The Denver Post

Not-so-super Chargers pull o≠er to Bosa

- By Bernie Wilson

san diego» Joey Bosa’s holdout turned ugly Wednesday when the San Diego Chargers pulled their contract offer to the first-round draft pick and said they’ll restructur­e a new deal that would reflect him playing less than a full season.

Bosa has missed all of training camp as his agents and the team wrangle over how much of his $17 million signing bonus he’ll get up front, as well as offset language in the case he gets cut.

The Chargers were counting on the former Ohio State star to help bolster their pass rush and bring some excitement to a season that could be pivotal to their future in San Diego.

It’s not clear whether Bosa is willing to sit out the season. At the very least, the team is willing to continue to play hardball with Bosa.

The Chargers said in a statement that they gave Bosa’s agents their best offer Tuesday night, and it was rejected Wednesday.

“The offer that we extended was for Joey to contribute during all 16 games and beyond,” the team said. “Joey’s ability to contribute for an entire rookie season has now been jeopardize­d by the valuable time he has missed with his coaches and his teammates. Since Joey will not report at this time, his ability to produce not just early in the season, but throughout the entire season, has been negatively impacted.” Bosa is the only first-rounder who has not signed. San Diego said it offered an initial signing bonus payment larger than any draftee received in the past two drafts, and more money in 2016 than any draftee except Eagles quarterbac­k Carson Wentz.

One of Bosa’s agents at CAA Sports, Tom Condon, has sparred plenty with the Chargers over the years. He represente­d Eli Manning, whose family didn’t want the Chargers to take him with the No. 1 pick overall in 2004. San Diego took him anyway, and then traded him to the New York Giants for Philip Rivers. Condon also represente­d Drew Brees, LaDainian Tomlinson and Marty Schottenhe­imer, all of whom had unhappy departures from the team.

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