Shutdown Corner - NFL

Shutdown Corner

Thu Mar 13, 2008 2:26 pm EDT

Whither Anquan Boldin?

By MJD

First, let's compare Cardinals wide receiver stats over the last three years.

Larry Fitzgerald: 330 receptions, 4,544 yards, 34 TDs
Anquan Boldin: 413 receptions, 5,458 yards, 29 TDs

Now, let's compare salaries over the next three years (these are approximate, and via Pro Football Talk):

Larry Fitzgerald: 

2008: $10 million
2009: $10 million
2010: $10 million

Anquan Boldin:

2008: $2.5 million
2009: $2.75 million
2010: $3 million

Presented in that light, one could certainly understand if Anquan wasn't too happy about his financial situation. 

If the guy in the cubicle next to yours was doing the same job you were, and you were (arguably) doing it better, yet he was making three times what you were making, you might like for that situation to be rectified, yes?

To my knowledge, Boldin hasn't made any public noise about being unhappy (and he probably won't; he's a good soldier), but if he hadn't expressed any displeasure at least privately, then he's just not paying attention. 

He might put up with being relatively underpaid for one year, but I doubt he'll be willing to do it any longer than that.

• Anquan Boltin'? / Pro Football Talk?

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37 Comments

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  1. Rick R
    1. Posted by Rick R Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:21 pm EDT

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    The cardinals will pay Anquan what he deserves and soon. Anquan is one of the top 10 if not top 5 receivers in the league.He is everything you want as far as a football player team mate & as a member of your community.I personally love the way he plays he's not afraid of contact goes over the middle blocks & plays hurt.He has done everything the CARDS have asked of him now its their turn to repay the favor.
  2. dan c
    2. Posted by dan c Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:33 pm EDT

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    The stats you have listed are over their entire careers.
    Boldin's stats are over 5 years, Fitz' stats are over 4 years.
    Avg's per year are close...
    Boldin - 82 rcp, 1091 yds, 5.8 TD's
    Fitz - 82.5 rcp, 1136 yds, 8.5 TD's
  3. Turtle
    3. Posted by Turtle Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    #2...that's exactly the point.
  4. dan c
    4. Posted by dan c Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:33 pm EDT

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    No, the point is that he is comparing their career #'s and listing them as their "stats over the last 3 years" and it is incorrect.
  5. BigPhillyMan
    5. Posted by BigPhillyMan Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:45 pm EDT

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    yea stast for the last 3 years are actually:
    lf- 272 rec 3764 yrds 26 tds
    ab- 256 rec 3458 yrds 20 tds
    keep in mind, boldin was hurt for much of the year last year as well
  6. RS P
    6. Posted by RS P Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:55 pm EDT

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    True, Boldin was hurt last year. He was also hurt 3 years ago when he missed most of the season. I love Anquan. His game is sick. No fear going over the middle, blocks, quiet leader, not a headcase etc... How many of these types of players have the Cardinals had in their history? Not very many.
    Boldin is going to be underpaid. He won't be with the Cards too much longer. How can they afford 2 $10 mil wide receivers? It's unfortunate but Boldin will hit his next big contract elsewhere.
    It's crazy how fast a "good" contract becomes a bad contract for a player relative to others at his position. The NFL moves fast and contracts become outdated really quickly.
  7. P W
    7. Posted by P W Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:23 pm EDT

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    You forgot to mention Anquan's signing bonus when he signed his current multi-year contract.
    According to ESPN.com...
    "Significant is that Boldin will earn a total of $13.25 million in bonuses and salaries for 2005-2006. Had the former Florida State star simply played under his existing contract for those two seasons, he would have pocketed just $830,000. In the first three seasons of the new deal, Boldin will earn $15.25 million. So in terms of so-called "new money," the contract is worth $22.67 million, or an average of $5.67 million for the extension years. "
    Although his compensation will be substantially lower than Fitzgerald's if he plays his current contract out, Anquan signed a pretty lucrative deal for a WR at the time. That's life in the NFL.
    More perplexing is how a player who has never played a down in the NFL can get in the neighbourhood of $30M in guaranteed money as a #1 pick ... BEFORE ever stepping on the field!
  8. weeryide
    8. Posted by weeryide Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

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    this just in......
    boldin to eagles for lito shephard and 2nd round pick!
  9. derek h
    9. Posted by derek h Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:43 pm EDT

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    I agree whole heartedly with P W. How in the he*l are rookies making more than seasoned veterans!!!!! The NFL needs to take a look at how the NBA created a rookie salary cap in an effort to preserve the integrity of contracts. The money spent on ALEX SMITH, DAVID CARR, AKILI SMITH just to mention a few would've been spent much better on veterans to shore up very shoddy franchises!!
  10. Dick Woodcock
    10. Posted by Dick Woodcock Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:14 pm EDT

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    sneakers o'tool has a serious man crush on boldin
  11. Sur
    11. Posted by Sur Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:13 pm EDT

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    those numbers are not for the past 3 years. those numbers are total numbers for their career. which is 4 years for fitzgerald and 5 for boldin. fitzgerald definitely has the better numbers. not to mention that he isnt as injury prone as boldin and that he has 5 more career touchdown catches in 1 year less
  12. jamie
    12. Posted by jamie Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:20 pm EDT

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    Anquan baby, come to Carolina; you and your #81 would look good in black/carolina baby blue/silver!!!!!!
  13. lost dove
    13. Posted by lost dove Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

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    Anquan baby, We could use in Philly!! then we can trade for smith from Carolina; give Carolina a sec round pick .. give Cards 3rd and leo sheppard & who ever esle not playing like a pro should , getting paid to sit on the bench.
  14. Cody
    14. Posted by Cody Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:51 pm EDT

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    Anquan baby, he cant hear you because he doesnt he this
  15. jimmy n
    15. Posted by jimmy n Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:39 pm EDT

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    yep im glad this was made into a blog. This is exactly what i was saying in the other Fitzgerald blog. I guarentee you that Cardinals will be in debt. HAHAHAHA screw the Cardinals. And screw Fitzgerald for not coming to the Eagles.
  16. jimmy n
    16. Posted by jimmy n Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:39 pm EDT

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    and also i hope Boldin does what Fitzgerald was so stupid not to do. And come to Philly and play for a team that is serious about winning. Cardinals will never be a good team and hopefully Boldin sees that and come to Philly and get paid.
  17. JagPaw9
    17. Posted by JagPaw9 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:25 pm EDT

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    Bolden is a #1 on all 32 team in the league! He should be paid as such. If he doesnt get paid there in AZ, SF will gladly take him off thier hands.
  18. david g
    18. Posted by david g Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:11 pm EDT

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    Just shows me boldin is a true team player willing to share the salary cap with his team mates while fitzgerald is a spoiled selfish player who wants it all for himself.
  19. Northrad
    19. Posted by Northrad Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:36 pm EDT

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    You mean Larry Fitzgerald is OVERPAID by 20 million !!! Not the other way.
    They are all killing the salary cap compared to the rest of the roster. Free agency is killing football. Nobody can play a career on the same team if the team is to WIN.
    The winner in this formula is the team with the most underpaid players but maxing the cap?
  20. Turtle
    20. Posted by Turtle Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    #10...that's hilarious! (How did you know)
  21. shangarleana r
    21. Posted by shangarleana r Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:16 pm EDT

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    AQ needs to walk or get paid somewhere else. He's a better all around player!!!!!
  22. frizzle
    22. Posted by frizzle Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:16 pm EDT

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    quit your whining, if he doesn't like his contract he shouldn't have ever signed it.
    how about all the players who sign huge contracts and never produce, i don't hear anyone whining on the teams behalf.
  23. Earl T
    23. Posted by Earl T Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

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    about WRs, forget larry fitzgerald's contract...talk about overpaid...javon walker...dude isn't even a top20 wide out and is making more money than any other wide receiver except for fitzgerald...and i'm sure boldin will get more money, maybe not as much but a more fair deal
  24. DAGOV
    24. Posted by DAGOV Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:21 pm EDT

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    Love having the two right here in az, but if I had to chose 1 to keep it would have been boldin. he's just a different type of leader. he changes how you cover and kinda sucks if you need to tackle. u know he's gonna hit u. i am afraid that he will be leaving us and we better get something great for him.
  25. Jeffrey C
    25. Posted by Jeffrey C Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    Frizzle, the issue is NOT AB's whining, in fact MJD specifically mentions he has NOT mentioned it. But come no, the reality is that a guy who is not arguably better than him has a contract worth 3 times what he earns. Yes, when he resigned a few years ago it was a good contract, but the market changes, and he has a right to earn what he is worth in that market.
    Holding out or demanding a restructured contract is a simple and easy decision to make, and it would be the right one to do. Remember an NFL career can end on any play, and it is his responsibility to earn as much money as he can. Get over the team loyalty concept, that died a long time ago, he is a contract employee and as such has the right to try to renegotiate his playing contract to reflect current market conditions. One thing is a 40 or 50k more another is$ 6M more.a year. Business is business and any business in the world who had a contract that was under market by that much would try and renegotiate it...and the Cards knew this going into the Fitzgerald resigning.

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Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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