Anquan Boldin: What a statement of a Man...

[Shane]

Boldin crying poor

When has Q done this? Quotes please?

 

[Skkorpion]

Reading this thread is like watching the movie Groundhog Day. Wish I had done neither.

 

[82CardsGrad]

According to you who have ZERO KNOWLEDGE says hes been treated well. He says he was lied to and that the Cards IE Graves have not bargained in good faith. The evidence points to Q being correct. If true your statements are way off base. Just being paid well isnt enough to say hes been treated "extremely well"

Q claiming he was "lied to" as he snuggles up with Rosenhuas is just not convincing to me...

"Lied to".... hmmmm... wonder that what really means... I would love to know exactly what Q feels to be a "lie". As far as I can see, the Cards have treated him extremely well... And have stated time and again that they desire to keep Q a Cardinal - which means, he will once again receive yet another huge signing bonus.

I swear, I'm so done with athletes who have zero connection to the real world. Q's made more money than 95% of this country will ever make. He has a chance to receive another new contract and another huge bonus, but feels he was "lied to" and therefore he has the right to whine and fake injuries...
I wonder if the 5 million Americans who have lost their jobs over the last 3 years or so feel like they were "lied to"?
I wonder if UAW members who are being forced into constant, almost daily renegotiations feel like they were "lied to"...

Sorry Shane. Q feeling like he was "lied to" is almost laughable to me.

 

[az1965]

You say cutting players is "part of the system" well I say players using whatever leverage they have to try and get a new deal is "part of the system" They have to be able to fight back somehow with owners that arent required to "honor their contracts"

Which is fine... I never said that players should not try whatever they can "within the limits of the contract and system". I was merely commenting on the other aspect.

Also, depending upon what Q is upset on, he may or may not be right. If he is upset that management lied to him that is different. But if he is upset just on the contract. He and his agent did agree on this contract. Now, don't tell me they did not know what the market is going to be 2 years down. If they could not project the prices and cap space then that is their problem. But, agents should be able to project within a reasonable ballpark figure what the salaries should be next 2-3 years and negotiate accordingly.

 

[Shogun]

How is the FO being dishonest? Was giving him a contract offer during the regular season dishonest when Boldin was the one who declined it, waiting to see what Fitz would receive and being told in advance that he would no longer be at the front of the line in regards to contract negotiations? You cannot cry foul for that. I don't see the issue there at all.

Q is trying to cash in one last time and while I can't blame him, I don't like how he's doing it. I'm all for players getting money because it's a dangerous sport, but what I do not support is players jockeying a new deal every other year. This would be Q's third deal in 6 or 7 years. Same thing with Dockett. As a player, you either pick the security of having a long-term deal or take the short term deal with the large guaranteed money; you cannot have it both ways and throw a fit when you find out you can't.

 

[jw7]

No they dont. Hood had 2 YEARS left on his contract. Laboy 4 YEARS left etc.. etc.. They did not honor that contract by cutting them.

Shane, I normally agree with you 99% of the time but you are dead wrong on this. The players, agents and the team know that long term money is funny money. The team has the option to cut them at any time and that is in the contract. That's why signing bonuses are so important. Cutting a player does not equal not honoring a contract.

You say cutting players is "part of the system" well I say players using whatever leverage they have to try and get a new deal is "part of the system" They have to be able to fight back somehow with owners that arent required to "honor their contracts"

I agree with you here. The best example I can think of was about 10 years ago when Emmit Smith held out the first 2 games and the Cowboys started 0-2. He had leverage and was entitled to do so.

The problem is, as much as I love Q and have 2 #81 jerseys, he does not have leverage. He is not the #1 WR, often injured, and the Cards won without him. Is he underpaid? Yes. But the Cardinals have all the leverage on this one.

 

[Shane]

Shane, I normally agree with you 99% of the time but you are dead wrong on this. The players, agents and the team know that long term money is funny money. The team has the option to cut them at any time and that is in the contract. That's why signing bonuses are so important. Cutting a player does not equal not honoring a contract.

In many cases I would agree with you. But Laboy's contract wasnt loaded with funny money. All of his big money came up front IIRC. Soemthing the CArds have been doing lately with their "roster bonuses" The Cards are one of the few teams that have been doing doing this and giving most of the bonus money up front. Not having a bunch of silly incentives that you know the player has no chance of reaching.

You are right Q has little leverge. Thus he is using what tactics he has. Which admittedly aint much.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Q claiming he was "lied to" as he snuggles up with Rosenhuas is just not convincing to me...

"Lied to".... hmmmm... wonder that what really means... I would love to know exactly what Q feels to be a "lie". As far as I can see, the Cards have treated him extremely well... And have stated time and again that they desire to keep Q a Cardinal - which means, he will once again receive yet another huge signing bonus.

I swear, I'm so done with athletes who have zero connection to the real world. Q's made more money than 95% of this country will ever make. He has a chance to receive another new contract and another huge bonus, but feels he was "lied to" and therefore he has the right to whine and fake injuries... I wonder if the 5 million Americans who have lost their jobs over the last 3 years or so feel like they were "lied to"? I wonder if UAW members who are being forced into constant, almost daily renegotiations feel like they were "lied to"...

Sorry Shane. Q feeling like he was "lied to" is almost laughable to me.

This is all an understandable basis for your feelings, but this has "zero connection" with the issues that divide Q and the FO, and that you think that they some how should "is almost laughable to me".

 

[jw7]

. But Laboy's contract wasnt loaded with funny money.

I agree with you again. I was shocked at the cut. I was shocked at the cut of Hodel. But it was not a matter of dishonoring contracts.

 

[Shane]

I agree with you again. I was shocked at the cut. I was shocked at the cut of Hodel. But it was not a matter of dishonoring contracts.

Sure it is. The cards signed him for his services for 5 years. They cut him after 1. Just because they can nullify doesn't mean they didn't fulfill that 5 year obligation.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Sure it is. The cards signed him for his services for 5 years. They cut him after 1. Just because they can nullify doesn't mean they didn't fulfill that 5 year obligation.

PS: let's not forget that Laboy failed a physical.

 

[jw7]

Sure it is. The cards signed him for his services for 5 years. They cut him after 1. Just because they can nullify doesn't mean they didn't fulfill that 5 year obligation.

OK, this is where we disagree. It is not an obligation unless the team chooses to keep him, and then they are obligated to pay the signed salary commitment. The players, agents and team all know this. It's been NFL SOP for years.

 

[82CardsGrad]

This is all an understandable basis for your feelings, but this has "zero connection" with the issues that divide Q and the FO, and that you think that they some how should "is almost laughable to me".

The "issues" between Q and the FO are all Q's "issues." He's the employee. The employer has treated their employee extremely well during his tenure, and has offered strong indications that they plan to continue to treat their employee extremely well in the future.

The "issues" I raised regarding American workers and UAW members of course have "zero connection" to Q's issues - strictly speaking. However, my comparable illustration still stands...
I happen to see Q's antic, in the light of how he's been treated thus far by the Cards, and in context with what is happening to millions of Americans as simply intolerable... The fact that he feels he was "lied to" is simply the kicker for me.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

The "issues" between Q and the FO are all Q's "issues." He's the employee. The employer has treated their employee extremely well during his tenure, and has offered strong indications that they plan to continue to treat their employee extremely well in the future.

The "issues" I raised regarding American workers and UAW members of course have "zero connection" to Q's issues - strictly speaking. However, my comparable illustration still stands...
I happen to see Q's antic, in the light of how he's been treated thus far by the Cards, and in context with what is happening to millions of Americans as simply intolerable... The fact that he feels he was "lied to" is simply the kicker for me.

Q is not simply an employee. He is an individual contractor whose services have been contracted for a set period. There are rights and obligations on both parties and to date both have respected their legal obligations. Either can break the agreement and accept the penalties pursuant or negotiate a severance.

We have certainly not come to this.

I too believe that, in the end, Q will get a new deal that is more in keeping with his true market value as both parties agree that his services are undervalued.

Everything else is just noise and I have a hard time understanding why people get so upset about the he said... he said... of it all.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Q is not simply an employee. He is an individual contractor whose services have been contracted for a set period. There are rights and obligations on both parties and to date both have respected their legal obligations. Either can break the agreement and accept the penalties pursuant or negotiate a severance.

We have certainly not come to this.

I too believe that, in the end, Q will get a new deal that is more in keeping with his true market value as both parties agree that his services are undervalued.

Everything else is just noise and I have a hard time understanding why people get so upset about the he said... he said... of it all.

Whatever... you and I will disagree... As for the "noise" and the "he said" crap - it's tiring.. but that's just me. Now, when you start juvenile games like faking injuries, that's beyond noise.. I'm so embarassed for Q...

 

[Cards232]

AW is the consummate team player, loyal teammate. Is AW worth more than what he's being paid? Of course. Did he sign a contract for not only what he was worth then, but what both sides felt he would be worth for the duration of the contract? Yes. Has he exceeded expectations? Of course.

However, AW is a man of integrity. He signed a contract & is willing to live up to what he signed even though he may have "outgrown" the contract as currently constituted. He's not demanding a trade. He's not trashing the organization in public. He's not fighting w/ his coordinator, in front of his team, during the most important drive in Cards history up to that point, a fight that could have disrupted the drive that took us to the SB. He's not leaving the stadium in a tantrum after winning the most important game in Cards history up to that point, leaving his family there waiting for him on the field, while he ducts out w/........none other than his agent Drew Rosenhaus! And finally, he's not faking an injury just to make a point about his contract.

No, AW has done none of that. Rather, he has been the consummate team member & professional. AW cares more about integrity & his team than anything else.

Boldin used to be all about those things. He no longer is. He has instead sold his soul to the devil (Rosenhaus). I hear what a great teammate Boldin is. Do any of the things I just described indicate a great teammate? Does Boldin have a great work ethic, does he leave it all on the field? Of course! But I'm now starting to wonder what the motivation is. It would seem as though the motivation now for working so hard is simply to get more money.

AW's motivation seems to be different. I would teach my kids to emulate AW & his ethics rather than Boldin's. I would buy my kids an AW jersey way before a Boldin jersey.

If Boldin were making a fuss a year before his contract expired, he might have more of a leg to stand on. But last year? This year? If parents are teaching their kids to emulate Boldin, no wonder our society is so screwed up.

Boldin had a great contract offer before Fitz signed, but he wanted to wait & see what Fitz. got first. He rolled the dice & it came up snake eyes. Now he wants the Cards, his teammates, & the fans to pay for his gamble. He took the gamble & he should live w/ the consequences. That's the way we adults operate. That's what we teach our kids.

And finally, a few folks here point to what a great teammate Boldin is. I wonder why he was no longer voted a captain last year by his TEAM after successive years as such? Could it be he is no longer the LEADER he once was? Leaders lead by example. That's why AW is who he is, & why Boldin is who he has become. Yesterday started team activities. Boldin chose to be an individual. Nice!

 

[Shane]

Boldin had a great contract offer before Fitz signed. He rolled the dice & it came up snake eyes. Now he wants the Cards, his teammates, & the fans to pay for his gamble. He took the gamble & he should live w/ the consequences. That's the way we adults operate. That's what we teach our kids.

He was not given a "great" contract offer. The offer was bogus and bush league in everyway. It was typical "old" cardinals.

The mere fact that the cards offered the contract in my eyes validates what Q has stated about being promised a new deal once he made multiple pro-bowls. Other wise the team woudlnt have even bothered offering with 3 years remaining.

 

[Cards232]

Boldin had a great contract offer before Fitz signed. He rolled the dice & it came up snake eyes. Now he wants the Cards, his teammates, & the fans to pay for his gamble. He took the gamble & he should live w/ the consequences. That's the way we adults operate. That's what we teach our kids.

He was not given a "great" contract offer. The offer was bogus and bush league in everyway. It was typical "old" cardinals. T

he mere fact that the cards offered the contract in my eyes validates what Q has stated about being promised a new deal once he made multiple pro-bowls. Other wise the team woudlnt have even bothered offering with 3 years remaining.

Bogus? As i recall, they were offering 6-7 mill. Also note that Q was the one that broke off negotiations at that point b/c he wanted to wait & see what Fitz got. The Card's offer was undoubtedly not their final offer at that point. As Leesters on the other board noted "Fitzgerald doesn't make 10 million a year. He has a 4yr $40M contract. I hope most of you know why it doesn't add up to 10 million a year. They worked the 14 million the team already owed him from his old contract into the new contract. When you take his pre-earned moneys out, he's making about 7 million a year. You didn't know? Yeah, neither does America."

So, Fitz is making about 7 mill. per, does anyone here really think Boldin is worth more than Fitz? Boldin is reportedly looking for 9-10 mill. Q isn't even the best receiver on his own team, let alone the best in the NFL. Why would he be worth 2-3 mill. more than Fitz, 9-10 mill.? Again, Q gambled. He lost! Now he wants others to pay for that loss.

BTW, in case you're thinking the Card's offer was bogus b/c there was reportedly no gauranteed dough, should gauranteed dough be part of every contract, even if the new contract replaces an old contract years before it's expiration date, an old contract had millions in gauranteed dough when it was signed? Shouldn't the old contract reach maturity before one discusses futher gauranteed dough? It's not like there was just 1 year left on the old contract. The ink was barely dry on the old one before Q started making demands for a new contract w/ yet more gauranteed money.

 

[Shane]

Boldin had a great contract offer before Fitz signed. He rolled the dice & it came up snake eyes. Now he wants the Cards, his teammates, & the fans to pay for his gamble. He took the gamble & he should live w/ the consequences. That's the way we adults operate. That's what we teach our kids.



Bogus? As i recall, they were offering 6-7 mill. Also note that Q was the one that broke off negotiations at that point b/c he wanted to wait & see what Fitz got. The Card's offer was undoubtedly not their final offer at that point. As Leesters on the other board noted "Fitzgerald doesn't make 10 million a year. He has a 4yr $40M contract. I hope most of you know why it doesn't add up to 10 million a year. They worked the 14 million the team already owed him from his old contract into the new contract. When you take his pre-earned moneys out, he's making about 7 million a year. You didn't know? Yeah, neither does America."

So, Fitz is making about 7 mill. per, does anyone here really think Boldin is worth more than Fitz? Boldin is reportedly looking for 9-10 mill. Q isn't even the best receiver on his own team, let alone the best in the NFL. Why would he be worth 2-3 mill. more than Fitz, 9-10 mill.? Again, Q gambled. He lost! Now he wants others to pay for that loss.

They offered to add 4 million more in dsalary to his current deal. No more years and no more guaranteed money. So it really was not an offer at all. The team could have just went Travis Laboy on him and then he would have been out. The offer was bush league and Q felt disrespected. If the team would have came proper the first time there is no doubt in my mind this would be over already.

Fitz cap hit was for more than 10 million last year and his average for the length of his new deal is 10 million per. The average is what people are looking at.

Im Q's biggest supporter by far and I dont even think he should get Fitz money. People saying that he is requesting Fitz money is pure rumor and conjecture. Neither Fitz nor Rosenhaus have stated publicly that they are looking for a Fitz type of deal. The team has not stated that Rosenhaus' demands are way outside the realm of possibility. So lets not jump to conclusions.

 

[Cards232]

They offered to add 4 million more in dsalary to his current deal. No more years and no more guaranteed money. So it really was not an offer at all. The team could have just went Travis Laboy on him and then he would have been out. The offer was bush league and Q felt disrespected. If the team would have came proper the first time there is no doubt in my mind this would be over already.

Fitz cap hit was for more than 10 million last year and his average for the length of his new deal is 10 million per. The average is what people are looking at.

Im Q's biggest supporter by far and I don't even think he should get Fitz money. People saying that he is requesting Fitz money is pure rumor and conjecture. Neither Fitz nor Rosenhaus have stated publicly that they are looking for a Fitz type of deal. The team has not stated that Rosenhaus' demands are way outside the realm of possibility. So lets not jump to conclusions.

First of all, I would refer you to my added text to my last post since you posted. Second, every single report I have seen out there has had Q's demands at 9-10 mill. Neither Boldin, Rosenhaus, or the Card's have disputed those reported numbers leading one to believe they must be close to the numbers being sought. If the numbers are correct, they are ridiculous.

My biggest problem as stated in the previous post isn't that Boldin is negotiating for a better deal, it's the way he is going about it. Again, AW is worth far more than what he's being paid. One is handling his negotiations like an adult, the other like a petulant child. Being that Rosenhaus is representing Boldin, I'll leave it to you to decide which is which. One has a reputation of being a leader, one had that reputation. Sad. Boldin won't be the last to lose his soul & reputation to Rosenhaus.

 

[Shane]

First of all, I would refer you to my added text to my last post since you posted. Second, every single report I have seen out there has had Q's demands at 9-10 mill. Neither Boldin, Rosenhaus, or the Card's have disputed those reported numbers leading one to believe they must be close to the numbers being sought. If the numbers are correct, they are ridiculous.

My biggest problem as stated in the previous post isn't that Boldin is negotiating for a better deal, it's the way he is going about it. Again, AW is worth far more than what he's being paid. One is handling his negotiations like an adult, the other like a petulant child. Being that Rosenhaus is representing Boldin, I'll leave it to you to decide which is which. One has a reputation of being a leader, one had that reputation. Sad. Boldin won't be the last to lose his soul & reputation to Rosenhaus.

If you think that Q isnt still a leader on this team you are kidding yourself. Fitz and Warners commenst about Q and what he means to the team say it all. Other players don't care about the business side of this. This doesnt distract them and they dont worry about it like many on here would leave you to believe.

 

[Assface]

I'm not happy with the situation but I'm not upset with Q. I'm sure there aren't many on this board who willingly work for less than they're worth.

 

[Totally_Red]

I'm not happy with the situation but I'm not upset with Q. I'm sure there aren't many on this board who willingly work for less than they're worth.

Ditto! I don't agree with how Anquan and Darnell are handling the situation but this is standard operating procedure with Drew Rosenhaus clients. It's roughly the NFL equivalent of the 'blue flu' contracted by police officers in certain cities a few years ago.

On the plus side, Lance Long gets more reps in mini-camp.

 

[Cards232]

If you think that Q isnt still a leader on this team you are kidding yourself. Fitz and Warners commenst about Q and what he means to the team say it all. Other players don't care about the business side of this. This doesnt distract them and they dont worry about it like many on here would leave you to believe.

You may be right. But, how do you think they felt about his tirade performance at the NFC championship, followed up by the "I'll never sign w/ these guys ever", then..., then..., then followed up by the "injury" yesterday to start this season. Players don't care about the business side of things. They do care about the TEAM side of things however. Yesterday was the beginning of team activities. Was Boldin selfish, or a team player yesterday? Why after years of being a team captain, was he not voted such last year? AW still was. Maybe that says something about what the team feels about leadership.

If Boldin would have kept this private, this would all probably be moot. But true to the Rosenhaus mold, he went public w/ all the vitriol one would expect from a Rosenhaus client. Listen, I've always liked Boldin, but if this continues on it's current course, who do you feel will be more fondly remembered, Boldin or AW? AW will be on the Ring of Fame, Boldin may go down as T.O. light.

T.O. wasn't originally a jerk in S.F.. Under Rosenhaus' tutelage, he became one. Boldin was beloved by ALL in Card's land, he could have had the key to the city. Now? let's just say he's a long way from T.O. territory, but getting closer every day. Such a shame, he was a fine young man. The shine is coming off though. He is nowhere nears as beloved as he was.

There's still time to change that but that will take him cutting the strings w/ evil. Each day of his Rosenhaus induced drama the possibility of forgiveness wanes. Tick tock Q. The ball's in your court. Not what you negotiate, but how you act.

It's not a single incident that will hurt Q, but the cumulative effect, & things are stacking.

 

[fball13]

I'm not happy with the situation but I'm not upset with Q. I'm sure there aren't many on this board who willingly work for less than they're worth.

That's classic... How many of us can get with our agent and unilaterally determine our "worth". I think the trade offers confirm Q's worth... Q is apparently worth (at best) 1 or 2 unproven college players that aren't in the top 50 in the draft. I'd guess that Fitz might command a little more "worth".