Anquan Boldin: Eagles Willing To Pay Up?
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.
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.
FORGET BOLDIN! INJURY PRONE AND 2 HIGH OF A PRICE TAG. DO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT DREW ROSENHAUS AGAIN??— WPARKER800- I wouldn't give up the 1st round in most years but this year they have 2 picks in the first. Use it to get someone proven. I haven't slept well all week after hearing Freddie Mitchell on the radio the other day.— what?
- I would give the cards a first and a fifth, no more. (We have four fifth round picks...what a waste)If the cards could get a first and third, he would be gone already. I have serious concerns about his durability and his attitude. Also, he is not as good as everyone believes. Remember, he plays along side of Fitz. and thats who most defenses worry about.— yescadog
- Cogent column, and nice of you to open it up to us morons. Both sides are persuasive, and this leads me to ask, in definitive mathematical terms: what were T.O.'s numbers the year before he joined the Eagles?— barcelona fan
- From Joe Banner in his March interview with Howard Eskin: “We’re not interested in either player. Derrick Ward was never in for a visit. He’s been in the league five or six years, he has had some injuries, I’m glad he’s no longer in our division, but we think we need somebody who’s got a better projection in terms of staying healthy. Brian is a great back and we don’t need another back, so we had some concerns whether Derrick Ward could fill that role for future years, more than one. He may very well do that. T.J., WE'VE ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IF THERE'S A DIFFERENCE MAKING WIDE RECEIVER OUT THERE WE WOULDN'T HESITATE (to pursue him). With T.J., how big a difference is there with the players we have, and when we compared him to the Avants and DeSean Jacksons and Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown, we didn’t feel there was a big enough difference. And if a No. 1 wide receiver became available, he’d have a minimum role, and you’d have put a tremendous amount of money on him. We didn’t feel there was enough of a difference there between him and the people we had. Time to step up, Joe.— mikechris
- Whether u like him or not, McNabb is the key 2 a successful season. He is a very good QB. Is there a better option? I think not.— WPARKER800
- 29, has had injury problems? No. For heaven's sake, hasn't the Phils useage of has been pitchers been seen by the Birds?— KGKoons
- Y-E-S— osi is hurt boohoo
- No, by all means, do not make that deal. Hank Baskett is a flat out stud pro-bowler and future hall-of-famer. And Reggie Brown is such an amazing talent with so much speed that I could barely see him on the field last year.— lefty13153
- I'd take Edwards for less. Boldin is in a decline statistically (may be a bit of Fitz), but either guy would definitely improve the offense and give McNabb a much better chance of getting a Championship in Philly. I'd be happy with either one. Jackson is a good receiver, but we need a veteran "impact" player who can make serious plays.— PG
- Where do I sign?— sprew
- The 19th and 20th words of the second paragraph will tell you all you need to know— Nico Lange
- NO. NO. NO. For all the above stated, and coherent, reasons. NO!!
Comment removed.- I would not give up a 1 + 3 for him or Braylon. Edwards is basically Reggie Brown minus his one good year. I don't know why everyone is on his bandwagon. Here's my idea : 1) 1 and 3 for Jason Peters (sovles the tackle proble and he is young) 2) 1, 2 and a 2 next year to move up to 5 and grab Crabtree. 3) Stay where you are and grab a RB, OL, TE 1, 2 and 3— bdemz
