while its offers dwindle, or it can make another push to get a deal done. As for Bosa, he can either make some concessions and get into camp or miss the season. If he chooses the latter, the former All-American can re-enter the 2017 NFL Draft, eligible to be drafted by any of the 32 clubs.
The Chargers are getting a carton’s worth of egg on their face. Bosa was going to be a key piece in their front seven and a potential franchises player to get the fans excited. The second point is especially important, considering the good will in San Diego is at an all-time low due to constant rumors of moving.
Bosa is getting increasingly likely to turn 2016 into a redshirt season. If he does, it would be a shocking move and a declaration that the Chargers can’t do business. It would also indicate that Bosa and his representation is a nightmare to deal with.
This is a mess of epic proportions. Even if Bosa does suit up for San Diego at some point, making an impact this year is all but a pipe dream.
The standoff has been handled horribly on both sides, and now both sides will pay the consequences.