BOLDIN SHOULD BE THE TARGET
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
BOLDIN SHOULD BE THE TARGET
Bob Brookover
Here's some free advice for the Eagles and coach Andy Reid: Make the deal for Anquan Boldin.
If it takes one of your first-round picks and a third-rounder, do it.
Here's why: Donovan McNabb.
Whatever happens in next weekend's draft won't matter one bit if McNabb doesn't think what the team has done this offseason has upgraded the potential success for the offense in general and the quarterback in particular.
We've all listened to McNabb talk about rookies before. He insists that they should not be counted upon to do great things, which is another way of saying he'll only trust them once they have proven they can be trusted.
McNabb knows that Boldin can be trusted. He can look at the 28-year-old receiver's track record and know that he is going to produce.
Some people might argue that Boldin is only good because he plays on the same team as Larry Fitzgerald, who is arguably the best receiver in the NFL right now. But if you examine Boldin's history, you'll see that one of his best seasons -- 101 catches for 1,377 yards and 8 TDs -- was in his rookie year of 2003 when Fitzgerald was still playing at Pitt.
Boldin, at 6-foot-1 and 217 pounds, would give the Eagles a big receiver who has proven he can score touchdowns. He had 11 TDs last season in just 12 games. The Eagles' receivers had a combined 10 TD catches last season and they haven't had a receiver with double-digit TD catches since Terrell Owens' departure.
The reason Boldin should be the Eagles' primary target instead of Chad Ochocinco or Braylon Edwards is simple. Boldin is less volatile and more reliable than the other two. Boldin is the kind of guy McNabb would love having on his side, which is why the Eagles need to make this happen.
An unhappy McNabb would probably doom this Eagles season even before it started.
Comments (47)
http://www.blog.bleacherreport.com/articles/157029-anquan-boldin-to-the-eagles-rumors-have-new-life Get him so the Giants don't.- Please get this man. He is perfect for our needs. He's a great receiver and a great guy. Does anyone remember his senior when he played half the Sugar Bowl at QB and half at WR? He's a beast and will put us over the top— tampaPhillyfan
- I wont bother wasting my energy hoping that this will happen because we all know the Eagles wont give up their coveted draft picks for a proven WR that they will then have to pay big $$. Im willing to bet the Cowboys and Giants make a much harder run at him than the Eagles ever would.— cujat13
- I agree with Tampa, don't be dumb a**es Banner, Laurie, Reid. get the dude. You will be much improved with him. Maybe even return to the BOWL. You remember that don't you?? This is your sub-conscious speaking Pick up Boldin . . .Pick ip Boldin . . . Don't be a dumb a**!— phillynupe4
- For once I agree with the couch sitting clubs that never ever once put on the pads in the NFL. For once I agree get this dude and make a run for the prize. Let him slip by and you'll be mediocre again in 2009..........— The Manager
- My comments come from Patsies country. It's hell being here listening to the trash they talk about my beloved Birds. Please give me some trash talking material to throw back at em this year. I'm so freakin sick of Tom Brady this and Tom Brady that. For once I'd love to be able to say yea, how bout DM in Philly— The Manager
- Please, Listen!!!!!!!!!!! The GUY IS "28". If they give a first Rnd pick for him the Ealgles will be loosing here. By past experiences we know that the "birds" dont like to give contracts to players over the 30 mark. Well, A.B would only play for us for 2 to 3 yrs max. NOT A GOOD Decision.— tonygreeneagle5
- get'em!— ag
- Man it seems is there for the taking..........— taas74
Comment removed.- Just give 'em a 1st and a 3rd and get this guy in Philly. But we all know that AR won't do it. Not when he can get 2 fat guys with those picks instead. Then AB will be in the NFC East in Dallas or NY...and then we are double effed. It really sucks being an Eagles fan.
- Can Boldin catch the ball at his feet, behind him, over his head? He's used to a great passer who drops the ball on his receivers' hands. That's not going to happen in Philly.— jhjack
- Comment removed.
- Tony..... how old was dawk last year??? I agree they dont like to pay old men but 2 to 3 years?? No way. Id say 4.... he has the skills to get it done for a long time to come. Id say give him a 5 year deal with a HUGE bonus this year.then work the way to that 5th year and nutty money that both he and the eagles know he wont get.— stevo8drum
- All Howard Eskin Fans shut up, and bring in Boldin.— Gmilst1
- Philly10... the only flaw i see in your post is the fact that Boldin is not TO.... he's not Chad either. Drew is sleezy no doubt.... but I have not really seen the crazy shwow we got with 81.— stevo8drum
- When are you people ever going to learn we don't need top notch receivers. We do just fine with mediocre or just below mediocre receivers. How many times does the coach have to tell you that his receivers are just fine. After all they have won several Super Bowls haven't they? Oh, that's right they haven't won a single Super Bowl. NEVER MIND!— mindstorms
- philly10- why do you consistenly use caps, it does not make your post stand out anymore than the others, each one is read the same, one at a time, down the list. Dude, turn the caps off. Also, if they can aquire Boldin, do it. If not, ocho cinco for a 2nd or less round pick, if not that, just get Crabtree if possible, or at least someone as talented as Jackson if not better.— Will.i.Am
- Offer a 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th for him and shut everyone else out. Donovan will be happy he has a weapon, fans happy we have a legit threat at reciever, Andy happy because now they don't have to run at all.— buhtz
- If the Birds can get him for a 1st and 3rd, and they, don't, then I will find it increasingly hard to watch this team next season. While I don't think WR is an urgent need for this team, Boldin makes them much better. All that said, if they don't solve the LT position, McNabb probably won't make it the entire season. The Eagles have enough picks to sign both Peters and Boldin.— chasing history
- Comment removed.
- I say get him. Give up the 1st rounder, he's worth it.— eglassiter
- Philly10 when Boldin was seen arguring with the coordinator on the sideline some present him as a troublemaker. I remember seeing Warner doing the exact thing with the coordinator and not a word is mentioned. Warner is presented as a leader but Boldin a troublemaker. Interesting..— mongoS
- most top notch players have drew rosenthal.. he does his job well. But all aside on drew, the eagles need this player and the 1st and 3rd pick is worthy of the trade. The eagles arent well known for drafting blockbuster 1st rounders anyway. This guy is the ticket, get him and Moreno and things will start going— crohnkiller
- I'm very circumspect of the 3 amigos but I don't ignore the facts either. How quickly some you knee-jerk Andy Reid & Co. bashers forget how hard they went after Randy Moss (was it last season???) - they didn't get him b/c he preferred to stay with NE, not because we didn't offer him a ton of money. Boldin is 28 and has a at least 4 elite seasons left in him. Between him and the continued growth of DeSean, the Eagles will be tough to deal with. I'd be willing to trade the other pick too for Jason Peters and then use remaining picks for running back, safety, and tight end.— philly57
- Comment removed.
- I SAY 1ST AND 3RD TO GET BOLDIN ALSO. HE'S A GOODT TALENT, WE DEFINITLY CAN USE HIM. I SAY GO FOR BOLDIN. THAT'S A GOOD OFFER BECAUSE HE'S A GO TO UY AND REALLY WE HAVE NOT HAD A GOT TO GUY SINCE T.O, BUT AQUAN BOLDIN IS MOST CERTAINLY THAT GO TO GUY THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID WE CAN PICK A OUNG PERSON OUT THE DRAFT. WE ALREADY GOT A YOUNG PERSON, DESEAN JACKSON, WE DON'T NEED TO YOUNG PEOPLE. IT SHOULD BE MCNABB THROWING THE BALL TO DESEAN AND AQUAN BOLDIN THAT'S THAT!!!!......— legaleagle1994
- Comment removed.
- Forget all the silly personal attacks I am reading, but answer this question. What did Boldin do against the Eagles in two games in 2008. He dropped a lot of balls on Thanksgiving Night, and was hardly thrown to in the NFC Championship Game. If Warner is considered a better QB than McNabb, how much is Boldin going to help them.— citizenkane
- Comment removed.
- jhjack, come on! Who was throwing him the ball before Warner? Can you name the list of losers? Yeah he can make the catches that 5 throws sometimes. And he will have instant trust in his abilities cause he has proven it. Warner and Fitz both went to bat for him. They were willing to cut their own salaries to keep him there. That talks volumes about his presence and abilities. He is that much of a difference maker that they would take LESS MONEY! Modern NFL players. the same ones that people complain about wanting too much. Go get him Eagles!— gbadair76
- Moss-everyone knows that was a ploy to help Randy get the new deal in NE. Reid is good friends with his agent and it looked good PR wise for the Birds.— mbradley101
- Don't forget that Kevin Curtis was injured for most of last season. With Kevin Curtis healthy, the Eagles have a pretty good receiving tandem. Boldin would help any team, but it's not imperative that the Eagles acquire him. Even without Boldin the Eagles have the best passing game in the division (unless the Giants trade for him).— p-diddy
- Comment removed.
- If the Eagles traded for L. Fitzgerald it wouldn't matter. They need to trade McNabb. They need a QB that can complete a pass when under pressure.— fred13
- Agent leverage..he resigns in Arizona after we jack up his price...we're being used again...— merlinknghts
- Dallas doesn't have the draft picks to acquire Boldin after trading for Roy Williams last year and the Giants may not want to give another WR that much money again so soon after getting burned by Burress and the fat new contract they gave him last fall. Rosenhaus isn't a problem, the Eagles have had a ton of players repped by Rosenhaus over the years...don't kid yourself, no agent can control TO, that guy does whatever he wants, he's a nutjob. Boldin has had QBs like Jeff Blake, Luke McNown, Leinart, etc. He can catch passes from anyone. Boldin wants a contract extension so the Eagles won't be trading for him unless they can sign him to at least a 4 year deal. If we get him, it won't be for 2 years. No team in their right mind would trade away 1st and 3rd round picks plus give a player a 4 year, 40 million extension just to keep the player away from another team...that's idiotic. They are only going to trade for the guy if they think he can help them win ballgames...and he can. Some people seem to be in love with draft picks...not sure why. Looking at the possible combos for a 1st and 3rd round pick for the Eagles this year, who helps the team win more ballgames in the next 2-3 years: Boldin, a back-up RB and a back-up TE, back-up RB and an OT who may or may not start, or an OT who may or may not start and a back-up TE? If this team was rebuilding, then you keep the draft picks. They aren't rebuilding though...they are simply re-loading. They were one drive away from making the Superbowl. McNabb and Westbrook aren't getting any younger. They need to play to win now.— JimG
- Instead of the Eagles throwing their 1st round and 3rd round picks at the cardinals for boldin, they should take those picks and try and trade up the board to get Crabtree. Boldin I don't think has played a full season in the NFL because of injuries and it will be a waste to through away those picks if we are not looking at the longterm. Boldin and McNabb injured and on the sideline next season isn't giving us a super bowl.— lasalleguy
- Gmilst1, who the @%$@ is a Howeird Eskin fan?? He's a true idiot of the highest order! Anybody listening to his show are idiots as well. If you want to listen to real sports talk without the name-calling and loud rants, listen to 950! In any event, stop dreamin about Boldin. The Eagles FO is tight, always has been tight and always will be tight when it comes to getting quality FAs except for when they got TWO and the Freak. Don't expect that this year. They are trying to do something in the draft that may excite you. And they're not listening to McWhiner either. I want to see what Dummyvan will do when they don't get the type of players in here that he asked for. I tell you what he will do. He'll shut the f up and play! Just what he's paid to do!
- Every organization should make its decisions on what an employee thinks, right? - NOT. Who cares abour McNabb's opinion. A first and a third for Boldin plus $10 million per is ridiculous!— Bama
- I like Boldin, but the idea that he is less volatile than the other two is a big stretch. This is a guy who yelled at his coaches during the NFC Championship Game and left the celebration early because he was still mad.— derrickwh
- get him— gulls3012
philly10, he is not the solution...johnnyu- for the love of god, please please get Boldin. we will be in the superbowl if we do.— FireAndyReid
- Comment removed.
- Taking all that has been said, I still think an experienced exceptional WR is worth a draft choice. Boldin can be a strong asset for the Birds. We need a person demanding attention to enhance the other components of the game. We were lucky last year getting a rookie who had increased reps due to camp injuries. Had that not occur, we would have never had the opportunity to see Jax. We have enough guys sitting who have developed to play at some position with quality depth. If we can BUY Peters and Boldin along with Moreno and Pettigrew for 6-7 of the picks we have in the bank - then DO IT! The un-drafted free agents have filled this roster in the past well. Make all the necessary moves this year at all necessary cost. No Draft pick is a guarantee nor have some trades delivered to expectations. Finish this off with 2 Trades and 2 Top Draft picks and fill in the blanks. It is only 'Virtual Paper' we are dealing...not Gold.— aden
- must have missed this article the other day. just wanted to say, that i couldn't agree more. i'm a big fan of getting the proven guy for a draft pick that seldom works out. there was a well made point of the birds having plenty of guys that are supposed to "pan out" down the road. boldin is a pure beast. did anyone see him get his head knocked of, have plastic surgery (face), and come back and play a few games later? yeah......i'll take him wearing the eagle wings on his helmet. get it done front office.— brownrice
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