The San Diego Chargers took an especially odd situation and made it a tad more questionable on Wednesday.
In response to a report that contract talks are going nowhere between the Chargers and rookie defensive end Joey Bosa, the team released this statement.
Statement from the San Diego Chargers on defensive end Joey Bosa. pic.twitter.com/BayBGeN22x
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 24, 2016
There are a few different things to look at here.
First off, the Chargers made sure to get into specifics regarding their latest offer to Bosa.
The initial signing bonus portion of the contract is said to be higher than what any other player has received in each of the past two drafts. Meanwhile, he’d earn more money this calendar year than any player from the 2016 NFL Draft class outside of Carson Wentz.
While that’s fine and dandy, the Chargers’ statement solely addresses guaranteed cash. It doesn’t take into account the real issue here, which is off-set language.
The 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement guaranteed rookie contracts. How that’s paid out and the like is what’s discussed during negotiations.
Instead, the issue here seems to be the Chargers attempting to avoid paying out Bosa’s deal should the team release him and he sign with another squad.
The organization’s statement on Wednesday goes as far to indicate that Bosa, the third overall pick in this year’s draft, won’t receive another contract offer as good as the one he just recently rejected.
If that’s the case, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Bosa sit out his entire rookie season.