The Chargers believe they are right. Facts support this conclusion, cold-hard facts they discuss with resolve between themselves as affirmation toward the firm stance they’ve taken.

Yes. Yes. We are right.

Those in Joey Bosa’s camp believe they are right. Facts support this conclusion, cold-hard facts they discuss with resolve between themselves as affirmation toward the firm stance they’ve taken.

Yes. Yes. We are right.


This impasse is not about who is right. In some sense, both are, each equally able to cite factual precedent for their position.

It is about resolution, and right now, they aren’t close.

A contract dispute has kept Bosa from participating in training camp. Get comfortable. At this rate, the stalemate won’t soon lead to compromise. No dialogue between the sides has occurred since last Thursday, a source said Tuesday evening.

For a moment, appreciate the predicament in which the two find themselves.


It is a perfect storm.

Months ago, Bosa’s representation figuratively walked into the Chargers’ vegan, family-owned restaurant and ordered the waiter’s choice of either steak or chicken, either a contract with no off-set language or one with full cash payout of the signing bonus in the current calendar year. Here is the problem: The Chargers don’t serve either.

They aren’t in the meat business. Other restaurants down the street are — shoot, the Jaguars are. Everyone in town knows that; they serve meat to top-five picks for breakfast.

But not here.


For that order, Bosa walked into the wrong restaurant. He got drafted to the wrong team.

As the team views it, if it starts serving meat, future customers will expect the same. The Chargers aren’t willing to adjust their long-established model, no matter how valued this particular customer is. (And to be clear, Bosa is valued. They drafted him for a reason, and he looked this spring like a player of immediate impact.) If they relent, what do they tell current and future customers?

Bosa was the third overall pick.

The Chargers factually can point to the contracts of the draft’s No. 2 and 4 picks, and even recent first overall selections, for precedent on how other top selections go vegan, too.


Fact: Both the No. 2 pick, Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, and No. 4 pick, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, have offset language just as the Chargers propose. Fact: Both also technically defer at least some signing-bonus money into the 2017 calendar year just as the Chargers propose.

Yes. Yes. We are right.

But those in Bosa’s camp have facts, too, strong facts supporting their position.

First, Wentz is receiving 94.3 percent of his $17.69 million signing bonus this calendar year. Only $1 million is being deferred into 2017. They also can point to how every second, third and fourth overall pick from 2012 to 2015 — 12 out of 12 — was served either steak or chicken, that it’s perfectly in their right to demand one or the other.


At No. 3 overall, the Chargers are located in the draft’s meat district, and this is how contracts in this area go. Just because they are new to the block doesn’t change that.

San Diego made it clear in early contract discussions that off-set language was non-negotiable, that no red meat would be served.

Fine. That leaves the chicken.

Cash flow widely is regarded as an area where two negotiating sides can settle disagreement elsewhere in a deal. “We can’t give you this contract structure, but let’s move some money around here.” Cash flow is integral to Bosa’s representation, the take to their give, and right now, what’s being offered does not resemble poultry in the slightest.


Fact: If Bosa reported last Friday at the start of training camp, accepting the offer on the table, he’d have pocketed less cash this calendar year than each of the four rookies selected after him.

For 2016, Elliott is scheduled to cash in $10.45 million. The Jaguars will pay No. 5 pick Jalen Ramsey $12.60 million; he notably has no offsets in his deal. At picks 6 and 7, Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley and 49ers defensive end DeForest Buckner are at $13.55 million and $11.88 million, respectively.

When Bosa’s representation has placed such emphasis on cash flow, accepting less cash than each of the four players drafted subsequently than Bosa becomes insulting and unacceptable to stomach.

For this dispute to end, three actions likely must occur.


Bosa’s side must come to accept this restaurant for what it is. San Diego won’t pay Bosa all $17 million of his signing bonus this calendar year. The Chargers seem stuck on maintaining their precedent. This ordeal could carry into September. Even then, no chicken is probably coming. And each day that passes means less time to accrue interest on the portion of the signing bonus they ultimately will collect.

The Chargers will need to make a far better effort with their signing bonus payout and allow Bosa to pocket more money than those drafted after him. They seem willing to consider this; however, to this point, with Bosa’s representation fixated on a 100 percent payout this year, the Chargers largely have been negotiating against themselves each time they raise their proposed 2016 payout.

Lastly, someone must pick up a phone. Three practices have occurred since last Thursday. A fourth comes Wednesday.

This situation calls for communication, for a resolution.


It is what’s right.