Cardinals blurb on NFL.com

[RugbyMuffin]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80c943e0&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true

"Anquan is spectacular in so many ways," Cardinals general manager Rod Graves said. "There is not anyone more competitive on the field. He is the kind of player you can build a game around. Having that kind of element in your locker room and on the field can take you a long way. He is the epitome of us. He is basically the heart and soul of our football team."

What a tribute to Boldin.

He has two years remaining on his current Cardinals contract. He was upset this offseason that he was not awarded a new deal. All of that is behind Boldin and the Cardinals now.

Graves said expect Boldin to remain with the Cardinals.

"It's going to work out," Graves said. "It is our desire to conclude this as quickly as both sides can."

Sounds good to me

 

[Shane]

:head2head:

Dude is not going anywhere!

 

[PortlandCardFan]

He never was...

 

[ajcardfan]

That is consistent with what Graves and Whisenhunt have said all along. There was never even the slightest hint from them that Boldin would leave. All of that speculation was from fans and media.

BTW, we aren't trading Leinart if we extend Warner either.

 

[Carddan]

That is consistent with what Graves and Whisenhunt have said all along. There was never even the slightest hint from them that Boldin would leave. All of that speculation was from fans and media.

BTW, we aren't trading Leinart if we extend Warner either.

I totally agree except that the speculaton was caused by Q and his agent. For Boldin, unlike some other WRs, that was just business, he plays football!

 

[CardsFan88]

That's a 'we know' moment a la Jerry Maguire.

 

[joeshmo]

That is consistent with what Graves and Whisenhunt have said all along. There was never even the slightest hint from them that Boldin would leave. All of that speculation was from fans and media.

That speculation came directly out of Boldins and his agents mouth. They ask for a trade not once but twice. And stated that he didnt want to be a Cardinal.

No speculation at all, it was straight from the horses mouth.

But I digress,

Here is my overall take on the issue.

The Cards and Graves made the mistake of telling Boldin they will try to work something out last year. But Graves realized and rightfully so, that giving a player a new deal when they have 3 years left on their deal is a hugely bad precedence that would hurt the team in the long run considering other players want new deals and it would make even more players want new deals. I don’t like the way Boldin went about expressing that anger, I mean that’s what your agent is for but I easily see why he was angry and don’t fault him for that. Also at the same time Graves made a very smart decision to not start precedence and was a smart football/cap decision.

I also think a lot of the bad blood was squashed because of a few things

1. The time and effort the B’s gave to Boldin when he was injured by staying at the hospital with him and giving him and his fiancée a ride back on their private jet made up for a lot of bad blood.
2. Giving Boldin more options in the offense. Being involved more and racking up stats tends to mend fences.
3. Winning. Winning always cures some ill feelings.

 

[RedRob]

Awesome news, knowing Q's agent I was quite worried. The saga is not over yet but it sounds like the Cardinals have all the intention in the world to make things right.

If and or when an extension happens I'll be grateful, mark it down Q will be in the ring of honor someday.

 

[Totally_Red]

I think that's what the Cardinals wanted all along. Anquan opened the door in his FSR and NFLN interviews last week, and Rod Graves is now reciprocating. Now all that's left is the hard part after the season concludes, which hopefully is in February.

One positive thing about Drew Rosenhaus, he DOES get deals done.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Anquan Boldin is easily the BEST Cardinals player ever to play in Arizona. I got wrapped up in the preseason BS, but in a time where you have TO and Ocho Cinco, the fact that Boldin has accomplished all he has this year and played the way that he has has sold me that he is not only the best Cardinals player, but the BEST PLAYER I have ever seen play the game. It should be the Cardinals #1 priority to lock him up for the rest of his career, over Warner, over everyone. Anquan represents all of us. He is the epidome of greatness.

 

[Black Jesus]

That is consistent with what Graves and Whisenhunt have said all along. There was never even the slightest hint from them that Boldin would leave. All of that speculation was from fans and media.

BTW, we aren't trading Leinart if we extend Warner either.

your right, noone will want his contract. We are cutting Leinart.

 

[joeshmo]

your right, noone will want his contract. We are cutting Leinart.

Leinarts contract is not an issue. He is already making less then Warner right now. And if he is traded the team he is traded to is only on the hook for his base salary and any remaining incentives and bonuses(of which would be minimal if traded) which is only in the range of good backup money.

Leinarts contract is small change up until the 2010 season when it jumps.

 

[ajcardfan]

That speculation came directly out of Boldins and his agents mouth. They ask for a trade not once but twice. And stated that he didnt want to be a Cardinal.

No speculation at all, it was straight from the horses mouth.

What I MEANT was the speculation that the CARDS front office would/wanted to trade Boldin. I know full well what was said by whom. Sorry I didn't make myself clearer.

 

[BigRedArk]

Leinarts contract is not an issue. He is already making less then Warner right now. And if he is traded the team he is traded to is only on the hook for his base salary and any remaining incentives and bonuses(of which would be minimal if traded) which is only in the range of good backup money.

Leinarts contract is small change up until the 2010 season when it jumps.

Isn't it some sort of escalator in his contract that he gets a bonus for having playing in 65% of the plays in his rookie season or something like that joe?
If I am right on that is that bonus set in stone or is there any chance that both sides could renogotiate a contract extension for ML that would somehow minimize that bonus or someway in effect allow him to take a bonus cut to remain a Cardinal if he wanted to?

 

[Zeno]

your right, noone will want his contract. We are cutting Leinart.

Care to make a wager? Leinart is not getting cut.

 

[Brianellsworth]

Care to make a wager? Leinart is not getting cut.

I agree. He might not play much for a year or two but he is not going anywhere....not right now atleast.

 

[CardShark]

This is only my opinion but I think it all stemmed from Rosenhaus. I think he misrepresented the F/O conversations to Q in order to get Q to act like his other star players, namely TO and 85. We saw him do this outright when he stated that Q wanted to be traded to the Dolphins just before that game. Q publicly stated that he had no idea where that came from. He told Q that Whiz interjected himself into negotiations and Whiz denied it.

 

[Shane]

http://www.azcardinals.com/news/detail.php?PRKey=2702

 

[BigRedArk]

The Cardinals have allowed just six sacks the past six games, despite Warner averaging 35 pass attempts in that span.

Wow. Very impressive numbers there. Hope it continues!

 

[Spielman]

The Cardinals have allowed just six sacks the past six games, despite Warner averaging 35 pass attempts in that span.

Wow. Very impressive numbers there. Hope it continues!

The offensive line has really made huge strides in '07 and '08. In pass blocking, anyway.