No. 3 overall pick Joey Bosa did not report with his teammates on Friday and missed the team's first on-field work in training camp. On Saturday, San Diego Chargers coach Mike McCoy voiced his displeasure with the contract stalemate.
"He definitely needs to be out here as a rookie. But no update on the status," McCoy told reporters.
"(General manager) Tom (Telesco) made his comments the other day. It's the same today. We'll just keep on working at that and eventually it will get done. So, he needs to be here. I think everybody needs to be here, especially as a younger player. Through the installations and playing with your teammates and things like that. But we are going to coach the guys who are here. And the players who are here did a nice job today."
NFL Media's Steve Wyche reported on Friday that the main issue between the club and Bosa is about how guarantees will be distributed. A source close to Bosa told Wyche the pass rusher would like his bonuses all up front. The Chargers don't want to set a precedent in how they structure contracts.
Chargers signal-caller Philip Rivers went through a similar situation leading into his rookie year, signing his initial contract at the beginning of training camp.
"I know it's a hard situation to be in," Rivers said. "When it gets done, it'll get done. He'll be here and be a part of it. From what I've seen this offseason, he's going to be a big part of it. Hopefully it's sooner than later."
While all the contract minutia plays out, McCoy can only lament the lost time on the field for the No. 3 pick.
"The individual work with your teammates and the system and everything," McCoy said of what Bosa is missing early in camp. "It's important for everyone to be here in training camp to get the timing down and continue to work with one another. The more you play together, the faster you're going to be able to play come game day."
When Bosa finally gets on the field, he could prove the missing piece to an underrated Chargers defense that already boasts tackling maven Denzel Perryman and a corner trio of Jason Verrett, Brandon Flowers and Casey Hayward.
For now, however, the holdout is keeping Bosa at home.
