Green To Take A Hard Line With Boldin

[BACH]

From profootballtalk.com, so read for what it is without jumping to any conclusions.

Word around the league is that Cardinals coach Dennis Green plans to take a hard line with holdout receiver Anquan Boldin.

Boldin, the 2003 offensive rookie of the year, has been clamoring for a new contract ever since hiring agent Drew Rosenhaus in 2004. And although at times it has appeared that the Cards were indeed willing to tear up the deal years before its expiration and give Boldin a new contract, it hasn't happened yet.

Green, in our view, isn't a guy to be messing with when it comes to issues of this nature. If Boldin refuses to play, Green will simply tilt the offense more heavily toward 2004 draft pick Larry Fitzgerald. After all, Boldin was a holdover from the regime prior to Green's arrival -- so why should Green bend over backwards to pay him big money prematurely?

In fact, we're surprised that Green would even consider giving Boldin a new contract. In Minnesota, Green and former offensive lineman Randall McDaniel were barely on speaking terms because Green adopted a policy of not re-doing deals that had more than one season remaining -- after someone else in the organization supposedly promised McDaniel a new contract more that had two seasons left on it.

Boldin's decision to hold out likely will cause Green to strengthen his resolve, and the ball will be in Boldin's court as to whether he plays for the terms he negotiated as a rookie -- or whether he sits and doesn't get paid at all.

Meanwhile, we're hearing that Green also plans to continue to purge from the roster guys who were there before his arrival in early 2004.

 

[Brian]

Meanwhile, we're hearing that Green also plans to continue to purge from the roster guys who were there before his arrival in early 2004.

I wonder where they are getting this from?

 

[Syracusecards]

When did we offer to redo his deal? Was it before Denny got here or after? I can't remember.

 

[azdad1978]

When did we offer to redo his deal? Was it before Denny got here or after? I can't remember.

Some time after the probowl, rumors came out that someone from the FO wants to re-sign Boldin to a new contract.

 

[Syracusecards]

Some time after the probowl, rumors came out that someone from the FO wants to re-sign Boldin to a new contract.

I'm trying to remember if it was pre-Denny. If it was, then I don't think Denny is going to go out on a limb to hold true to a promise not made by him.

I'm a big Q fan, but it was really stupid on the fo's part to bring up a contract extension after one year. If we waited another year, Quan probably wouldn't have brought it up considering his knee injury.

 

[Russ Smith]

I'm trying to remember if it was pre-Denny. If it was, then I don't think Denny is going to go out on a limb to hold true to a promise not made by him.

I'm a big Q fan, but it was really stupid on the fo's part to bring up a contract extension after one year. If we waited another year, Quan probably wouldn't have brought it up considering his knee injury.

Huh? The single biggest reason we brought it up is the whole league had just watched Drew Rosenhaus and Clinton "I want to be the highest paid RB in the NFL" at the pro bowl demanding a new contract or Portis was going to hold out. Nobody knew then that it would wind up forcing a trade but since Portis at that point was the best comparison to Boldin in terms of a 2nd rounder playing like a Pro Bowler, it immediately scared the Cards into thinking we better be proactive with Anquan so we don't have the same issue.

The Cards couldn't redo the deal until after a year had passed from the original signing but they were smart enough to realize Anquan had dramatically outplayed his contract, they saw what was happening with Portis, and decided they wanted to avoid it. Now because of the injury and Fitz' contract we wind up in a similar situation(without all the mouthing off like Portis did) but the purpose of bringing it up was to avoid all this.

Don't believe for one second if we hadn't gone to Quan about it he wouldn't have come to us.

 

[blindseyed]

I say let him sit...his loss more than ours. Not only does it look stupid, he loses money. Not showing up at all, shows no class and a "Me first" attitude which is all over the sports world, didn't think Q would be one of those

 

[Pariah]

In fact, we're surprised that Green would even consider giving Boldin a new contract.

I'd be surprised, too, since Green is the coach and not GM or owner.

 

[CaptTurbo]

I say let him sit...his loss more than ours. Not only does it look stupid, he loses money. Not showing up at all, shows no class and a "Me first" attitude which is all over the sports world, didn't think Q would be one of those

Bingo. If he sits out 1 yer dont even think about letting him come back for year 2 then lets see what his market value is.

 

[CaptTurbo]

Green is more important to this organization than Q. Plain and simple. I'll go with whatever Green wants.

 

[Pariah]

Green is more important to this organization than Q.

Well, it's a good thing that we don't have to decide between the two. I'll keep hoping that we get Boldin a new contract so he can be coached by Green.

 

[Stout]

I say let him sit...his loss more than ours. Not only does it look stupid, he loses money. Not showing up at all, shows no class and a "Me first" attitude which is all over the sports world, didn't think Q would be one of those

Exactly.

 

[conraddobler]

Exactly.

Well while I agree with the sentiment the more likely scenario is somewhat of a team killing one.

That would be he holds out until the end of training camp and then appears ready to play because no way he actually sits more than a few games it's stupid.

He then screws up the entire timing of the offense and becomes a complete distraction.

I don't think Denny is the whimpy type that would allow him to waltz in like previous regimes would so my best guess is that before it gets to that point we trade him.

 

[40yearfan]

I almost guarantee you that if Boldin misses all of training camp, he won't be playing any football for the Cards this year.

 

[Syracusecards]

Huh? The single biggest reason we brought it up is the whole league had just watched Drew Rosenhaus and Clinton "I want to be the highest paid RB in the NFL" at the pro bowl demanding a new contract or Portis was going to hold out. Nobody knew then that it would wind up forcing a trade but since Portis at that point was the best comparison to Boldin in terms of a 2nd rounder playing like a Pro Bowler, it immediately scared the Cards into thinking we better be proactive with Anquan so we don't have the same issue.

The Cards couldn't redo the deal until after a year had passed from the original signing but they were smart enough to realize Anquan had dramatically outplayed his contract, they saw what was happening with Portis, and decided they wanted to avoid it. Now because of the injury and Fitz' contract we wind up in a similar situation(without all the mouthing off like Portis did) but the purpose of bringing it up was to avoid all this.

Don't believe for one second if we hadn't gone to Quan about it he wouldn't have come to us.[/QUOTE]

That's the way it should have gone. No one can say for sure that Quan would have done that. Portis had Rosenass as his agent. Who knows? If Portis had a different agent, it might never have become an issue. Prior to it happening, it was unprecedented for a first year player to ask for a new deal.
Besides, if Q came to the team and asked for it, then fine. Tell him we were thinking the same thing and try to get something done. But, if he didn't ask for it, I don't think we'd be in this situation right now.

Think about it. There have always been rookies that have played better than their contract, but only Rosenass has asked for a brand new contract after 1 year.

 

[Russ Smith]

[
[/[/b]QUOTE]

That's the way it should have gone. No one can say for sure that Quan would have done that. Portis had Rosenass as his agent. Who knows? If Portis had a different agent, it might never have become an issue. Prior to it happening, it was unprecedented for a first year player to ask for a new deal.
Besides, if Q came to the team and asked for it, then fine. Tell him we were thinking the same thing and try to get something done. But, if he didn't ask for it, I don't think we'd be in this situation right now.

Think about it. There have always been rookies that have played better than their contract, but only Rosenass has asked for a brand new contract after 1 year.

Not sure who his agent was(Davis I mean) but the guy that Portis was using as his defense with Denver was Terrell Davis. Davis was a 6th rounder and Denver tore up his contract and gave him a new one. Their comeback was Davis had to wait (I forget if he had 2 or 3 years) before he got his, if you wait, we'll pay you.

Portis basically said the only other RB you've ever had who put up numbers this good was Davis and you did it for him so do it for me.

Denver promised him they'd take care of him later but he got tired of waiting and by the end of year 2 was threatening a holdout.

Quan's first agent was decertified or he would have asked for the deal himself, this didn't come about because the Cards brought it up, they simply tried to bring it up early on to get the deal done without animosity, they tried to be proactive but the injury and then Quan decided to hire Rosenhaus and it all went to hell.

 

[conraddobler]

Not sure who his agent was(Davis I mean) but the guy that Portis was using as his defense with Denver was Terrell Davis. Davis was a 6th rounder and Denver tore up his contract and gave him a new one. Their comeback was Davis had to wait (I forget if he had 2 or 3 years) before he got his, if you wait, we'll pay you.

Portis basically said the only other RB you've ever had who put up numbers this good was Davis and you did it for him so do it for me.

Denver promised him they'd take care of him later but he got tired of waiting and by the end of year 2 was threatening a holdout.

Quan's first agent was decertified or he would have asked for the deal himself, this didn't come about because the Cards brought it up, they simply tried to bring it up early on to get the deal done without animosity, they tried to be proactive but the injury and then Quan decided to hire Rosenhaus and it all went to hell.

I'd agree.

When you win the ROY and go to the pro bowl your first year and are paid like a 2nd rounder almost any player and/or player agent combo is going to seek a new deal. The bar was set for everyone with the Portis deal.

Because of all this to say none of this would happen if the Cardinals hadn't brought it up to me dosen't hold water.

I agree with Russ, the Cardinals knew what was comming and tried to be political about it realizing they almost had to do something.

They figured, hey we have the cap room we need the good will let's get out front of this.

Boldin hurt his knee and hired Drew. So much for the happy ending being easy to get to.

 

[Syracusecards]

I'd agree.

When you win the ROY and go to the pro bowl your first year and are paid like a 2nd rounder almost any player and/or player agent combo is going to seek a new deal. The bar was set for everyone with the Portis deal.

Because of all this to say none of this would happen if the Cardinals hadn't brought it up to me dosen't hold water.

I agree with Russ, the Cardinals knew what was comming and tried to be political about it realizing they almost had to do something.

They figured, hey we have the cap room we need the good will let's get out front of this.

Boldin hurt his knee and hired Drew. So much for the happy ending being easy to get to.

I agree to a point. I just think that it would have been wiser to wait and see if he did. If he did approach the FO, then certainly we could have said "we absolutely agree and want you to be paid for your productivity and we'll work something out".
My point is that what if he didn't? What if it never even entered his mind to ask? Think about it. Even after he tore it up in Detroit and broke the single game receiving record in his rookie year, after the game all he did was comment on the muffed punt return. It seemed like he was more of a team player and a leader by example before we broached the subject of a restructure and put dollar signs in his eyes.
Obviously, this is all speculation and we'll never know what he would have done. I just don't see the harm in waiting for him to ask and THEN agree to do it.

 

[Bobcat]

When did we offer to redo his deal? Was it before Denny got here or after? I can't remember.

Before when Mac and the Gang of incomp's were in control.


Bobcat

 

[spanky1]

Meanwhile, we're hearing that Green also plans to continue to purge from the roster guys who were there before his arrival in early 2004.

I wonder where they are getting this from?

Aren't too many left......Davis,Wells,Wakefield,Diamond,Newhouse,McCown,Shipp,Scobey,Anderson,Bryant,Davis,King,Pace,Darling,Hayes and Wilson......oh, and of course Player and Hodel.

 

[CronosCard]

"..and in this corner.."

bobcat, wasn't Rod Graves one of those working with the Cards during that time? Graves is the student, Green is the multi-faceted teacher, yet everyone gives them = credit, like for free agency, the draft, etc. GHraves seems like more the new guy than Coach Green..

 

[CardShark]

The Cards could've avoided this by adopting a simple philosophy.

GIT-R-DONE

They knew they were going after Fitzgerald and would've had to pay him big money, so they should've had Boldins new contract done before the draft and before he hired Rosenlouse. The Cards set the precedent themselves by redoing contracts with other players after they ended up with leftover cap space. Boldin was clearly the prize in the bunch, so they should've taken care of him first. How many of the guys that had contracts redone during that time are still with the team? Shelton?

 

[clif]

The Cards could've avoided this by adopting a simple philosophy.

GIT-R-DONE

They knew they were going after Fitzgerald and would've had to pay him big money, so they should've had Boldins new contract done before the draft and before he hired Rosenlouse. The Cards set the precedent themselves by redoing contracts with other players after they ended up with leftover cap space. Boldin was clearly the prize in the bunch, so they should've taken care of him first. How many of the guys that had contracts redone during that time are still with the team? Shelton?

I dont think they were allowed to at that time. I dont believe the 1 year had passed since he signed his rookie deal therefore not allowing them to renegotiate.

 

[Russ Smith]

The Cards could've avoided this by adopting a simple philosophy.

GIT-R-DONE

They knew they were going after Fitzgerald and would've had to pay him big money, so they should've had Boldins new contract done before the draft and before he hired Rosenlouse. The Cards set the precedent themselves by redoing contracts with other players after they ended up with leftover cap space. Boldin was clearly the prize in the bunch, so they should've taken care of him first. How many of the guys that had contracts redone during that time are still with the team? Shelton?

Wasn't legal under NFL rules, August 1st I think was the first day we were allowed to redo Quan's deal and we'd already drafted and signed Fitz by that time.

 

[Bobcat]

bobcat, wasn't Rod Graves one of those working with the Cards during that time? Graves is the student, Green is the multi-faceted teacher, yet everyone gives them = credit, like for free agency, the draft, etc. GHraves seems like more the new guy than Coach Green..

You are correct, but unlike Mac and his friends, Graves has learned from DG. Just shows you that there was always hope for the Cards, but not until MB and DG took over the Cards.

Bobcat