Chargers News: Damion Square and Joey Bosa
Listen to this articleThe San Diego Chargers sent out two press releases yesterday, one concerning their first round draft pick Joey Bosa and the other about four-year defensive lineman Damion Square.
The statement on Joey Bosa:
Statement from the San Diego Chargers
re: defensive end Joey BosaThe San Diego Chargers issued the following statement regarding the contract negotiations with 2016 first-round selection Joey Bosa:
Our contract discussions and offers to the representatives of Joey Bosa have been both fair and structurally consistent with the contracts of every other Chargers player.
Our offer included:
• An initial signing bonus payment that is larger than any player in the League has received in the last two drafts.
• More money in this calendar year than every player in this year’s draft except one (QB Carson Wentz).
•The largest payment and the highest percentage of signing bonus received in the first calendar year of any Chargers’ first-round selection since the inception of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (2011).We gave Joey’s representatives our best offer last night (August 23), which was rejected today (August 24). The offer that we extended was for Joey to contribute during all 16 games and beyond. 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.
As a result, we will restructure our offer since Joey will be unable to contribute for the full 16 game season without the adequate time on the practice field, in the classroom, and in preseason games.
And the Damion Square release, from the team and the league:
Statements from National Football League, San Diego Chargers
& defensive tackle Damion Square
STATEMENT BY AN NFL SPOKESPERSON:
Damion Square of the San Diego Chargers has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2016 regular season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.
Square will be eligible to return to the Chargers’ active roster on Monday, October 3 following the team’s October 2 game against the New Orleans Saints.
Square is eligible to participate in all remaining preseason practices and games.
[Note: The NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse is posted on nflcommunications.com. After logging in, click on “About NFL” from the homepage and then “NFL Policies.”]
STATEMENT FROM THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS:
While disappointed to hear the news today about Damion, we support and respect the league’s decision. We are confident that he will learn from this and what is expected of him moving forward.
STATEMENT FROM DAMION SQUARE:
“I sincerely apologize to my teammates, coaches, the entire Chargers organization as well as the fans. I made a mistake and take full responsibility. I look forward to returning in Week 5 and doing whatever I can do to help the team.”
Top Photo of Joey Bosa by Claudia Gestro
