azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Tim Tyers
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 19, 2004 12:00 AM
Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin and coach Dennis Green slightly disagree over Boldin's anticipated return, although the difference might be more a case of subterfuge than fact.
Boldin has been sidelined since Aug. 11, when he underwent surgery during training camp to repair torn meniscus in his right knee.
Green, who plays his injury cards close to the vest, said Monday that Boldin's return on Nov. 7 in a game at Miami is a "legitimate goal," but Boldin countered by saying a more likely target date is Oct. 31 at Buffalo.
Boldin didn't practice with the team Monday in preparation for Sunday's game at Sun Devil Stadium against Seattle. But he did do the next best thing on the adjacent practice field, which was to go through a rigorous rehabilitation routine from the start of practice to its end.
"That was impressive," Green said. "Miami is a legitimate goal we have set, and if we have to move it up a week, that would be a possibility. This will be the first week he goes out on the field, helmet in hand, for walk-through drills with the team. He's anxious. I know he wants to play."
Boldin left little doubt about that fact on Monday.
"My goal is Buffalo in a week, and that's what we've been training for," Boldin said. "I've been testing it for more than a week now. I actually got out last week and ran routes for (quarterback) Josh (McCown), so I'm comfortable with where I'm at right now."
Green said that how much and how hard Boldin practices in the week following the Seattle game will be predicated on how he performs in walk-through drills this week.
Boldin insisted he won't need more than a week of practice, and that if he plays, it wouldn't be unfair to expect him to perform like the Boldin who caught a rookie-record 101 passes last season and was named the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year.
"It's not unfair, because that's what I'm expecting," Boldin said. "I wouldn't come back if I wasn't healthy. I'm looking to go out there and make plays.
"I'm comfortable with that (a week's practice). I've had numerous weeks of working on it, and a lot of it has been football specific. One week of practice - actually, one week of official practice - and I'll be more than comfortable."
One who is more than an interested observer is rookie receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who has been the subject of double teams without Boldin's presence in the lineup.
"He'll make life easier for everyone on the offense," Fitzgerald said. "He's going to bring a winning attitude and add another huge weapon to this offense. I don't know what to expect, personally, because I've never played with him.
"I'm going to watch what he's doing and try to pick up on it. Whatever he was doing last year was a great thing, so I'll just try to follow his lead."
Boldin, who sat out his junior season at Florida State after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, said his rehabilitation has gone much easier and he has no trepidation about testing his knee.
"The way I feel right now, if I'm going to get hurt, I'm going to get hurt," he said. "I have no problem with going out there and playing football. If something happens, it happens, but I'm not worried about it."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/articles/1019cards1019.html
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 19, 2004 12:00 AM
Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin and coach Dennis Green slightly disagree over Boldin's anticipated return, although the difference might be more a case of subterfuge than fact.
Boldin has been sidelined since Aug. 11, when he underwent surgery during training camp to repair torn meniscus in his right knee.
Green, who plays his injury cards close to the vest, said Monday that Boldin's return on Nov. 7 in a game at Miami is a "legitimate goal," but Boldin countered by saying a more likely target date is Oct. 31 at Buffalo.
Boldin didn't practice with the team Monday in preparation for Sunday's game at Sun Devil Stadium against Seattle. But he did do the next best thing on the adjacent practice field, which was to go through a rigorous rehabilitation routine from the start of practice to its end.
"That was impressive," Green said. "Miami is a legitimate goal we have set, and if we have to move it up a week, that would be a possibility. This will be the first week he goes out on the field, helmet in hand, for walk-through drills with the team. He's anxious. I know he wants to play."
Boldin left little doubt about that fact on Monday.
"My goal is Buffalo in a week, and that's what we've been training for," Boldin said. "I've been testing it for more than a week now. I actually got out last week and ran routes for (quarterback) Josh (McCown), so I'm comfortable with where I'm at right now."
Green said that how much and how hard Boldin practices in the week following the Seattle game will be predicated on how he performs in walk-through drills this week.
Boldin insisted he won't need more than a week of practice, and that if he plays, it wouldn't be unfair to expect him to perform like the Boldin who caught a rookie-record 101 passes last season and was named the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year.
"It's not unfair, because that's what I'm expecting," Boldin said. "I wouldn't come back if I wasn't healthy. I'm looking to go out there and make plays.
"I'm comfortable with that (a week's practice). I've had numerous weeks of working on it, and a lot of it has been football specific. One week of practice - actually, one week of official practice - and I'll be more than comfortable."
One who is more than an interested observer is rookie receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who has been the subject of double teams without Boldin's presence in the lineup.
"He'll make life easier for everyone on the offense," Fitzgerald said. "He's going to bring a winning attitude and add another huge weapon to this offense. I don't know what to expect, personally, because I've never played with him.
"I'm going to watch what he's doing and try to pick up on it. Whatever he was doing last year was a great thing, so I'll just try to follow his lead."
Boldin, who sat out his junior season at Florida State after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, said his rehabilitation has gone much easier and he has no trepidation about testing his knee.
"The way I feel right now, if I'm going to get hurt, I'm going to get hurt," he said. "I have no problem with going out there and playing football. If something happens, it happens, but I'm not worried about it."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/articles/1019cards1019.html
