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Thread: Cardinals listen to offers for Boldin

  1. #1
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    Default Cardinals listen to offers for Boldin

    http://www.azcentral.com/sports/card...ldinup-CR.html

    Cardinals officials acknowledged Wednesday they are listening to trade offers for Anquan Boldin but said their preference is to re-sign the Pro Bowl receiver.

    But the fact the Cardinals are taking calls about Boldin signals a shift in the team’s stance. For the past year, team officials have been adamant about not trading Boldin, although they have left open the possibility that things could change.

    “A few” teams have called about Boldin, said coach Ken Whisenhunt, and the team, aware that stories could leak, didn’t want to give the perception that it’s trying to deal Boldin.

    “I think it would be foolish from our standpoint not to listen to those opportunities and see what actually exists,” Whisenhunt said. “Our position on Anquan has been consistent and our goal hasn’t changed.

    “Reaching an agreement on a new contract has been, and continues to be, the preferred result. There are other options. Those do include fielding offers about trade.”

    Cardinals General Manager Rod Graves declined to say how many teams have called, what they’ve offered or what the Cardinals would want in return for Boldin.

    “I think the fact that we’re coming out and acknowledging we’re willing to listen does not mean we haven’t listened in the past,” Graves said. “In my opinion, it’s not a change in position, just the fact that we’re acknowledging publicly that we are evaluating those interests.”

    The Cardinals have said they have other priorities before addressing Boldin’s contract, which has two years remaining. They have been trying to re-sign linebacker Karlos Dansby and have interest in extending strong safety Adrian Wilson’s contract.

    Doing all that, and re-signing Boldin in the same year is “certainly going to be challenging for us,” Graves said. “He’s under contract for two more years and as coach indicated, there is no urgency from our perspective.

    “However, we do realize his value and what he means to our football team.”

    While the Cardinals would like to keep Boldin, they don’t want to miss a possible opportunity to receive value in trade for him. And Boldin likely would command a high return.

    Last season, the Cowboys sent first, third and sixth-round picks to Detroit for receiver Roy Williams and a seventh-round pick, and Boldin is widely regarded as a better receiver than Williams.

    The Giants reportedly have been trying to deal for the Browns Braylon Edwards, so it would make sense for them to have interest in Boldin. The Eagles and Redskins also called last year to inquire about Boldin, and Boldin has expressed interest in playing in his home state of Florida, especially for the Dolphins.

    Boldin has a well-deserved reputation as one of the toughest players in the league, but teams trading for him must be comfortable with his durability and price tag. Boldin has dealt with a variety of injuries and played a full 16-game schedule just twice.

    Any team trading for Boldin likely would want to agree on a contract extension with the receiver before making the deal. Boldin has two years left on contract and is due to make $2.75 million in salary this year and $3 million next year.

    Boldin and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, twice requested a trade in 2008, but in February, Boldin backed off a vow never to re-sign with the team, provided the Cardinals made an offer in a reasonable amount of time.

    No offer has been made.

    Trading Boldin would be a dramatic change for the Cardinals. Boldin, who turns 29 in October, has made the Pro Bowl three times in six seasons and is an iconic figure with the team.

    For years, his leadership skills, work ethic and desire were lauded by team officials, and he commands a large amount of respect from his teammates.

    The Cardinals have another elite receiver in Larry Fitzgerald, and could be deep enough at receiver to compensate for Boldin’s departure, provided Fitzgerald stayed healthy.

    The Cardinals and Boldin enjoyed a productive relationship for five of his six seasons. The club took Boldin out of Florida State in the second round of the 2003 draft and he was chosen for the Pro Bowl as a rookie.

    He signed a four-year extension shortly before his third season, a deal that paid him $10 million in bonuses and averaged about $4 million a year.

    But as salaries escalated in the NFL, Boldin felt underpaid, especially when Fitzgerald signed a four-year, $40 million deal last spring.

    Boldin’s relationship with the team soured in late 2007 and early 2008. Boldin claims the team reneged on a promise to re-work his contract and vowed at training camp never to re-sign with the club.

    The Cardinals, however, said they made an offer to Rosenhaus in December of 2007, and that Boldin and Rosenhaus ultimately decided to wait and see Fitzgerald’s new contract.

    Last season was a tumultuous one for Boldin on the field, too. He made the Pro Bowl, despite missing four games, including two after he suffered facial damage because of a severe hit near the end of a game against the Jets in week four.

    A balky hamstring kept him out of the divisional playoff game against Carolina, and Boldin was involved in a heated exchange with offensive coordinator Todd Haley in the NFC title game against the Eagles.

    Boldin dismissed that incident as just two competitors caught in the heat of the moment, but it was telling that he didn’t stay around after the game to celebrate the conference title with his teammates.

    It wasn’t unexpected that other teams would inquire this spring about Boldin’s availability. Nor is it a shock that the Cardinals have decided to listen to those calls.

    “We know over the next week and half..there is going to be talk,” Whisenhunt said. “It has been for over a year now. We don’t want it to get out we’re trying to trade Anquan. We’re not trying to trade Anquan.”

  2. #2
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    Default

    Boldin would be smart to stay with the Cardinals. I know it's a "me" league and follow the money!

    BTW slim, in your avy, isn't that a character from 'Taxi' many moons ago or was it 'Welcome Back Carter'.

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  4. #3
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    That's slim from Taxi.



    .

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  6. #4
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    “A few” teams have called about Boldin, said coach Ken Whisenhunt, and the team, aware that stories could leak, didn’t want to give the perception that it’s trying to deal Boldin.

    “I think it would be foolish from our standpoint not to listen to those opportunities and see what actually exists,” Whisenhunt said. “Our position on Anquan has been consistent and our goal hasn’t changed.

    Sounds familiar.

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  8. #5
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    that is Andy Kaufman from Taxi

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  10. #6

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    They've (Cardnials) been flip-flopping on this for months now...

    I still have yet to hear a COMPELLING arguement from Boldin about why he's so unhappy...

    Dude needs to earn being the No. 1 and da-man - Fitz did.
    Last edited by Broncolingus; 04-16-2009 at 10:33 AM.

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  12. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by bronconut View Post
    that is Andy Kaufman from Taxi
    You mean, "Vic Ferrari."

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