Joey Bosa Situation Not an Unheard Tale
While not common, Joey Bosa’s contract dispute with the Chargers is nothing new
Third overall pick Joey Bosa and the San Diego Chargers have yet to agree to a contract, despite the draft five months in the rear view mirror. The former Ohio State Buckeye and his agent are attempting to structure the contract so that he is paid more upfront, instead of having his guaranteed money spread out.
The situation has left a pass-rush hungry team starving to retain their prized draft pick. Thanks to the Laremy Tunsil fiasco minutes prior to the draft, the Chargers went with Bosa out of Ohio State.
With two weeks before the start of the NFL season, and Joey Bosa nowhere to be seen in San Diego, the situation could ultimately lead to Bosa being eligible for the 2017 NFL Draft.
Chargers proposed to Joey Bosa what they made clear is their best offer, source says. It was declined. Offer pulled. Two sides are nowhere.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 24, 2016
While Bosa’s situation is rare, especially with the new collective bargaining agreement pre-structuring most contracts, it is not anything new.
San Diego has experienced a similar situation when they drafted Eli Manning in 2004. Prior to the draft, the youngest Manning and his father both publicly stated Eli would not don a Chargers uniform if drafted. San Diego went on to take Manning, subsequently trading him to the New York Giants for rookie quarterback Phillip Rivers and draft picks.
Live Feed
Arrowhead Addict
Bo Jackson also refused to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a trip on the owners plane cost him his college eligibility. While the Buccaneers drafted Jackson with the first overall pick, he continued towards a career in baseball.
Raiders owner Al Davis would draft Jackson the following year with the 183rd overall pick, and allow him to play for both the Royals and Raiders.
Denver Broncos General Manager John Elway knows exactly what management in San Diego is going through, because he’s been on both sides of the table. Elway was drafted by the Baltimore Colts with the first overall pick in 1983 out of Stanford, but refused to play on the east coast during the winter. He threatened to join the New York Yankees if he were not traded to a west coast team. Baltimore ultimately sent one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time to Denver, where he earned nine Pro Bowls, an MVP, and two Super Bowl rings.
Related Story: Joey Bosa Takes Next Step Towards 2017 NFL Draft
Perhaps one of the first scenarios NFL fans saw like this was when Joe Theismann and the Miami Dolphins failed to reach a contract agreement in 1971. Theismann would go onto play in the Canadian Football League until the Dolphins traded his draft rights to the Washington Redskins.
There, Theismann went on to lead the Redskins to Super Bowl XVII, and earn himself an MVP award.
So while Joey Bosa is sitting on the couch and not on the practice field, he’s certainly not the first to not reach a contract with his original team.