Tag: Anquan Boldin (Page 10 of 20)

      Boldin reports for physical, could be in minicamp

      May 1, 2009 /

      Despite being upset about his contract situation, Anquan Boldin was at the Cardinals’ facility on Wednesday to get a physical, which could indicate that he plans on attending the team’s minicamp.

      I’m not sure where Anquan Boldin’s head is in terms of his contract, but in terms of the mystery (if there ever really was one) of whether he would come to minicamp, he indeed was at the facility today to get his physical. Doesn’t make much sense to do that if he isn’t going to come to minicamp. We’ll have to double-check tomorrow, but with Boldin and Darnell Dockett both coming today, it looks like there won’t be any absences for the mandatory minicamp.

      Now, whether Boldin practices, we’ll have to see. He came down with a sore hamstring at last year’s minicamp — about the time his contract issues first reached a boil. There might be some maladies for those seeking new contracts. Again, we will see. At least the drama of a missing guy will be avoided, and I would assume Boldin — and to a lesser extent, Dockett — will be tops on the media’s interview list after practice.

      There were countless rumors heading into the draft that Boldin would be traded, but it appears that the Cardinals never really had any desire to deal their dynamic wideout in the first place. GM Rod Graves seems to be trying to wear Boldin and his agent out and the one weapon in Graves’ arsenal is that he knows Anquan loves playing football. It’s hard to envision Boldin holding out and while he may air his frustrations, he’s not going to allow a contract dispute interfere with him playing football.

      My guess is that Anquan Boldin is going to be an Arizona Cardinal until his contract runs out at the end of the 2010 season.

      NFL

      Cardinals drop asking price for Boldin – what about Bears?

      April 24, 2009 /

      The Cardinals have apparently lowered their asking price for wide receiver Anquan Boldin according to ESPN.com’s Sal Paolantonio.

      Anquan BoldinThe Arizona Cardinals have reduced their trade demands for disgruntled receiver Anquan Boldin to a second-round pick in Saturday’s draft and other considerations and are talking to at least three teams who seem to be newly interested, two sources told ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio on Friday.
      The New York Jets, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles have expressed interest given the downgraded demands from a first- and third-round pick, the sources said.

      Cardinals general manager Rod Graves and coach Ken Whisenhunt had repeatedly emphasized at the team’s pre-draft news conference Tuesday that they would be happy to keep Boldin and eventually try to sign him to a new contract.

      If I were GM Jerry Angelo of the Bears, I’d be all over this like stink on horse crap. Chicago doesn’t have a ton of holes to address after landing quarterback Jay Cutler in a trade and signing free agent offensive linemen Orlando Pace, Frank Omiyale and Kevin Shaffer. So why not give Cutler a dynamic weapon like Boldin in the passing game?

      That said, the Bears did give up their first round pick and one of their thirds (they still have one compensatory selection left from losing receiver Bernard Berrian via free agency last year), so losing their second (plus whatever else the Cardinals wanted) would sink their entire draft.

      Trading away two picks for Cutler was already out of character for Angelo. If he traded any more picks, the Bears would be wise to put out a search party to see where the real Jerry Angelo was being kept.

      Update: Cardinals’ GM Rod Graves denies that the Cardinals have dropped their asking price on Boldin. Looks like just another internet rumor on NFL draft eve…

      NFL, NFL Draft

      Titans contact Cardinals about Boldin

      April 24, 2009 /

      According to the Nashville Tennessean, the Titans have contacted the Cardinals about possibly acquiring wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

      But the price tag, in draft picks and compensation, is a concern for any suitor. The Cardinals are reportedly seeking first- and third-round picks for Boldin, and any team that acquired him would have to pony up a new contract as well, potentially worth up to $10 million per year.

      Earlier this week, Cardinals GM Rod Graves said he’d received no offers for Boldin.
      Currently the Titans have two proven wideouts — Justin Gage and former Steeler Nate Washington, signed earlier this offseason. Adding a veteran receiver isn’t a necessity for the Titans, according to Reinfeldt, but “it would be nice.’’

      Other veterans who could be available via trade include Cleveland’s Braylon Edwards, Cincinnati’s Chad Ochocinco and Buffalo’s Roscoe Parrish.

      I like the Titans’ mindset this offseason. Even though they had one of the best records in the NFL last season, it was clear in their playoff loss to the Ravens that they lacked weapons on the offensive side of the ball outside of phenomenal rookie Chris Johnson. Nate Washington was a nice addition, but if they could somehow land Boldin, their offense would be one to reckon with in the AFC next year.

      That said, they do need to add some bulk to the interior of their defensive line after losing Albert Haynesworth, while defensive end and offensive tackle remain needs as well. So is it worth it for them to give up two picks in the first three rounds to acquire Boldin or would they be better served hanging onto those selections and possibly addressing other needs?

      NFL

      Ravens willing to give up first rounder to acquire Boldin

      April 21, 2009 /

      According to the Baltimore Sun, the Ravens are reportedly willing to give up their first round pick (No. 26 overall) in order to acquire Cardinals’ wide receiver Anquan Boldin. Arizona is asking for a first and a third, but according to the report, the Ravens would also be willing to give up a second round pick and a veteran player.

      My cohort John Paulsen and I got into a discussion recently about whether or not it would be worth it for the Ravens to give up their first round pick in exchange for Boldin. My first question would be: What position(s) is Baltimore targeting at No. 26? They have an obvious need for wideout with Derek Mason turning 35 in January and it appears that Mark Clayton is already at his ceiling in terms of potential. An argument could be made that they need a safety to replace Jim Leonhard (who signed with the Jets this offseason), as well as defensive end to eventually replace Trevor Pryce.

      But if the Ravens have their sights on drafting a receiver at No. 26, then they should definitely trade for Boldin if they have the opportunity. Granted, it might cost them two draft picks in the process, but Boldin is already proven and even though he turns 29 in October, he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down and has at least four or five more productive years left in the tank. Plus, recent history has shown that receivers aren’t the safest picks in the first round, which also plays into the argument that the Ravens would be better of trading for a sure thing like Boldin.

      Conversely, if Baltimore is targeting another position in the first (i.e. a defensive starter), then they would probably be better served passing on Boldin and keeping their draft picks. Even though it would be nice for Joe Flacco to have a legit No. 1 receiver like Boldin to throw to, defense comes first. Teams like the Steelers, Patriots and Colts are competitive every year because all of them draft well. Even though Boldin would be a sure thing, the Ravens have to trust Ozzie Newsome’s scouting and rely on him to get an eventual starter at No. 26. The Steelers didn’t win two Super Bowls in the last five years because they traded for sure things. They relied on their scouting and built their roster through the draft.

      NFL, NFL Draft

      Boldin still an option for Eagles

      April 20, 2009 /

      Team president Joe Banner says that trading for Cardinals’ receiver Anquan Boldin is still an option for the Eagles.

      Anquan Boldin“We’re always looking for players that we think can make us better,” Banner said. “I think we’ve proven many times that we’d be willing to do what it takes, whether it be a trade or do something with somebody’s contract in order to get them here.”

      Given that the Eagles surrendered a first-round draft pick – the 28th overall – and a fourth-round pick to get Peters, they have less trade ammunition than they did a few days ago, but Banner said the team would not rule out dealing its remaining first-round pick, the 21st overall.

      “There are teams that start the year with only one first-round draft pick and they’ve traded them,” Banner said. “If we made another trade with a first-round draft pick, we’d just be in the same position as them. I think we’ll do whatever we evaluate to be the best move with any of the available players. . . . Some of the evaluation is about the quality of what we have at certain positions.”

      It would seem that the Eagles’ biggest decision right now is whether to go after one of the top running backs in the first round of Saturday’s draft or try to trade for Boldin or one of the other star receivers that could be available. Both Cincinnati’s Chad Ocho Cinco (Chad Johnson) and Cleveland’s Braylon Edwards also are on the trade market.

      This is one of those times when a team official says something without really saying anything. Philly GM Tom Heckert has said all along that the receiving corps is set, although I could see the Eagles adding a wideout in the later rounds come draft day.

      The Eagles are in “win now” mode, so adding a dynamic piece like Boldin is certainly still a possibility, but I just can’t see them giving up two first round picks and possibly a third before the draft even starts on Saturday. That’s just not the Eagles’ style.

      NFL, NFL Draft

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