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.
do the deal now for a 1st and 3rd why not braylon, he is younger and just as good. How come the eagles arent interested in him. BLOWS MY MIND!— montymiller
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- We don't know who the Eagles are interested in. Reports say a team has offered the Browns a #1 pick for Edwards and it WASN'T the Giants. Maybe it was the Eagles? Maybe they will unload a #1 for Boldin? They went after Fitz and Moss prior to last season, so they could make a play for either Edwards or Boldin. But they also may think DeSean is ready to be a true #1 receiver, which would negate the reason to acquire another wideout.— StopThePanic
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- I say if possible trade for ol peters first. The gmen has greatly improved there dline and that has to be a major concern. 5 can't through to anyone if he is on his back. A 1st(21st) another draft pick or two, other than the 28th, and any young o lineman for Peters. So that's either two draft picks and a player or one draft pick and two players for Peters. Then go for Bolden with the 1st (28th) and any other draft pick and either R.Brown or Avante for Boldin. Now you've adressed both offensive needs and you have 6 to 8 more draft picks for depth at any other position. You also get two proven players but especially a proven player on the o line where it counts the most. If the Bolden trade can't happen go for Ocho Crazy or one of the top 5 recievers with the picks and players I mentioned for Boldin. Solidify the o line first. 5 will like that— VegasEagleFan
- I say if possible trade for ol peters first. The gmen has greatly improved there dline and that has to be a major concern. 5 can't through to anyone if he is on his back. A 1st(21st) another draft pick or two, other than the 28th, and any young o lineman for Peters. So that's either two draft picks and a player or one draft pick and two players for Peters. Then go for Bolden with the 1st (28th) and any other draft pick and either R.Brown or Avante for Boldin. Now you've adressed both offensive needs and you have 6 to 8 more draft picks for depth at any other position. You also get two proven players but especially a proven player on the o line where it counts the most. If the Bolden trade can't happen go for Ocho Crazy or one of the top 5 recievers with the picks and players I mentioned for Boldin. Solidify the o line first. 5 will like that. Any young o lineman other than the Andrews brothers and Herremans and Jackson.— VegasEagleFan
- One of the top 5 recievers in the draft and one of the young o lineman McGlynn, King Dunlap, Justice Patrick etc— VegasEagleFan
- yes, do it. every "proven" WR is going to be approaching 30, so that argument is just silly. or else take your chances on drafting the next Freddie or Reggie. so what if we overpay? if he is better than anything we have, better than anyone else available, and makes everyone around him more productive...what exactly is that worth?— birdfannnj
- Braylon Edwards? Really? The last thing we need is a WR who constantly drops passes. Seriously, our QB throws at your feet and behind you, we need a receiver who can handle that....Boldin may fit that description— FlyersKevin
- No— Kevin O.
- I like Boldin but he's not worth 10Million/year. I would not pay him more than 7.5 to 8 million/season the deal should be incentived based on games played. Tha't all I got to say about Boldin.— CapitanesFua
- Trade #5 Please. I'll play receiver!— tmack33
- I wouldn't give up a 1 and a 3 for him. Maybe if he came with no baggage, but I don't want another prima donna WR.— Bobphxville
- The Eagles have yet to decide what they are going to do with McNabb. As I have said before, no top flight receiver will come to the Eagles unless they are assured Donovan will be at the helm. Watch and listen very carefully on what the McNabb camp & the Eagles Joe Banner are contemplating. The assumption is absolutely correct about Donovan requesting more money, after all the B.S. he has had to deal with, the Easgles stabbing him in the back with that benching episode, the media and their constant controversy and disrespect? the media driven fanbase lack of appreciation and badgering, do you blame him for making everyone I just mentioned pay dearly? I don't. When you have a high caliber QB on your team and you only give him a bonafide WR once and they continue to win inspite of the odds, it's not by accident that your QB has been the key person to keep the Eagles in contention. But sad to say most of the bloggers here think it was eveybody but McNabb that played above and beyond their expectations. with the cast of characters around him, I think that concept is greatly mistaken. So again I say, Run Donovan Run forget the money and save yourself from this putrid environment.— thetruth1960
