SB Nation User Blog: birdstothebowl44

Anquan Boldin

birdstothebowl44 — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:27:37 -0000

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/08/18/cold-war-between-boldin-cardinals/

On the surface, everything appears to be fine. Arizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin wants a new contract, realizes he’s not going to get one that reflects his market value, and plans to honor the final three years of the deal before moving on.

Since Boldin shared his views on the matter several weeks ago, the story has died. The far bigger issues that have trickled out of camp relate to the struggles to produce healthy bodies at the center position, and the question of whether Kurt Warner will get his wish for an actual competition at the quarterback position.

But there’s a full-blown cold war between Boldin and the team. As we hear it, Boldin and coach Ken Whisenhunt have not communicated — at all — for the entire training camp and preseason. Boldin and none of the coaches are speaking, and Boldin has generally kept to himself.

This one runs deeper than the same-old contract squabbles. When the team opted to escape the cap crunch created by the back end of receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s rookie deal by giving him a four-year, $40 million contract, a huge disparity was created between two comparable players. For every dollar Boldin earns in 2008, Fitzgerald will get four.

The ratio doesn’t get much better in 2009 or 2010, the final two years of Boldin’s contract.

And, yes, a contract is a contract. However, when a team gives so much money to one of the two best wideouts in the game and doesn’t take care of the other one, it creates a serious problem.

The same dynamic plays out in workplaces throughout the country. Two people do the same job, and perform at about the same level. Each of them thinks in his or her heart that he’s more valuable than the other. So if one is getting rewarded significantly more than the other, the other naturally will feel unappreciated, and disrespected.

The Cardinals’ apparent plan is to get through the 2008 season with a $2.5 million salary to Boldin, and then to try to trade Boldin. They plan to re-start negotiations with Boldin later in the season, but unless they’re prepared to pay him in the same ballpark as Fitzgerald, a deal isn’t likely. In the interim, the team won’t give Boldin and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, permission to attempt to line up a suitable trade.

The reality is that the Cardinals have two No. 1 wideouts, but have chosen to pay only one of them accordingly. And, as a practical matter, they can’t pay two of them $10 million per year.

Though Boldin, by all appearances, doesn’t intend to launch a 2005 T.O.-style effort to get out of town, the fact that the relationship between player and team has deteriorated to the point of no communication is every bit as undesirable as the salary-cap conundrum that Fitzgerald’s contract created.

This one’s even more potentially disruptive, even if Boldin does nothing to be disruptive. Fitzgerald’s situation played out in the offseason. Boldin’s case is unfolding at a time when it’s important to get and to keep everyone on the same page.

The challenge for the Cardinals is to decide whether they want one more year of Fitzgerald and Boldin under the present circumstances, or whether they want to get what they can for Boldin and move on.

The problem is that, as the 2008 regular season approaches, other teams will be less inclined to bring in a key new player, pay him huge money, and scramble to get him ready to play.

Tell me what you think

birdstothebowl44 — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:33:59 -0000

Yo i was just curious to see what you guys think of Winston Justice. I know he played bad in the one game, but just think of the circumstances. Justice started his first game, which is already enough to make anyone nervous. Next, he went up against osi umenyura, a pro bowler, and that giant defense is similar to the eagles, so its had to read whos blitzing and whos not and the o-line is constantly being attacked. And if you remember back to the '06 draft Justice was a top 10 talent and fell because he was believed to have character issues. So as you may have guessed i still think he could be good, but this isnt about me so tell me what you think.

The Linebackers

birdstothebowl44 — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:47:09 -0000

This group could turn out to be one of if not the best in the league for many years to come. You have great size: Bradley 6'4", Gocong 6'3", and Gaither 6'2" and they are all pretty athletic and quick. Gaither is the guy whose going to get a ton of tackles and is moving back to the position he played in college, Bradley i think could turn out to be a great steal in the 3rd round if tht last game and his proformance on special teams were any indication of what he can be. Gocong could be the most interesting however. He now has a good grasp on the defense that as we all no is very complicated. And Jim Johnson should be able to use him as a great tweener at DE and LB. He could be the Eagles best linebacker. Its not just the starter though. Akeem Jordan should get on the field and contribute this year. Rocky Boiman can lead this group and should be able to play, he started 8 games for the colts last year. And the other guy to watch is Joe Mays. Mays I think will make the team because of his special teams ability. You will probably have to wait a few years to see him but he could provide a guy who can come in and just destroy one of those losers on Dallas. Even look oh lets say 3 years from now. Bradley should be a top linebacker and anchor the defense, his backup, Joe Mays, should develop into a feared hitter that can play against the run. Gaither will probably be a guy who is always good enough to make the pro bowl but always gets snubbed, behind him is Jordan who could be a solid back up. Then the pass rushers. Gocong could develop into something like Jason Taylor. He probably won't be as good but the style of play will be similar. I'm just guessing Studebaker he may be a total bust but he could be on the roster and be a situaitonal pass rushing LB. The future looks great for this group of Eagles.