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San Diego Chargers, Joey Bosa remain at impasse

By Jay Paris, The Sports Xchange
Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa walks onto the stage after being selected by the San Diego Chargers with the third overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft on April 28, 2016 in Chicago. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI
Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa walks onto the stage after being selected by the San Diego Chargers with the third overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft on April 28, 2016 in Chicago. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo

SAN DIEGO -- Another preseason game arrives and still no Joey Bosa.

The former Ohio State star remains locked in a contract dispute with the Chargers.

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The team has lifted its offer after declaring Bosa, a defensive end and the team's top draft pick, would be unable to contribute an entire season after missing all of training camp and the first three preseason games.

The holdup is over when his $17 million bonus will be distributed.

The Chargers issued a pointed barb at Bosa for not accepting their latest offer.

Bosa's representatives responded by saying the team isn't building much of a relationship with Bosa by going public with their contract offer.

Coach Mike McCoy has tried to strike a softer tone since.

"We all understand the type of player Joey is," McCoy said. "He loves the game, he plays with passion. So I'm sure he is going crazy being back home and not with his teammates. We all want him here.

Once he walks in the door he is one of us. That is how we are going to approach it."

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--McCoy wasn't making any excuses for defensive end Damion Square. He was suspended for the first four games for violating the NFL's policy on substance abuse.

"He's made a mistake and he has let his teammates down," McCoy said. "He is hurting the team and I told him that."

Square's absence is glaring in that it comes after defensive tackle Sean Lissemore was lost for the season with a shoulder injury and, of course, with Bosa unsigned.

"We are going to win with the guys that are here," McCoy said.

But the depth is getting thin and the Chargers have yet to take a regular-season snap.

--Quarterback Philip Rivers said he is slowly building a connection with new wide receiver Travis Benjamin. "It's not just what we do out in the games," Rivers said. "It's what we do in practice. That said, I'm glad we have two more weeks until the first game."

--Cornerback Brandon Flowers seems to be holding off newcomer Casey Hayward in the battle for a starting job. Hayward is seeing a lot of snaps playing the nickel on passing downs. "We are all making each other better," Hayward said.

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