Ravens could release Anquan Boldin for cap reasons

[BigRedRage]

How far the mighty have fallen since demanding to be paid among the league's best. Can't help but laugh...

He had a great year and major clutch catches in this post season that catapulted his team to the super bowl. If that is the mighty falling, id fall all day.

 

[Black Jesus]

How far the mighty have fallen since demanding to be paid among the league's best. Can't help but laugh...

I wouldn't call:

65 Receptions
920 Yards
4 Tds

2 TDs in the NFC Championship game and a Super Bowl appearance as falling.

 

[52brandon]

He had a great year and major clutch catches in this post season that catapulted his team to the super bowl. If that is the mighty falling, id fall all day.

agreed. I suppose I was bitter at the time of his departure. But I miss the guy and appreciate everything he did

 

[john h]

Can he play left tackle or QB?

Was he not a high school QB? Seems he threw a couple of passes for us.

 

[Shane]

He had a great year and major clutch catches in this post season that catapulted his team to the super bowl. If that is the mighty falling, id fall all day.

I wouldn't call:

65 Receptions
920 Yards
4 Tds

2 TDs in the NFC Championship game and a Super Bowl appearance as falling.

Yup!

#1 WR in the NFL during postseason in both Yards and TD's. #2 in receptions.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Yup!

#1 WR in the NFL during postseason in both Yards and TD's. #2 in receptions.

:He'saBaller:

My Q jersey has been removed from deep storage, washed, and is now ready for Sunday.

 

[Shane]

:He'saBaller:

My Q jersey has been removed from deep storage, washed, and is now ready for Sunday.

Me too

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Why? Who's going to throw him the ball?

Cause he is a leader and a good football player.

Plus, look at who was throwing him the ball before Warner. Just Sayin'

 

[Duckjake]

Cause he is a leader and a good football player.

Plus, look at who was throwing him the ball before Warner. Just Sayin'

2003 just really impressed me. 101 catches for 1377 yards and 8 TDs as a rookie with Jeff Blake and Josh McCown at QB and the other wide receivers being Skillet Hands Johnson, also a rookie, Bryan Gilmore, Nate Poole, and Kevin Kasper. And the GAM also was the Cards punt return man that season!!!

 

[Superfuzz]

I wouldn't call:

65 Receptions
920 Yards
4 Tds

2 TDs in the NFC Championship game and a Super Bowl appearance as falling.

I would.

Now, of course, he's been part of why the Ravens are in the Super Bowl, and of course, that's an accomplishment.

Now look at Boldin's stats in BAL: 2010(16 games): 64 rec, 837 yds, 7 tds 2011(14 games): 57 rec, 887 yds, 3 td, 2012 (15 games): 65 rec 920 yds, 4tds

Now look at his AZ stats: 03: 101/1,377/8 04 (10 games): 56/623/1 05 (only 14 games!): 102/1,402/7 06: 83/1,203/4 07(12 games): 71/853/9 08(12 games): 89/1038/11 09(15 games): 84/1,024/4

When has he been a 1,000-yard receiver as a Raven? His best statistical year as a Raven (2012) is equivalent to his worst years as a Cardinal (2004 although only through 10 games, and 2007). His averages (playing an average of 15 games a year) as a Raven are: 62 rec, 881 yards, 4.6 Tds (OK, we'll say 5).

Averages as a Cardinal (playing an average of 13.5 games a year): 83 receptions, 1,074 yards, 6TDs

He made an SB as a Cardinal, too. Now, I HOPE he wins, because he is great player and a I hate the 9ers. But now, just as then, he was a part of something bigger than himself - Warner, Fitz, Dockett and Wilson helped him get there just like Flacco, Lewis, Suggs, Rice and Reed helped him get here again. He's clearly in decline, but for someone as good as him, that's still playing at a high level. You still can't say he hasn't "fallen" now that he's averaging 20 less receptions a year, ~200 less yards, and a TD or two less. Still a great player, but he's getting older and isn't the threat he was 4 years ago as a Cardinal.

 

[Superfuzz]

2003 just really impressed me. 101 catches for 1377 yards and 8 TDs as a rookie with Jeff Blake and Josh McCown at QB and the other wide receivers being Skillet Hands Johnson, also a rookie, Bryan Gilmore, Nate Poole, and Kevin Kasper. And the GAM also was the Cards punt return man that season!!!

Yup. Boldin racked up a lot of stats catching passes from Blake, McCown, Warner when he stank, et al, as a testament to his phenomenal ability. Warner's resurgence didn't make him.

 

[Superfuzz]

He had a great year and major clutch catches in this post season that catapulted his team to the super bowl. If that is the mighty falling, id fall all day.

It's not "mighty falling". It's the "mighty" (Boldin) "falling", i.e. dropping off from his previous blistering pace. He's still a great receiver, but if anyone thinks averaging 20 catches and 200 less yards a year and potentially getting cut by a SB team after the game isn't falling off from being a multiple 100-catch, 1000+ yard receiver and team MVP who was in a position to demand to be paid among the top WRs in the league is kidding himself. It's age, it happens and in my opinion it makes his NFCCG tantrum even funnier in retrospect. No one was going to pay Anquan like Larry or CJ got and deserved to be paid, and he's still not even one of the top-5 most important players on his team. He had a great postseason, yes, but let's not forget the guy that holds all the NFL postseason receiving record is the guy we decided to pay Anquan's money + a lot more to.

 

[Black Jesus]

I would.

Now, of course, he's been part of why the Ravens are in the Super Bowl, and of course, that's an accomplishment.

Now look at Boldin's stats in BAL: 2010(16 games): 64 rec, 837 yds, 7 tds 2011(14 games): 57 rec, 887 yds, 3 td, 2012 (15 games): 65 rec 920 yds, 4tds

Now look at his AZ stats: 03: 101/1,377/8 04 (10 games): 56/623/1 05 (only 14 games!): 102/1,402/7 06: 83/1,203/4 07(12 games): 71/853/9 08(12 games): 89/1038/11 09(15 games): 84/1,024/4

When has he been a 1,000-yard receiver as a Raven? His best statistical year as a Raven (2012) is equivalent to his worst years as a Cardinal (2004 although only through 10 games, and 2007). His averages (playing an average of 15 games a year) as a Raven are: 62 rec, 881 yards, 4.6 Tds (OK, we'll say 5).

Averages as a Cardinal (playing an average of 13.5 games a year): 83 receptions, 1,074 yards, 6TDs

He made an SB as a Cardinal, too. Now, I HOPE he wins, because he is great player and a I hate the 9ers. But now, just as then, he was a part of something bigger than himself - Warner, Fitz, Dockett and Wilson helped him get there just like Flacco, Lewis, Suggs, Rice and Reed helped him get here again. He's clearly in decline, but for someone as good as him, that's still playing at a high level. You still can't say he hasn't "fallen" now that he's averaging 20 less receptions a year, ~200 less yards, and a TD or two less. Still a great player, but he's getting older and isn't the threat he was 4 years ago as a Cardinal.

The Ravens have made it to the Playoffs 3 straight years with Boldin. compiling wins in each of their appearances. Pretty sure he would forfeit 20 catches, 200 yards and 2 touchdowns a season for the better of his team...

Remember, he is working with Flacco, had no receiving help his first year there, and obviously the Ravens are a run heavy team. I would argue that maybe you should look at Fitz' stats the last 2 years. The last three years of Fitz were supposed to be his prime, Boldin is beyond the twilight of his career as a 32 year old WR.

 

[Duckjake]

The Ravens have made it to the Playoffs 3 straight years with Boldin. compiling wins in each of their appearances. Pretty sure he would forfeit 20 catches, 200 yards and 2 touchdowns a season for the better of his team...

Remember, he is working with Flacco, had no receiving help his first year there, and obviously the Ravens are a run heavy team. I would argue that maybe you should look at Fitz' stats the last 2 years. The last three years of Fitz were supposed to be his prime, Boldin is beyond the twilight of his career as a 32 year old WR.

And he had much better stats than Fitzgerald last season. So maybe the Cards should get rid of Larry since the "mighty" Fitzgerald is falling.

Seriously though your points about Baltimore's offense are spot on. 900 yards receiving with the Ravens playing the way they do and in the Division they are in is the equivalent of about 1200 yards in the old NFC West.

 

[Shane]

And he had much better stats than Fitzgerald last season. So maybe the Cards should get rid of Larry since the "mighty" Fitzgerald is falling.

Seriously though your points about Baltimore's offense are spot on. 900 yards receiving with the Ravens playing the way they do and in the Division they are in is the equivalent of about 1200 yards in the old NFC West.

Yep. But Fuzz wont acknowledge that.

 

[Superfuzz]

The Ravens have made it to the Playoffs 3 straight years with Boldin. compiling wins in each of their appearances. Pretty sure he would forfeit 20 catches, 200 yards and 2 touchdowns a season for the better of his team...

Remember, he is working with Flacco, had no receiving help his first year there, and obviously the Ravens are a run heavy team. I would argue that maybe you should look at Fitz' stats the last 2 years. The last three years of Fitz were supposed to be his prime, Boldin is beyond the twilight of his career as a 32 year old WR.

Um, the Ravens have made it to the playoffs and won at least one playoff game every year since 2008. Correlation famously does not equate causation. Believe me, Harbaugh, Ray Rice and the loads of other great players on that team had more to do with that than just Anquan. Here, he also made it to playoffs, won at least 1 game each time (er, actually not in 2009, since we beat the Packers WITHOUT him playing) and appeared in a SB, albeit only twice. Just like it has to do more with Lewis, Rice, Ngata, Suggs and Harbaugh this time, it had a lot to do with Warner, Fitz, Haley, Dockett and Wilson last time.


Flacco is not a bad QB. We are talking in terms of stats (the knock on him before was that he made too many bad decisions, which is true, but so did Warner when he helped Boldin rack up 102 catches, and 1400 yards in 2005), and statistically he is 60.6% compl. rating, ~3,600 yards and about 22 tds vs. 11 ints passing a year. Those are above-average numbers, so you can't say he has a bad QB. Boldin's YAC with BAL, a stat that has nothing to do with how much you run or pass since it's an average, is lower than it ever was in AZ, other than his injury-addled 2004 year.

I really have no clue why you brought up Fitz's stats from 2010-12 versus Boldin's since they really only shoot down your own argument.

Fitz, who had one of his worst statistical years in 2012 went 71/798/4. Boldin, in 2012, his best statistical year as a Raven went 65/920/4. That means that Fitz in his worst year had a few more receptions, the same amount of TDs and only 122 fewer yards than Boldin in his best year as a Raven (Ryan Lindley and Brian Hoyer throwing you the ball behind Adam Snyder will do that to you).

What's more Fitz's stats in 2011 and 2010 that you suggested that I look up are PHENOMENAL. 2011: 80/1,411/8 and 2010: 90/1,137/6. Fitz racked up slightly more yardage in 2011, catching passes from awful QBs, than Boldin has at any point in his career including Arizona. So, not really sure what you're trying to prove there as Fitz's stats from 2010-2011 blow Anquan's away and his 2012 stats are about equal playing for one of the worst teams in the league while Anquan is on a Super Bowl contender. And you can't blame Joe Flacco for this one; as we've already established he's a good QB. Fitz, on the other hand, put up superior stats while catching passes from Derek Anderson, John Skelton, Max Hall, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Lindley and Kevin Kolb. So yes, Fitz is still worth that money much more than Anquan.

For the last time, he's good, but it's not like having him on the Cardinals would mean we'd be in the Super Bowl or that the Ravens wouldn't be there or be 5-11 without him.

 

[Superfuzz]

And he had much better stats than Fitzgerald last season. So maybe the Cards should get rid of Larry since the "mighty" Fitzgerald is falling.

Seriously though your points about Baltimore's offense are spot on. 900 yards receiving with the Ravens playing the way they do and in the Division they are in is the equivalent of about 1200 yards in the old NFC West.

"Much better stats"? Really? The only stat the Boldin was better in was yardage by only 122 yards, with both of them finishing with less than 1,000.

Your point about the style of play in the "old NFC West" is moot, since Fitz put up equivalent numbers to Boldin in 2012 with a far worse offense/QBs versus superior defenses (Yes, NFCW defenses were better than AFCN in 2012). Also, in 2011, once again on a worse offense than Anquan versus stronger defenses (Fitz had to play SEA and SF while the Q has to play PIT but obviously not BAL), Fitz destroyed Anquan's numbers: 80/1,411/8 vs. 57/887/3. I don't see how that has much to do with the Ravens' style of offense. While we're handing out consolation prizes, we could also say that Flacco's 3,600 yards and 20 tds in 2011 to an "old NFC West" 4,000 yards and 27 TDs, shall we?

You were saying about Anquan having "much" better stats?

 

[Superfuzz]

Yep. But Fuzz wont acknowledge that.

I suppose by this logic we should all go around calling the east the "toughest division", because the Eagles have Reid, McNabb and TO, the Cowboys have Parcells, Bledsoe and Glenn, the Giants have Coughlin, Manning and Strahan and the Skins have Gibbs, Brunell and Arrington...

Playing AFCN defenses minus BAL is not that difficult! Who did Q have to go up against minus PIT. Cleveland twice? Cincy twice? So? Once again, I'll take 71/798/4 catching passes from Kolb Skelton and Hoyer versus SEA and SF versus 65/920/4 versus PIT and CIN catching passes from Flacco.

 

[Duckjake]

"Much better stats"? Really? The only stat the Boldin was better in was yardage by only 122 yards, with both of them finishing with less than 1,000.

Your point about the style of play in the "old NFC West" is moot, since Fitz put up equivalent numbers to Boldin in 2012 with a far worse offense/QBs versus superior defenses (Yes, NFCW defenses were better than AFCN in 2012). Also, in 2011, once again on a worse offense than Anquan versus stronger defenses (Fitz had to play SEA and SF while the Q has to play PIT but obviously not BAL), Fitz destroyed Anquan's numbers: 80/1,411/8 vs. 57/887/3. I don't see how that has much to do with the Ravens' style of offense. While we're handing out consolation prizes, we could also say that Flacco's 3,600 yards and 20 tds in 2011 to an "old NFC West" 4,000 yards and 27 TDs, shall we?

You were saying about Anquan having "much" better stats?

I would go along with that. The NFC West was terrible for years. You actually think the division that sent a 7-9 team to the playoffs is the equivalent of a division that has two of the best NFL teams over the last 10 years?

Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the bad weather north. Much tougher to play in than the NFC West. And yes Anquan had much better stats than fumble fingers Fitzgerald last season. You dismiss 122 yards. That's TEN first downs! Boldin can't help it if Baltimore can actually run the football and has Wide Receivers who can get open besides him and running backs who can actually catch the ball when it is thrown to them.

Boldin in Baltimore 34-14. Fitzgerald in Arizona same time 18-30. I don't see where Fitz is helping Arizona win like Boldin is helping the Ravens. Fitzgerald has added nothing to the Cardinals offense since Warner retired. He's just a marketing icon like the Michelin Man or the Pillbury Doughboy.

 

[Superfuzz]

I would go along with that. The NFC West was terrible for years. You actually think the division that sent a 7-9 team to the playoffs is the equivalent of a division that has two of the best NFL teams over the last 10 years?

Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the bad weather north. Much tougher to play in than the NFC West. And yes Anquan had much better stats than fumble fingers Fitzgerald last season. You dismiss 122 yards. That's TEN first downs! Boldin can't help it if Baltimore can actually run the football and has Wide Receivers who can get open besides him and running backs who can actually catch the ball when it is thrown to them.

Boldin in Baltimore 34-14. Fitzgerald in Arizona same time 18-30. I don't see where Fitz is helping Arizona win like Boldin is helping the Ravens. Fitzgerald has added nothing to the Cardinals offense since Warner retired. He's just a marketing icon like the Michelin Man or the Pillbury Doughboy.

It was terrible for years, but my point is that Fitz went 80/1,411/8 in 2011 against a much better division in 2011, I'm not talking about 2010 or 2007 or whenever else. I dismiss 122 yds? Uh, as I said if Fitz was on the Ravens, do you think he would have stat lines regularly like 2 rec for 4 yards or 1 rec for 11 yards, like he did against the Pats and @SEA this year? This team quit @ SEA and Ryan Lindley was throwing the ball, and was clearly an inept offense this year with or without Fitz - don't you think that multiple games with single-digit yardage by Fitz wouldn't have been quickly erased had he played on even a mediocre team, let alone an SB team like BAL? This is a guy who throughout his career has gone for more than 122 yards in a single game and made it look routine!

The way your stat sheet should read should be this:
Harbaugh, Ozzie Newsome and functional Ravens franchise since 2010: 34-14

Whisenhunt, Graves and Cardinals since 2010: 18-30

He can't throw himself the damn ball for crying out loud!

If you think that Fitz is nothing more than a marketing icon, then we simply have differing opinions. I tend to think he's one of the best players in the NFL, and as a WR can't help his own cause more than the QB is able to.

 

[Duckjake]

It was terrible for years, but my point is that Fitz went 80/1,411/8 in 2011 against a much better division in 2011, I'm not talking about 2010 or 2007 or whenever else. I dismiss 122 yds? Uh, as I said if Fitz was on the Ravens, do you think he would have stat lines regularly like 2 rec for 4 yards or 1 rec for 11 yards, like he did against the Pats and @SEA this year? This team quit @ SEA and Ryan Lindley was throwing the ball, and was clearly an inept offense this year with or without Fitz - don't you think that multiple games with single-digit yardage by Fitz wouldn't have been quickly erased had he played on even a mediocre team, let alone an SB team like BAL? This is a guy who throughout his career has gone for more than 122 yards in a single game and made it look routine!

The way your stat sheet should read should be this:
Harbaugh, Ozzie Newsome and functional Ravens franchise since 2010: 34-14

Whisenhunt, Graves and Cardinals since 2010: 18-30

He can't throw himself the damn ball for crying out loud!

If you think that Fitz is nothing more than a marketing icon, then we simply have differing opinions. I tend to think he's one of the best players in the NFL, and as a WR can't help his own cause more than the QB is able to.

I can almost guarantee you that if Fitz were on the Ravens he wouldn't have the numbers near what he put up in Arizona. That's not Ravens football. So to try to denigrate Boldin by saying he hasn't done what Fitz has done the last 3 years is just wrong. And I was trying to show that by exaggerating the difference in stats Fitz had last year compared to Boldin's. You just can't compare the two.

It's like trying to compare a Big XII QB to an SEC QB by using passing yards.

 

[speedy]

My buddies who play fantasy look at stats and automatically use them to say Boldin isn't the same anymore. I do take note his speed has tremendously dropped, but when he was here and in his prime, he was the slowest skill guy on the team. However I'm not a fantasy guy, and I can assure you there is a lot more to football than just catches and yards.

I remember a game this year when he threw a crack block that allowed Rice to get well into field goal territory for either the game winner or send the game to OT; they won the game either way. The block was vicious, and is trademark Q.

Receivers who don't/can't block are near useless, and the the epitome of a me first player. Anquan is a FOOTBALL player who plays receiver, and his style of play is very selfless. Some of you love to throw that NFCC game out and sum him up in that moment. His teammates all defended him afterward. Was it the best thing to do? Obviously not, as fans, like some here, are the true litmus test for what it all supposedly meant. Whatever. Is it really unheard of to see players running out of this organization pissed off???

The guy is a class act, he is hands on with his charities, and his play on the field shouldn't be questioned by anyone.

 

[BigRedRage]

Yep. But Fuzz wont acknowledge that.

You said Butt fuzz

Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2

 

[GatorAZ]

Still not certain why Q was frustrated with the Cards. I mean a "real reason" not just whining about a contract...

 

[jw7]

Still not certain why Q was frustrated with the Cards. I mean a "real reason" not just whining about a contract...

It was just a cap move. You can't have 2 WRs with 8 figure contracts.