Anquan Boldin: Eagles Willing To Pay Up?
Philadelphia Inquirer Sports Columnist Bob Ford writes about the Eagles, the Phillies, the Sixers and the Flyers.
Anquan Boldin: Eagles Willing To Pay Up?
Bob Ford, Inquirer Sports Columnist
The way the Cardinals tell it, they haven't just this week decided to listen to trade offers for receiver Anquan Boldin. They just decided to tell the world they are listening.
Why? Well, they appear to be tiring of the unhappy act they keep getting from Boldin and agent Drew Rosenhaus. Boldin is signed for two more seasons -- at a total of $5.75 million -- but puts his uniform pants on one leg at a time next to Larry Fitzgerald, who makes $10 million a season.
As the coach and general manager point out in the story from the Arizona Republic, their preference is to keep Boldin, but recognize that making him happy might not be possible.
The team has more pressing contract extensions to complete with linebacker Karlos Dansby and strong safety Adrian Wilson, and just shelled out a $15 million signing bonus to quarterback Kurt Warner. Even if the Cards wanted to make Boldin a very rich man, they might not have the cash lying around. Or so they intimate.
What would it cost for another team to lift Boldin from the Cards? He turns 29 in October and has something of an injury history, playing a full 16-game schedule just twice in his six NFL seasons. Last year, if it matters, he also criticized the team and the coach and got into a sideline squabble with the offensive coordinator during the conference championship game against the Eagles, and departed the stadium before celebrating with his teammates. Perhaps that's all a product of the contract unhappiness and would disappear in a new setting with a new deal. Perhaps.
What would it cost? Beat writer Kent Somers, who is very plugged in out there, guesstimated in his blog that a first-round and a third-round pick would probably satisfy the Cardinals. Taking that at face value, would the Eagles make that deal? They hold two first-round picks and 12 draft picks overall, and fully admit they don't intend to use all those picks themselves.
If they did make the trade, they would have to do the contract upgrade, putting Boldin in that 4-year/$40 million range he's seeking. That could have a domino effect on the contract status of Donovan McNabb, who also has two years left on his deal and might think he'd be in line for a bump from the organization before an outsider gets one.
So, do you make the deal for a first and a third to get Boldin? Your thoughts.
i bet the eagles are going to sit on their thumbs and do nothing with the wideout position. boldin isn't the answer, it's the attitude of the owners, general manager, coaches, and veterans in the locker room. there's no leadership in the organization.— PhilliGuy- NO. The Birds are in a rebuilding mode and most people haven't figured that out yet. McNabb has 1 year before the window is shut. Also, Westbrook is 1-2 years away from the broadcasting booth. Use the two 1st rounders to build up the offense for the next QB, whomever that may be.— Joe Funk
- P.S. Thank God Madden is gone. I'm still seasick from when he had the "coach's clicker".— Joe Funk
- once again, PULL THE TRIGGER ON THIS ONE!!!!! he needs us as bad as we need him!! the man DOES WORK!!!!!!!!— boxxxcutta
- Can we send a 1st and a 3rd to make Drew Rosenhaus go away?— craigaroo74
- Forget it. You guys are crazy to think the Eagles would want to relive the whole T.O. thing again. Have you forgotten it was Rosenhaus who was dangling the strings in this exact same act with T.O.? Anquan is heading to Dallas. They're the only team gullible enough to play this game with Rosenhaus. The Eagles would never go for this and they shouldn't. I'd only offer them Reggie and Jerry Jones' phone number in return for keeping Rosenhaus out of Philly.— dapmman
- I'm so sick and tired of this jibberish. He will never be an Eagle. And I guess I'm the only fan that doesn't want him. He's a chick.— LF
- Only for our 2nd and Reggie Brown, Do a three year deal for $10 Mil per with a team option on he fourth.— jss31
- You do it.Draft picks are hit and miss, mostly miss, and he would make the team better. You still have another 1st round pick.— evince
- Some of you guys are crazy saying you wouldn't do it then who do you want give a boat load of money to a rookie tackle like the guy from Baylor like he can help the red zone troubles they need somebody who can catch the ball across the middle then take it to pay dirt and thats Boldin or Edwards.— PAPOOSE
Gotta do something... that is for sure.— gho_matt- All things equal, No. If you're the EAGLES, YES! A 1st and 3rd and $10 /mil a year is overpaying for the player, but in their case they need to knowingly overpay for the player in order to win a Super Bowl. It's not bad business to overpay every once in awhile if it means getting yourself over the top. Bolding is still relatively young and would make our WR corps. maybe the best in the NFL. In all seriousness, Curtis and D Jackson are pretty darn good, but they lack the physical play and size to be #1 WRs. Add Anquan and watch the type of year Donovan has. He would be off the charts with that WR group. Another thing, you give up a 1st and 3rd and you STILL have your entire draft in tact on a normal year! What do they have to lose?— Jack Napier
- Yes, plain and simple, yes. It is an upgrade from what they have and by their own standards that is reason enough to do the deal. He is better then anyone they have today, for goodness sake they put a claim in on a WR Tampa released that was a former #4 pick. Obviously they are looking for WR's. DO IT, DO IT NOW!!!!— Stunnedin Philly
- ...oh and keep in mind, somebody will. So would you rather have him in a Giants uniform? Pats? or worst yet Cowgirls?!?!?! It is time for this team to step out of the rest of the leagues shadows and do something bold. So what he will cost $10m...So will the guy you take with that #1 oick and we have no idea if he will be the next star or bust. With Boldin you risk is less, all the more reason to do it.— Stunnedin Philly
- I have read your blogs and have yet to hear how the Eagles will replace both tackles, their best safety and help a running back who has had more problems playing a complete season than your hated QB. Not to mention how they intend to help their QB improve the offense at WR. I say again, no offensive player is going to be overly excited about joing the Eagles if the QB position is not secured with McNabb at the helm. All this talk about Boldin, Ocho and Braylon are a mute point. Pay very close attention to the next two weeks, this will become the defining moment for the Eagles 2009-2010 season & your hopes and aspirations for Kevin Kolb.— thetruth1960
