There has been no shortage of Nick Bosa questions since the San Francisco 49ers selected the defensive end No. 2 overall in last month's draft. Several of the questions have focused not on football but his controversial past social media activity, for which he has already apologized.
Both cornerback Richard Sherman and tight end George Kittle have already responded by saying they will reserve judgment until they get to know Bosa, and what really matters is how he contributes on the football field and what kind of teammate he is.
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who on Wednesday was in San Jose for the inaugural National Signing Day at Silicon Valley Career Technical Education, had similar responses to questions about Bosa during his media sessions. One thing he loves about an NFL locker room is that it unites individuals with different backgrounds and beliefs.
"At the end of the day, we're there to play football," Garoppolo said on ESPN's Outside the Lines, "so as long as you come forward with the right foot, put the team first, you're a good teammate, and you help us win football games at the end of the day, that's what really counts."
Does Bosa's social media activity, which included criticism of former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick during his protest against social injustice, matter to Garoppolo?
"Everyone has their opinion," he responded. "Like I said, at the end of the day, we're there to win football games. Once you step inside that locker room, it's one of those places where you can be yourself. There's a lot of different opinions, and people come from different backgrounds, like I said, but at the end of the day, we're there to win football games. As long as he's a good teammate, we'll welcome him."
Bosa has since apologized for his comments about Kaepernick, which he called a bad decision on his part.
"I respect what he's done," Bosa told reporters on April 26. "If it empowers anybody, then he's doing a good thing. I apologize for that."
Bosa looks forward to showing his new teammates what kind of person he is. First, he will need to sign his rookie contract. Bosa and the 49ers' second-round selection, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, remain the only unsigned players from the team's 2019 draft class.
