Boldin done talking with Cards
by
Kent Somers - Jul. 24, 2008 03:29 PM
The Arizona Republic
FLAGSTAFF – An afternoon storm, this one man-made, blew through the Northern Arizona campus Thursday just minutes after the team finished its conditioning test.
Receiver
Anquan Boldin didn’t hide his unhappiness over his contract, telling reporters team officials deceived him by not following through on a promise to give him a new contract by the start of the season. Boldin said he has instructed his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, to break off negotiations with the team.
“At this point, I’m not even interested in a contract,” said Boldin. “For me, it’s been going on two years, and especially after last year, I was promised a deal would get done before the season. But the season’s here and obviously that hasn’t happened.
“I don’t want a deal. People may think I’m being funny or saying that just to say it. But, for me, I’m just tired of it. Washed my hands of the whole situation. My agent has direct orders not to negotiate. So that’s how I feel about it.”
Rosenhaus, however, met with General Manager Rod Graves in Phoenix Wednesday evening and travelled to Flagstaff and met with coach Ken Whisenhunt on Thursday. Rosenhaus spoke to a reporter a few hours before Boldin and never indicated that talks had broken off.
In fact, he said there was hope because the two sides were still talking.
Whisenhunt reacted calmly to Boldin’s comments, saying several times that the organization plays a high value on Boldin, who has made two Pro Bowls in five season.
“I understand his frustration and hopefully we’ll be able to go forward and get something done,” he said.
The dispute won’t affect Boldin’s play, or the team’s chemistry, the coach said. “When you talk about professionals, Anquan to me is one of the ultimate professionals,” Whisenhunt said. “He’s a guy who is going to show up and give you everything he’s got, and I don’t anticipate that changing.”
Boldin has three years left on a contract extension he signed before the 2005 season. That deal paid him an average of $4 million, far below what elite receivers are making now.
The Cardinals have expressed interest in re-signing him and say they made Rosenhaus an offer last December but that he never responded. So team officials said they moved on and re-signed receiver Larry Fitzgerald to a four-year, $40 million deal this spring. Boldin, however, doesn’t think the team has ever been serious about delivering on a promise. “It’s not semantics,” he said. “It’s, ‘Anquan, we’re going to get you done before the start of next season.’ That’s exactly out of their mouths.”
When asked how he would respond to possible criticism from fans, Boldin said he would tell them he wants a new contract “because I’ve earned it. I think my numbers speak for themselves, and they (the Cardinals) even came out publicly and said that I outplayed my contract. I mean, I don’t have to make a case to anybody about why I’m deserving of a new contract. That’s self-explanatory.”
It has nothing to do with Fitzgerald’s deal, either, he said. “Larry earned everything that he got. Honestly, he played his butt off. He deserved it.”
The contract dispute won’t affect his play, Boldin vowed, saying “the way that I play this game won’t change.”
The damage with the team, however, cannot be repaired, said Boldin.
“I’m really disappointed it came to this point. For the last five, going on six years, I gave everything I had to this organization. In that sense, I’m disappointed.”
Dude, you've been injured for half your career.
if that were true.
