Understanding Boldin

[red desert]

Don't know if this has been posted yet.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Understanding-Boldins-anger.html&team=147

 

[Mitch]

Don't know if this has been posted yet.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Understanding-Boldins-anger.html&team=147

Thanks for posting this good article, red desert. I think we can all appreciate Q's desire to play and his competitive fire. However, had this been an isolated mouthing off at an ill-timed moment, Q's lashing out might be more understandable and even tolerable to a small extent.

This time around, Q's antics are all the more disappointing. When Q first started bashing the organization and his head coach, the franchise was still trying to expunge itself of the stigma of being perennial cellar dwellars and laughing stocks, and the head coach was still a relatively unkown entity.

In the past two years, the Cardinals have altered the way virtually every person in America looks at the franchise, and Ken Whisenhunt is now a proven winner as a head coach. In fact, some may argue that turning the Cardinals' fortunes around could be perceived as one of the all-time greatest coaching accomplishments...certainly in the history of the Cardinal franchise, and arguably in the history of the NFL.

While Q has played a high profile role in the reversal of the team's fortunes, and deserves credit for his high caliber of play, it seems that just when the organization and the team itself has accomplished great new heights, Q simply will not allow himself the requisite initiative and/or selflessness to embrace the team's success and, moreover, will not allow himself the grace to celebrate the joys of winning with his teammates, whether he was on the field or not.

Q has received unparalleled support from his teammates. Kurt Warner has shown remarkbale support...as has Larry Fitzgerald...and even Steve Breaston wouldn't run out with the starting lineups after he replaced Q in the lineup following Q's devastating injury last year.

The tirade that Q threw at Todd Haley during the Cardinals most critical drive since 1946, was utterly selfish, immature and unprofessional. Not only did he cuss out his own OC on the sidelines, he clearly was not showing any respect for his teammates at that time (for they were to a man playing their hearts outs)...how about some return respect for Breaston who had shown Q the ultimate respect. Breaston was in the game down the stretch on plays where Q was not. Respect has to go both ways.

Then to slink surreptitiously and indignantly through the confetti shower during the organization's most glorious moment and then out the back door to join his unctuous and avarcious agent instead of staying to relish the victory with his teammates was also extraordinarily selfish and unprofessional.

We all have gripes with people we work with and especially with those we work for...that's normal. But, there comes a time when everyone has to set aside personal gripes for the betterment of the group...there also comes a time when everyone needs to try in earnest to put himself in other people's shoes.

These poor choices by Q have piled up enough...to the point where any ill-timed shot at the organization and/or coach speaks to a greater context and agenda.

Unless Q comes to his senses and starts to realize what it really means to be a good teammate, and what it really means to afford at least a modicum of respect for others when things don't go his way, he is going to leave Arizona with his own stigma...one which may accomany him wherever he goes. This is terribly sad...because anyone who has watched Q battle tooth and nail on the field for all these years would have no other choice but to regard him in the highest of esteem. Yet, now, alas, Q has given all onlookers another choice of how to perceive him. Let's face it, how many fans does Terrell Owens still have? The "me first" primadonnas in the NFL are not gaining many new fans are they? In fact, the "me first" attitude CHANGES they way players are perceived, doesn't it?

Hopefully Q will be visited soon by the Ghost of Christmas Present and Q will come to his senses. Perhaps Q will look at what Edgerrin James' hubris did to him. Edge had a very good gig in Arizona. He was handsomely paid and was held in high regard by his teammates, the coaches and the fans...and, best of all, people laughed at Edge when he left Indy to go to the Cardinals, saying that he was giving up the best chance he had to win a ring to go to a team that would NEVER have a chance. Well, Edge could laugh right back at his doubters, because there he was playing in The Big Show last year (something he never got the chance to do in Indy)...it's just too bad that---because of obstinate pride---Edge never let himself truly embrace his situation or the opportunity to ride his contract out...and now...just in one year, Edge has gone from a starting RB in the Super Bowl to being the 3rd string RB for the Seahawks, to now being released....and has managed to lose $4M in the process.

Q still has a GREAT gig in Arizona. No---he is not making Fitz $$$. But, he is playing on a Super Bowl contender with teammates who have gone out of their way to appreciate and honor him. Q is still being considered one of the major reasons why the Cardinals have turned things around so astoundingly. He also is playing with a QB who understands his ego and does everything he can to feed it. And, as for the fans who once looked up to Q as an Arizona Sports icon, they will all come hoarding back if Q shows some humbleness and honors back the team, the coaches and the fans...that is---if Q takes the time to show respect and honor in return.

 

[RedRob]

Mitch - your best post ever; and that's saying something.

 

[CardLogic]

Hopefully Q will be visited soon by the Ghost of Christmas Present and Q will come to his senses. Perhaps Q will look at what Edgerrin James' hubris did to him. Edge had a very good gig in Arizona. He was handsomely paid and was held in high regard by his teammates, the coaches and the fans...and, best of all, people laughed at Edge when he left Indy to go to the Cardinals, saying that he was giving up the best chance he had to win a ring to go to a team that would NEVER have a chance. Well, Edge could laugh right back at his doubters, because there he was playing in The Big Show last year (something he never got the chance to do in Indy)...it's just too bad that---because of obstinate pride---Edge never let himself truly embrace his situation or the opportunity to ride his contract out...and now...just in one year, Edge has gone from a starting RB in the Super Bowl to being the 3rd string RB for the Seahawks, to now being released....and has managed to lose $4M in the process.

Q still has a GREAT gig in Arizona. No---he is not making Fitz $$$. But, he is playing on a Super Bowl contender with teammates who have gone out of their way to appreciate and honor him. Q is still being considered one of the major reasons why the Cardinals have turned things around so astoundingly. He also is playing with a QB who understands his ego and does everything he can to feed it. And, as for the fans who once looked up to Q as an Arizona Sports icon, they will all come hoarding back if Q shows some humbleness and honors back the team, the coaches and the fans...that is---if Q takes the time to show respect and honor in return.

In a long history of quality posts, your best ever!

Q, take a lesson from Edge...

 

[Doug]

Mitch.Don't ever let anyone tell you your posts are too long to read.When someone writes like you do its well worth it and even more the person who reads it is better off for what he/she has just read.

I know I really appreciate the time and effort it takes to make a post with that much in it and such a special way of writing.This message board is truly honored to have you as one of its members.

Your posts could'nt be too long for me.Keep em' coming.

 

[imaCafan]

For me, I have come from the thought if you had to give up all but one player, Q is the one you keep. Now, it wouldn't bother me much if he was out-right released. Can't imagine getting much for him, either....

 

[Doug]

For me, I have come from the thought if you had to give up all but one player, Q is the one you keep. Now, it wouldn't bother me much if he was out-right released. Can't imagine getting much for him, either....

Thats just another reason why I personally want the CARDINALS to just let him play out his current contract,unless someone in the AFC offers us something we just can't say no too.(Which is highly unlikely due to his age and health concerns and physical style of play)not to mention the amount of money he wants to play for another team.

Let Q play for the CARDINALS in a contract season,knowing he's gonna give 110% every game to boost his value to any team looking at him at his age and wondering if he still has "IT".We could really get a great year out of Boldin chasing the SB next year with Warner in his last season and it not costing us anything more than we're paying now.

If the unlikely Madden offer comes from an AFC team thats willing to pay 9 million a year and sign the contract,then make the deal for picks we'll need for players to fill many holes we'll have at LB and OLT next year.Hope we can work something out with Rolle and we don't lose him due to his bonus'.

 

[Buckybird]

I find it hard to believe anyone can understand Boldin at this point of his career. His actions off the field confuse the hell out of me.

 

[Buckybird]

Mitch - your best post ever; and that's saying something.

I definately agree, words of reality!!!

 

[WildBB]

Solid Walter Mitch. Great write up.

There's no way not to appreciate what Anquan has brought to the valley with his play and toughness.

It's time to loose some of that toughness around HIS OWN. C'mon Quan it's about all of us. Disapointments aside.

We need you to be at your best the rest of the way. Stay well!

 

[red desert]

Hope my title thread (which was the title of the article) didn't give the impression that I support Q for his latest outburst, because I don't.

Stellar post, Mitch. I agree.

 

[az1965]

Very well put, Mitch... everything I always wanted to say but could not put together like this post

Q was my favorite Card until last year but I agree that now I wouldn't care if he is even released... I would like something in return though so prefer him traded next year.

 

[DieHardCardFan]

Thats just another reason why I personally want the CARDINALS to just let him play out his current contract,unless someone in the AFC offers us something we just can't say no too.(Which is highly unlikely due to his age and health concerns and physical style of play)not to mention the amount of money he wants to play for another team.

Let Q play for the CARDINALS in a contract season,knowing he's gonna give 110% every game to boost his value to any team looking at him at his age and wondering if he still has "IT".We could really get a great year out of Boldin chasing the SB next year with Warner in his last season and it not costing us anything more than we're paying now.

If the unlikely Madden offer comes from an AFC team thats willing to pay 9 million a year and sign the contract,then make the deal for picks we'll need for players to fill many holes we'll have at LB and OLT next year.Hope we can work something out with Rolle and we don't lose him due to his bonus'.

Doug I agree 100% !!!!

 

[Reddog]

Well said.

 

[JeffGollin]

Like the way we should approach each upcoming game...

"It ain't about Q, it's about us."

I don't think much is to be gained by trying to "understand" Boldin. (He's going to say what says and do what he does - & usually his actions on the field have been a major net-positive for the team).

He's also said to be a good teammate and team leader.

Whether or not we understand him, Q is going to be Q and trying to control this would likely be a work in futility.

More important is how ownership, the coaches and the front office conduct their business - do they think highly of Anquan? Within the context of effectively operating a business - are they treating him fairly? Are they backing up their words of praise with appropriate actions? Are they doing the right thing? Those things they can control.

That's why I say, "It's about us and not about Q."

 

[Mitch]

Jeff: you alluded to the fact that Q's teammates consider him a good teammate...well, they also considered Edge a good teammate, which begs the question of what constitutes a good teammate...a guy who works hard and is friendly in his own way to the guys around him?

In the conundrum that is professional sports, the players are often torn between the concepts of team vs. the individual. From a team standpoint, we often hear the term "we are a family"...and from the individual standpoint, we often hear the term "well, this is business and every man has the right to provide for his family" (yeah, the real family). Thus, what we have here is an insidious paradox...players are supposed to be "good loyal soldiers" to their teams, but players also are supposed to find every conceivable way to parlay their value and skill into the most lucrative contract possible...but...the way contracts have to fit into a team's salary cap, there clearly is a "team" aspect to contracts, which continually tests the notion of player loyalty versus out-and-out greed.

In keeping with the "family" metaphor... consider these comparable scenarios with regard to Boldin. (1) Suppose it's your wedding and you find out that after the ceremony your brother had a squabble in the church parking lot with your father and the brother was so irate that he decided to skip the reception. Thus, on what is supposed to be the greatest day of your life, you cannot share it with your brother. No matter how justified your brother may have been for getting upset, can you really excuse him for electing to let his pride win out instead of his loyalty to you? (2) It's your birthday and you've just learned that you got the big promotion and raise you've always dreamed about, and your brother shows up to your party in a foul mood complaining about his own situation and draws a good deal of attention to himself. One might imagine you would ask yourself, "Couldn't he just be happy for me on this day?"

The interesting thing is...none of Q's teammates are going to publicly criticize him...but, with the way Q has acted, which includes, if you recall, a less that half-hearted participation in the off-season workouts and practices, the players are very likely to feel a little like the brother in the scenarios above...especially those teammates who also feel they deserve new, more lucrative contracts, yet thet are still showing loyalty to the organization, the coaches and their teammates by doing all they are being asked to do (including participating in the OTAs) and keeping their mouths shut for the betterment of the team.

The fact is...as much as his teammates avow what a good teammate Q is...he is no longer a team captain (per vote of his teammates), where once he was the unanimous choice...and he hasn't been a team captain for the past two years now.

Let's go back again to the Carolina playoff game last year where Q was sidelined. If you recall, Q was imploring his teammates to rise up and get him to the NFC Championship game. One would think of how thankful he should have been to the team for getting themselves and him to the NFC Championship game...a dream that once seemed virtually impossible for any Cardinal player. Therefore, Q's actions during and after the NFC Championship game are all the more egregious when taken in this context. Thus, it would be hard for anyone, players especially, to claim with certain veracity that Q is a "good teammate."

The other thing that's being a little lost in the shuffle here is how apparently little the GMs in the NFL think of Boldin with regard to Boldin's plight. The reality is that none of them consider Q a $8-9M per year WR. The only confirmed trade offer the Cardinals received this off-season for Q was a 2nd rounder in the 40s (a pick even lower than where he was originally drafted) by the Chicago Bears. And, get this, with two years remaining on Q's contract, one has to seriously wonder if Q would have found himself in the exact same situation contract-wise in Chicago. After all, the offer was only a 2nd rounder, nothing more...which doesn't exactly hint at a ripping up of his contract for a 4 year $36M deal with $24M in guarantees...to a player who yes is tough as nails, but unfortunately, due to a preponderance of injuries, has developed into a mainstay on the "doubtful" and/or "questionable" injury lists.

This is yet another reason why it's likely Q may never shed this new stigma...because, at his age and injury propensity, he's never going to get that elite contract. The irony is that for all Q's complaining, his current contract seems exceptionally fair.

 

[Buckybird]

Jeff: you alluded to the fact that Q's teammates consider him a good teammate...well, they also considered Edge a good teammate, which begs the question of what constitutes a good teammate...a guy who works hard and is friendly in his own way to the guys around him?

In the conundrum that is professional sports, the players are often torn between the concepts of team vs. the individual. From a team standpoint, we often hear the term "we are a family"...and from the individual standpoint, we often hear the term "well, this is business and every man has the right to provide for his family" (yeah, the real family). Thus, what we have here is an insidious paradox...players are supposed to be "good loyal soldiers" to their teams, but players also are supposed to find every conceivable way to parlay their value and skill into the most lucrative contract possible...but...the way contracts have to fit into a team's salary cap, there clearly is a "team" aspect to contracts, which continually tests the notion of player loyalty versus out-and-out greed.

In keeping with the "family" metaphor... consider these comparable scenarios with regard to Boldin. (1) Suppose it's your wedding and you find out that after the ceremony your brother had a squabble in the church parking lot with your father and the brother was so irate that he decided to skip the reception. Thus, on what is supposed to be the greatest day of your life, you cannot share it with your brother. No matter how justified your brother may have been for getting upset, can you really excuse him for electing to let his pride win out instead of his loyalty to you? (2) It's your birthday and you've just learned that you got the big promotion and raise you've always dreamed about, and your brother shows up to your party in a foul mood complaining about his own situation and draws a good deal of attention to himself. One might imagine you would ask yourself, "Couldn't he just be happy for me on this day?"

The interesting thing is...none of Q's teammates are going to publicly criticize him...but, with the way Q has acted, which includes, if you recall, a less that half-hearted participation in the off-season workouts and practices, the players are very likely to feel a little like the brother in the scenarios above...especially those teammates who also feel they deserve new, more lucrative contracts, yet thet are still showing loyalty to the organization, the coaches and their teammates by doing all they are being asked to do (including participating in the OTAs) and keeping their mouths shut for the betterment of the team.

The fact is...as much as his teammates avow what a good teammate Q is...he is no longer a team captain (per vote of his teammates), where once he was the unanimous choice...and he hasn't been a team captain for the past two years now.

Let's go back again to the Carolina playoff game last year where Q was sidelined. If you recall, Q was imploring his teammates to rise up and get him to the NFC Championship game. One would think of how thankful he should have been to the team for getting themselves and him to the NFC Championship game...a dream that once seemed virtually impossible for any Cardinal player. Therefore, Q's actions during and after the NFC Championship game are all the more egregious when taken in this context. Thus, it would be hard for anyone, players especially, to claim with certain veracity that Q is a "good teammate."

The other thing that's being a little lost in the shuffle here is how apparently little the GMs in the NFL think of Boldin with regard to Boldin's plight. The reality is that none of them consider Q a $8-9M per year WR. The only confirmed trade offer the Cardinals received this off-season for Q was a 2nd rounder in the 40s (a pick even lower than where he was originally drafted) by the Chicago Bears. And, get this, with two years remaining on Q's contract, one has to seriously wonder if Q would have found himself in the exact same situation contract-wise in Chicago. After all, the offer was only a 2nd rounder, nothing more...which doesn't exactly hint at a ripping up of his contract for a 4 year $36M deal with $24M in guarantees...to a player who yes is tough as nails, but unfortunately, due to a preponderance of injuries, has developed into a mainstay on the "doubtful" and/or "questionable" injury lists.

This is yet another reason why it's likely Q may never shed this new stigma...because, at his age and injury propensity, he's never going to get that elite contract. The irony is that for all Q's complaining, his current contract seems exceptionally fair.

Great post again Mitch.

All of TO's former teams & players loved him as a teammate also. Very seldom do teammates speak out against another teammates actions or words. If I remember correctly, you predicted this beavior would continue & escalate this season. Well here we are & Q's ripping of the organization continues. I can only seeing it get worse this next offseason if he isn't given a deal and he's not worth the big price tag. I'm so sick of Boldins antics.

Stay tuned folks for the next episode of "As the Q turns".

 

[daves]

All of TO's former teams & players loved him as a teammate also.

Really? Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, Tony Romo???

And even if some players were smart enough not to make negative comments about T.O. in the media, you have to figure that a good percentage of those 49ers, Eagles, and Cowboys locker rooms did NOT support T.O., his selfishness, distracting antics, and destructive and childish comments and behavior toward his teammates.

...dave

 

[Buckybird]

Really? Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, Tony Romo???

And even if some players were smart enough not to make negative comments about T.O. in the media, you have to figure that a good percentage of those 49ers, Eagles, and Cowboys locker rooms did NOT support T.O., his selfishness, distracting antics, and destructive and childish comments and behavior toward his teammates.

...dave

Except for the QB's he dogged out. Talking in general, most teammates have always spoken highly of him. I hate TO & think Boldin is headed down his path to a lesser degree.