Common Misconception: Anquan Boldin Not A Free Agent
Anquan Boldin is not a free agent — he has two years left on his current deal with the Cardinals. I’ve heard everyone from my old man to all kinds of various other people (especially in our comment threads), and it’s simply not true. He became upset with his existing contract when Larry Fitzgerald signed a new deal that was bigger than his. From Wikipedia:
Boldin requested a trade following the 2007 season when his fellow wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald signed a four-year, $40 million contract extension with Arizona [2] and the Cardinals declined to renegotiate Boldin’s contract. He has two years with $12 million remaining on his current contract.
So, Boldin will not be coming with Todd Haley to the Chiefs. If we want to add another elite receiver, our only two options are really either drafting Michael Crabtree or signing T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who in my opinion is a lot like Dwayne Bowe.
You forgot the option of Boldin being traded. I don’t think he’ll be in Arizona next year. I think he’ll be traded this offseason.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:18 amYou are all forgeting that Boldin and Haley don’t care to much for each other.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:26 amMichael Smith — who along with Adam Schefter and Jay Glazer I trust more than anybody — said emphatically recently that they Cardinals won’t trade him. They are cheap and will want to keep one of the better receivers in the league around for what they are paying him. A trade could happen, but I doubt it. I didn’t mention it intentionally.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:28 amI’m not forgetting that either. But one argument doesn’t mean they hate on another. I believe they have even gone on record to say the opposite.
My senior year of high school I played tight end. I got a stupid holding call that killed a drive. Our O.C. went crazy on the sideline, grabbed my facemask and slapped the shit out of my helmet. Did we hate each other? No, he’s my brother’s best friend’s dad and a close friend of the family, which is probably why he felt so comfortable getting in my face. I still am on fantastic terms with him a decade later. People who care for each other often have the most heated exchanges.
People waste time reading way too much into what goes on on the sidelines. You’d probably comprehend more watching a Russian movie without the subtitles. The only thing we need to know from that occurrence is that Haley won’t take any flak from his players.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:34 amI agree that their blowup was over hyped. It happens all the time, it was just the stage that it happened on that made it such a big deal. So Adam with the GM and HC on board and no idea if they will retain Gailey and who will be in as DC do you foresee your mock draft remaining the same. I emphatically agree with your pick. The only other viable option that I see is one of the elite OT or Curry.
Also could you please address the folks out there that insist on trading down. I think we can both agree that this will not happen without a rookie salary cap. Has anyone traded into the top 3 and when was the last time since Ricky Williams?
Finally who do you honestly see us going after in free agency?
February 6th, 2009 at 11:46 amIt would be overblown if it was only an isolated incident but it was not. There is a history here that precedes Boldin and the Cards. That, in addition to the playoff setting, is why the incident received the extra scrutiny that it did.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:59 amYa but that was with T.O. Honestly who hasnt had beef with T.O?
February 6th, 2009 at 12:05 pmSay what you will about T.O., he was not the one who ended up the worse for wear as a result of that little dust up.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:10 pmAnd how did that turn out for the Boys? I’m not disagreeing with you its just I see alot of in common between Boldin and TO.
So where do you stand on the Crabtree debate?
February 6th, 2009 at 12:23 pmBaldy,
You’re right. I believe nobody has traded up for any position other than a quarterback (Vick, Eli) inside the top five since Ricky, who was picked fifth. That being said, unless someone really wants Sanchez or Stafford it won’t happen. Any other position besides QB isn’t worth the gambling on. Losing extra picks and all that money for one player — risky business.
Free agency. Hmmm…I think Peppers and Suggs could be out of our price range, especially with all of our holes. Knowing Clark Hunt, yeah. Probably Bart Scott or Karlos Dansby, who knows Haley well. Maybe Kenechi Udeze if we think he’s salvageable. Could be a steal. Offensive lineman like Jason Brown or Mark Tauscher. Maybe even a T.J. Houshmandzadeh with Haley coming on board. Maybe even Kurt Warner.
Picking Crabtree just depends on what we do in free agency and what happens in the combine. If the draft was today, I’d pick him in a heartbeat, but a lot can change in almost three months.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:35 pmCrabtree? I’m actually pretty high on him, especially if Haley is indeed the new HC. Right now, he’s my #2 choice (behind Curry) for the Chiefs 1st pick. I have to see who our DC will be and what we do in FA to fix our holes on D before I can fully decide on whether Crabby makes the most sense. If we don’t take Crabtree and we’ve made improvements to our OL (again through FA) then I would want Heyward-Bay for our 2nd pick (we’ll probably have to trade up to get him).
February 6th, 2009 at 12:39 pmEven if he is gone Iglesias would be there possibly. If OG Duke Robinson or either of the Centers are there I think thats where we should go. Again depending on FA.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:45 pmDo you see us looking at CB Bodden or do you think they are comfortable with the 2nd yr guys. Surtain is certainly gone and he could be available soon.