Forget about Boldin

by Ed Valentine on Jan 19, 2009 9:04 AM EST in New York Giants News

Just a couple of quick thoughts this morning.

Cross Arizona's Anquan Boldin off the list of potential targets for the Giants at wide receiver. Tom Rock of Newsday does a great job calling out Boldin for his sideline tirade near the end of Sunday's NFC Championship Game. Mike Freeman of CBS Sportsline went even further, calling Boldin a 'jackass.' Boldin apparently continued his tirade after the game, refusing to celebrate the Super Bowl berth with his teammates. Sorry, I want nothing to do with a player who acts like that during and after the biggest game of his team's season. 'Kudos' to Pro Football Talk for the Freeman find.
The fact that Arizona and Pittsburgh are in the Super Bowl and Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are comes down, to me, to one simple fact. Quarterback play. In the NFC game, Kurt Warner made the plays he had to make while Donovan McNabb misfired on quite a few plays that were there to be made. In the AFC game, Ben Roethlisberger was able to move around and make things happen under duress, while Joe Flacco played like an overmatched rookie. Don Banks of SI.com has more on the quarterbacks.
Next on my list of off-season questions are looks at the defensive line and linebackers. I am going to put that off until we know who the defensive coordinator will be, though.

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I was big on Boldin

but you make a good point. I don’t have as much of a problem w/ him yelling on the sideline, hell Plax did that this year to Coughlin and has acted like a jerk to Eli thats just the emotion of the game, I dont like it but it happens. And as we know they still won together, but holding a grudge after the team wins to go to the Super Bowl and not celebrating is a big red flag to me, kinda like Shockeys antics last year after the G-Men won the bowl without him. I think Boldin was fustrated because Fitzgerald was the big star in the game. Hey Maybe this forces a trade and if the Giants can get him realatively cheaply he still might be worth it but after yesterday I’m not sure.

by Landeta on Jan 19, 2009 9:52 AM EST reply actions

Capers to Green Bay

link

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Jan 19, 2009 9:55 AM EST reply actions

A couple of things I found on philly.com

Boy the media there is tough on them.

So where does this rank among playoff losses of the McNabb/Andy Reid era? The Bucs loss at the Vet is still the worst. And I’d say the Super Bowl loss to the Patriots was worse. This probably ranks third, just ahead of the Panthers loss. What a roller coaster to get here. The season seemed over at so many different points during the last five months. Then all of a sudden, they got a chance to make up for all those missed opportunities, but it wasn’t meant to be.

One thing I don’t understand. When Warner has words with offensive coordinator Todd Haley on the sideline, he’s just being a leader and should have input. When Anquan Boldin has words with Haley on the sidelines, he’s a distraction and should just shut-up and play. Maybe the explanation is that Warner is a probable Hall of Famer and a veteran. But Haley didn’t seem too pleased with either guys’ comments. Shouldn’t they both be criticized?

Some various texts and e-mails to share.

From philly.com’s Mike Potter at 3:52: I’m gonna throw up.
From my buddy Jordan at 4:39: Out of gas.
From my buddy Jordan at 5:46: Or not.
E-mail from philly.com’s Ellen Dunkel at 7:14: Expecting a riot? There are about a zillion cops in riot gear around City Hall. No exaggeration.
E-mail from philly.com’s Mike Potter at 7:26: They must have been there in case the Eagles won. Cause don’t nobody have the energy to riot after that loss. I feel like somebody just punched me in the gut.

I imagine similar e-mails/texts/IMs were being exchanged throughout the Delaware Valley.

Champions write their own legacy. Everyone else’s gets written for them.
That is the reality for Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb, the coach and quarterback who reached five NFC championship games together and will now be remembered mostly for losing four of them and a Super Bowl.

Whether that’s fair is beside the point. When the Eagles lost, 32-25, to the Arizona Cardinals yesterday, Reid and McNabb lost the chance to write their own redemption story.

It’s our own fault. We should have known it was too good to be true.
Yesterday’s game was a microcosm of the Eagles’ season. First they disappointed us. Then they made a dramatic, last-second comeback and got our hopes up. Then, when we were once more

fantasizing about the rise of a Philadelphia sports empire, everything crumbled.

We have only ourselves to blame. All the talk about holding back-to-back parades – the discussions about destiny and Philly becoming the new title town – it was so seductive. We got greedy. We were too busy daydreaming about tanning in Tampa to brace for a possible letdown in Arizona. It was the sports equivalent of buying a “gold” wristwatch for 20 bucks from some guy wearing a trench coat. Buyer beware.

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jan 19, 2009 9:58 AM EST reply actions

The difference

between Warner and Boldin is that Warner got over it and celebrated the fact that the team won, while Boldin kept on pouting all the way home. You are going to the SUPERBOWL YOU IDIOT!

by potroast on Jan 19, 2009 10:45 AM EST up reply actions

This is the worst loss for the Eagles

Loosing to the Pats! They were supposed to loss to the Pats. The Pats played like crap in that game and still won. Even TB had a big time D that year when they beat the Eagles. They lost to very good oppents in those years. I’m not taking anything away from the Cards but this loss has to hurt the most. They beat this team by 28 points in the regular season and they had gotten by the Giants in the previous round. The Cardinals were 9-7 the Pats were 14-2 and going for a reapeat in 2005. This is why Philly media and fans are so stupid. They act like they are robbed of a championship every year they don’t win, instead of realizing they just were not as good as their oppent.

by Landeta on Jan 19, 2009 10:16 AM EST reply actions

Wahh wahhh

cry me a river, Eggs. I like the back and forth but those fans are a classless act. I’m so happy to see the Eggles lose. I’m happy to see that cheap-shot artist Dawkins head home… chance of career-ending neck injury in the superbowl just dropped 40%. I’m glad to see Asante “I just want the best chance to win a championship” Samuel, who left an 18-1 team for more money, laughing as the hope dies. I don’t have any personal dislike for Donovan McNabb. I bet he’s a good guy. But he’s not a winner, and I hope he signs a 5-year contract in the city of brotherly homo love.

You play to win the game!

by Simms-McConkey on Jan 19, 2009 10:22 AM EST reply actions

Yep, scratch Boldin as a possibility.

What made his tirade worse was that his offense was on the field at the time and his OC was involved in communicating with his QB or the guys in the booth. Even Plax didn’t do that plus Boldin sought out the OC and initiated the incident whereas TC approached Plax and Plax responded vehenntly to TC’s justified criticism, a lesser offense in my eyes

by blue gonz on Jan 19, 2009 10:52 AM EST reply actions

I won't discard Boldin from the discussion

but he’s been moved down the list. I’d say now the best move would be to get Housh.

by squid92 on Jan 19, 2009 11:22 AM EST reply actions

Boldin does not have the Plax reputation. He is not a bad guy.

Would a competitive player stand on the sideline and not get in one play, when you’ve been losing with this team your entire career, and not be upset when the team scores the superbowl clinching touchdown?

Boldin was drafted by Arizona, has been through numerous coaches, QB’s, loss after loss and he is a bad guy because he asked to be put in the game even to run block? He asked to be put in the game for a run play if they didn’t want him to run routes he just wanted to be part of the drive.

My mom always said to shun the appearance of evil and Boldin didn’t do that with his shouting match but deep down is he a bad guy? He didn’t make it rain on a stripper on the sideline, the man wanted to play.

If Don Mattingly sat the bench in 1996, which he couldv’e, do you think the Yankees wouldn’t give him an at-bat before they clinched?

I won’t kill Boldin for this.

by Major on Jan 19, 2009 11:25 AM EST reply actions

I will

He’s sitting there ripping his OC on the game-winning drive because he isn’t in the game. Then he refuses to celebrate. That’s not cool. BTW, Boldin did play. Apparently, they felt he wasn’t healthy/effective, which is a decision they are paid to make.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 19, 2009 11:34 AM EST up reply actions

Did I say he didn't play the game? IMO, if that was Kevin Boss screaming at Gilbride against the eagles

no one would kill him. So be even in your judgments because those casting the stones usually can’t handle the stones aimed at them. This is the only thing Boldin has done in his entire career. This is a player that has been active in the Arizona community for his entire career. This is a player who has been a good citizen and has not SHOT himself or others or made it rain on naked women. He hasn’t beat his wife or his girlfriend. He has had no off the field issues and no team issues until Fitzgerald was given his enormous contract.

This is also a player whose face was fractured in a game this season severing his sinuses and was damned lucky he wasn’t paralyzed and yet continued to rehab and practice because he desires to play for his team and his community. He clearly felt embarrased by not playing on that drive. I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt here. BTW, coaches are NOT paid to remove players for health reasons, the training staff and sideline doctors are and there are no reports that Boldin was restricted by those doctors.

Since 2003 he has played for that garbage team and ownership, made pro bowls and been a good team guy, a captain of the offense, the first Cardinal WR with 4 consecutive 1000 yd seasons, former rookie of the year and the only bright spot on that team for many years and he can’t play that drive for Steve Breaston? Thats ok but he has his right to disagree with that decision.

When a player with his resume makes a mistake I give him the benefit of the doubt. If you don’t then thats your choice.

by Major on Jan 19, 2009 12:10 PM EST up reply actions

OK

But no player should do what he did, in the middle of a drive while the guy is trying to call plays. Coaches do make the decisions on the plays to run and who is in the game. Maybe it’s an overreaction, but I think the Giants will be very careful at this point about guys who show any hints of attitude issues. Also, the report of him pouting after the game and not celebrating being in the SB bugs me. Maybe this was an aberration for Boldin. Honestly, I hope so.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 19, 2009 12:34 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed on all points

by Major on Jan 19, 2009 2:19 PM EST up reply actions

I too

will now give him the benefit of the doubt because of your info. But you have admit that its just plain weird to be so upset about that situation that you don’t celebrate going to the Superbowl? I mean, it’s the Superbowl. ESPECIALLY, if you have been one of the only bright spots for a bad franchise for so long? It’s just weird. And bad timing.

by potroast on Jan 19, 2009 1:16 PM EST up reply actions

Terrible timing and awful PR because he's getting the "bad Guy" rep but I do like the guy for the Giants.

by Major on Jan 19, 2009 2:22 PM EST up reply actions

Wow, Major, you're as passionate in Boldin's defense

as kendynamo is in Plax’s. You make a good case, too. If the Giants do go after Boldin, I won’t be as critical as I otherwise might have been. If they take him, they’ll thoroughly vet him. I trust JR and TC, but they vetted Plax and I’m sure they didn’t get all they expected from him.

by blue gonz on Jan 19, 2009 3:19 PM EST up reply actions

I agree they'll strip search his background but he is a good guy.

I admit i was a bit overzealous in his defense. Just like the player!

by Major on Jan 19, 2009 6:18 PM EST up reply actions

Could not have said it better

I still don’t like the pouting after the win a little like Shockey last year but great points. I hope the media keeps playing up this bad guy angel during the SB and the Giants don’t have to trade much to get him.

by Landeta on Jan 19, 2009 6:53 PM EST up reply actions

If he can be had for less than a first rounder...

…then I’m willing to overlook the incident. Burress had a much worse rep than Boldin when they signed him, and he helped them win a Super Bowl. Anyone who thinks the Giants roster is all saints, no sinners, is deluded.

p.s., I might have enjoyed it had Brandon Jacobs gotten in KillDrive’s ear last week!

by drunkUncle on Jan 19, 2009 11:42 AM EST reply actions

I tend to agree

I think if Boldin can be had, you go get him. Just some of the stuff I am reading about him says this was not normal behavior for him. I’m willing to chalk it up to just a guy having a crappy day and doing a dumb thing. Plus, the guy took one of the most vicious hits I’ve ever seen against the Jets, had to be carted off the field, and played 2 weeks later.

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jan 19, 2009 11:57 AM EST up reply actions

Great Point

He literaly broke his face against the Jets and played a few games later. Thats tough.

by Landeta on Jan 19, 2009 6:46 PM EST up reply actions

A little more Boldin

Here is more details on the problems between Boldin and the Cards. Seems he doesn’t even speak to coach Ken Whisenhunt. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/19/SPTB15CSDL.DTL

by Ed Valentine on Jan 19, 2009 2:06 PM EST reply actions

The major issue seems to be that Boldin was promised a contract renegotiation

and got it after Fitzgerald signed. Boldin was as good as signed heading into this years training camp but the offer was pulled without cause. Later Boldin found out that whisenhunt talked the gm out of the offer. Is it because they feel Breaston is the heir apparent? Likely, but Boldin was hurt and he asked for a trade. He and Whisenhunt haven’t spoken since August.

It’s just a reminder that no matter how good you are there are no sure deals in the nfl. The issue for Jerry Reese will be finding out if Breaston is in favor or is there a physical problem with Boldin. He runs slow so a knee problem would set him way back in the league.

by Major on Jan 19, 2009 2:35 PM EST up reply actions

Holy moley, that's news, as unexpected in its way

as was the revelations about all those fines levied on Plax. It looks like Boldin’s going to be up for grabs. If the Giants want him, they’ll have a good shot i would think. So would the Eagles and ’boys.
Something to ponder.

by blue gonz on Jan 19, 2009 3:24 PM EST up reply actions

Revenge of the birds

Has a good article about the Boldin thing. Worth a read.

by Woogie526 on Jan 19, 2009 2:06 PM EST reply actions

I'm Sorry

I still love Boldin regardless.. Tom will fix him, atleast I’d like him here to atleast try… Specially if we cna get him for 2nd rd pick and Sinorice.. btw Bill Sheridan ne D Coordinator, i like it.. What do ya’ll think?

by gobs56 on Jan 19, 2009 2:33 PM EST reply actions

I still like Boldin

This does seem out of character and the guy has tried to get out there injury after injury this year even after the Cards supposedly negotiated and pulled the deal without explanation.
I will caulk this up as out of character and I assume his cost has just taken an enormous hit in the market. Sign him to a big incentive laden deal and try to get him in here (ala Burress’s deal).

The behavior is bad and a sore-loser, but the guy wants to play. I have not heard of any off the field incidents. Former Teammates at FSU still think the guy is the best teammate they have ever had. Dedicated, loyal and tireless work ethic.

by losangelesmets on Jan 19, 2009 3:05 PM EST reply actions

Boldin

The more I think about it the only thing that bothers me about yesterdays incident is the pouting after the team won. I have no problem w/ him wanting to get in the game. Warner was yelling at the OC during the game too. I still think the Giants need him. He’s younger and better than TJ. I think Eli needs a big target too.

by Landeta on Jan 19, 2009 6:45 PM EST reply actions