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Like the guy who smokes two packs of cigs a day who finally admits he needs to quit, the Arizona Cardinals have finally admitted that, yes, they'll listen to teams who are interested in Anquan Boldin.

The Cardinals have steadfastly and stubbornly refused to say they'll move their receiver, instead of insisting that they want to sign him long term. Call it posturing, call it denial, call it bluffing. The Cards were telling anybody who would listen that Boldin wasn't going anywhere.

But Wednesday Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt admitted "it would be foolish from our standpoint not to listen to those opportunities and see what actually exists."

In other words: You want him? Hit us with an offer.

If they're going to move him, now is the time. The NFL Draft is in a week and a half. The Cards will surely get/want a pick or two for him. Making the whole world know he can be had now, gives you time to acquire those picks and formulate a plan on how to use them.

It's not exactly the Broncos making Jay Cutler available - the Cardinals are being a little more subtle than that - but it's close.

Unlike the Cardinals, my position hasn't changed on this issue since last August. Move him. Dangle him and see what receiver-hungry team offers up the most for him.

The Cardinals are a pass-first offense, there is no doubt. And the duo of Larry Fitzgerald and Boldin perfectly fits that identity.

But ask yourself this. When did the Cardinals play their best football last year? (January)

And how instrumental was Boldin during that stretch? (not very)

In the three playoff games Boldin played in (he missed the Panthers game), he averaged about 63 yards receiving per game. Take away his long touchdown catch against the Falcons and it dips to 37 yards per game.

He was hurt, sure, but that's not the point. The point being...they didn't need him. When he gets into that shouting match with Todd Haley during the NFC title game, he's upset because the Cardinals decided they could win the game without him. And sure enough they did.

Larry Fitzgerald kicked down the door to stardom last year. In the middle of that awakening it dawned on us. Boldin is a luxury that the Cards don't have to have. The fans saw it during the run to the Super Bowl. Boldin saw it when he wasn't on the field against the Eagles.

There is a certain amount of shrewdness you need in the NFL. It requires tough decisions. Do you think the Patriots would commit huge dollars to two wide receivers? The Steelers?

I don't either. And the Cards are doing the right thing.

P.S. - I jotted down a "W" or "L" next to each game when I saw the Cards schedule. After I added them all up, I had an 11-5 record staring at me. Let's assume I'm still trippin' on the Super Bowl high and being a little generous. Fine. 10-6. But I still think it could be 11-5.

What do you think?

6 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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    ForkinKats4life wrote...
    Boldin
    April 16, 2009 2:00 pm
    Who would be against Knowshon Moreno and 3,6 round picks for Boldin? Especially in a time when players are contributed big numbers striaght outta college. Theres still alotta teams that I haven't heard in the trade talks that plan on drafting a reciever. If they smartin up and want a proven player I think we could be getting some good value in a biddin war. We can't keep him. He wants money that we cant give him. I'm not saying hes not worth big money, but we can't overextend ourselves at one spot. I dont see him here for more than two years and if thats the case we get nothing for him. Whiz will make the right move and deal him.
  • Abuse
    MotleyDogg wrote...
    why cant we keep him?
    April 16, 2009 5:22 pm
    HE IS UNDER CONTRACT!!!! Boldin cannot dictate what happens,.. the Cards are going to dictate everything. The draft is in 10 days,.. if he is not traded by then, he will not be traded. I think he is not going to be traded, signs a contract extension by preseason,.. if not,.. we can still trade him next year,... there is absolutely no reason for the Cards to trade him at this time, and would be a mistake
  • Abuse
    ForkinKats4life wrote...
    what i think
    April 16, 2009 5:44 pm
    We can keep him for two years and get nothing after. No one will trade for him next year with one year left on a contract. They will give next to nothing or wait for free agency. Boldin wants Fitz money and no team can give two players that play the same position that much money. The problem is that he feels mistreated, but its his and his agents fault. They jumped at a deal to fast to get gauranteed money. We all love Boldin and what he's meant for this franchise, but we need to look to the future. Theres no way they'll reach a deal. Boldin wants the money he deserves and the Cards can't afford him. You can continue the value he holds with the team for years to come in a deal. Or you can keep him two years and he leaves and we ultimately lose all that value and get nothing.
  • Abuse
    MotleyDogg wrote...
    not quite
    April 16, 2009 7:03 pm
    First Boldin signed a good contract when he signed it,.. he was offered another over a year ago,.. he just feels he deserves more and that is the whole issue. The Cards CAN pay him a big salary close to Fitz, if it is long term,... the cap gurus can make it work,... but why wouldn't anyone trade for him next year??? That is a silly comment,... would they be willing to trade and get the guy they want and give him a bigger contract over long period of time,... or wait and gamble that he goes to one of 30 other teams??? See how silly your argument now becomes? If a team wants him, they will trade next year.
  • Abuse
    Bugeater wrote...
    In return
    April 16, 2009 9:11 pm
    We better be impressed. And I think starting with a 1st and 3rd rounder is a good start. ... Preferably a 1st Top 15, at least Top 20.
  • Abuse
    ForkinKats4life wrote...
    again
    April 16, 2009 11:06 pm
    Thanks for clearing up the issue. Although it sounds alot like what I already typed. You can't just sign him to a Larry deal. Contracts arent backended anymore because athletes dont want to risk injury or getting cut and losing the bulk of their money.Thats why garaunteed money is such a big deal. So lets just say 10 million each a year for both Larry and Q. Then you got Warners salary and what you have left is 90 million. Which calculates out to 1.8 million for the remaining 50 players. You have plenty of players making alot more than that so the average is even lower than that. As far as trading now opposed to next year the Cards will get more this year. One they have half the league looking at Boldin with most needing a real #1 wr therefore driving up the offers. Its nice to have that whole supply and demand thing on your side. And whose to say how many people will need a wr next year. Someone will always need one but how many? How much will they give, half their draft? Not likely with one year left. With less bidders the offers will lessen.The point was to get the most you can from him. Meaning if the a trade is to happen (which i think it surely will) this is the year to do it. I'll give up one extra year of Boldin for 5 years of the. Thats how the top frachises stay on top having vision.
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