JUST MY TYPE
JOEY BOSA
WRONG NUMBER
The 20-year-old former Ohio State defensive end, who was taken third in the April draft by the Chargers, hopes to one day reclaim his familiar 97 and create his own legacy in the NFL.
DAN PATRICK:Whatcha doing?
JOEY BOSA: I'm actually at Chargers Park eating some breakfast.
DP:What's on the menu?
JB: A little breakfast burrito. Some eggs, sausage and fruit.
DP:A better spread, Chargers or your alma mater?
JB: Ohio State had its moments. They'd bring in some restaurants that catered. But, consistently, I think San Diego has had the better spread.
DP:You grew up in Fort Lauderdale. How did you get out of SEC country to go to Columbus?
JB: It was the right fit for me. I connected with the coaches really well. I just felt like it was the best place for me to go to be successful, and I think it ended up working out pretty well.
DP:What school [were you considering] after Ohio State?
JB: Alabama was probably second or third.
DP:How'd that call to Alabama go?
JB: It was tough. I had a good relationship with all of them. That was my first offer. But they understood.
DP:Why number 99 with the Chargers?
JB: There were only three numbers available. Still pretty upset 97 wasn't. [It's worn by linebacker Jerry Attaochu.]
DP:You can buy it.
JB: Yeah, we'll see how much 97 is worth.
DP:How important is it to you?
JB: It means a lot. My dad [John] wore it [with the Dolphins]. My brother [Nick] is going to be wearing it at Ohio State next season. It's a Bosa guy thing.
DP:But you know what will happen with wearing number 99?
JB: [Being compared with Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, who also wears 99] didn't even run through my head when I made the decision. [I didn't think about it] until after I saw all of the tweets. A lot of people have worn 99. People want to make comparisons. That's O.K. One day I'll get 97 back.
DP:So obviously you get compared with Watt or Jared Allen. They're future Hall of Famers, so that's not bad. But is it sometimes a negative?
JB: I think I'm my own player. It means a lot being compared with them, but what are the odds that you compare me to the only two white defensive ends that you can think of? People are acting like I'm choosing these numbers and making these comparisons because [I think] I'm the same as the best defensive player in the league. I'm not. I'm trying to make my own legacy in the NFL.
DP:How about changing your name to J.J. Bosa?
JB: No.
DP:How about Bosa Constrictor?
JB: Yeah, I don't really get to choose my own nickname.
GUEST SHOTS
SAY WHAT?
I asked Brent Musburger, who at 77 recently signed a multiyear deal with ESPN, if he plans to work until he dies. "I certainly hope so," Musburger said. "I would be a terrible retiree. I keep shredding those letters from AARP because I'm just not ready." ... Pop culture writer Chuck Klosterman explained why fans get so upset about athletes celebrating during games: "Inevitably, younger people think they should do it and older people think they should not. Twenty years pass and the young people become old and don't like what's happening now. This is a debate that will never end." ... Ellen Kershaw described her husband, Dodgers pitcher Clayton, when they met at age 13. "He was the class clown," Ellen said. "He was much shorter then, a little bit chubbier—actually, a lot-a-bit chubbier."