Boldin might be back in play

by Ed Valentine on Apr 16, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in New York Giants News

According to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, it appears Anquan Boldin might be available after all.

According to The Arizona Republic, team officials with the Arizona Cardinals have acknowledged they’re listening to offers for receiver Anquan Boldin. In fact, coach Ken Whisenhunt told the paper “a few” teams have already called.

The Cardinals did not say whether the Giants were one of those teams, but given their interest in a receiver and their need to replace Plaxico Burress in their lineup, it’s a good bet they were.

However, the Cardinals did make it clear that they’re not trying to trade the 28-year-old Boldin. Whisenhunt said signing him to a new contract “continues to be the preferred result.” But, he added, since they have yet to reach an agreement on a new deal “it would be foolish from our standpoint not to listen to those (trade) opportunities and see what actually exists.”

It seems like we have talked about it the entire off-season, but the question is this. If the Giants trade for a wide receiver, do you want Boldin or Cleveland's Braylon Edwards? For argument's sake, let's assume the price is equal for each. Two to three draft picks and a new long-term, big money contract for whichever guy the Giants get.

When we voted on this last month, BBV Nation clearly seemed to prefer Edwards. Here was the vote.

Anquan Boldin: 727 votes
Braylon Edwards: 1210 votes

Edwards' skill set is closer to that of the #17 we recently lost. Scouts Inc. warns that Boldin may not really be a true No. 1 receiver. It's not the first time I've heard that opinion.

I thought differently about this a couple of months ago. Now, however, I'd say it makes more sense to go get Edwards. Despite the drops, his skill set is a better fit for the Giants' needs.

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Comments

I think people forget Burress wasn't a #1 receiver when the Giants signed him

He was #2 to Hines Ward. I think you have to go with Edwards because he’s probably available for less. Compare Edwards first 4 years with Plaxico’s and they are nearly identical. Edwards had 228 receptions for 3558 yards, a 15.6 avg, and 28 TDs. In Burress’s first 4 yrs with the Steelers he had 226 receptions for 3466 yards, a 15.3 avg, and 17 TDs. Granted, Edwards may have been the #1 receiving target in those years while Plax wasn’t, but Edwards did play a couple years with Winslow as the TE.

by da cut on Apr 16, 2009 8:31 AM EDT reply actions

i think if you can buy low on edwards

you do it, rather than boldin who’s perceived value i think is higher. probably most GM’s are savy to the concept of market forces but in any event i dont think you can go wrong with either guy, they are both tremendous talents.

if we can get either guy for hixon and some non first round draft picks you have to do it, though to be honest i’m not sure what other teams would want hixon thrown in.

HELLO HELLO MR WILPON. WE WANT THE MANSION NOT THE CONDO.

by kendynamo on Apr 16, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I like both receivers

but I think I’m leaning more towards Edwards because he is more of a verticle threat which would open things underneath for Smith, Boss and the RB’s. I also think that with these two, it’s a pick your poison type thing. One teams seems to want too much and you know the other receiver is looking to break the bank and I have a fear of paying a guy too much and watching his efforts shift to a lower gear (let’s see how hard Haynesworth plays this year). I think it’s a toss up but I’d welcome them both.

by njgiant on Apr 16, 2009 8:36 AM EDT reply actions

Now your playing with my...

EMOTIONS MAN!!!! I can’t wait for next Saturday, all this jumping around rumors about trades and no trades blah blah blah PLEASE just something happen already….

by gobs56 on Apr 16, 2009 8:50 AM EDT reply actions

Agree wholeheartedly

Edwards, more than anyone else in the league at the moment, can step into Plaxs shoes. He provides the same skill set and close enough size to help erase Elis mistakes.

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 Apr 16, 2009 9:00 AM EDT reply actions

And that the phrase that bothers me

“help erase Eli’s mistakes”. How do you improve on accuracy??

by njgiant on Apr 16, 2009 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Easy

If you have a receiver of Burress’ or Edwards’ size, Eli can throw into a certain radius and be more assured it’ll be caught, rather than hoping he can suddenly thread the needle.

So a big receiver has a larger reception radius, if you will, than someone like Hixon/Smith etc.

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 Apr 16, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions

I buy that to some extent

but when I think back to Marino and the Marks brothers, and the numbers they put up, especially when the Dolphins had no running game, I go back and think some of this has to fall back on Eli. Put the ball where it’s suppose to be. Brady did a fine job with the crap he had before the Moss Era.

by njgiant on Apr 16, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Well Marino and Eli arent in the same ballpark, not by a longshot

Eli is nowhere near as good as Marino, so I think thats why we need a guy like Edwards b/c he has a better chance at using his physical gifts, ie, height, to mitigate Elis overthrows.

Point being, there is little Chance Elis gonna start churning out 60+% completion rates year after year, so we need a guy like Burress/Edwards to help make Eli look better.

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 Apr 16, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I get what you're saying

but if we never get that 6’5 mistake eraser again, do we consider Eli a bust? Can Eli only be successful when he has a tall receiver. If Eli were in Carolina, would (their) Steve Smith have to grow 7 to 8 inches to remain the dominant WR that he is? Sometimes I think we’re a little too easy on Eli when it comes to his “bad” throws. I love Eli and he’s a proven winner but like our current WR’s, Eli’s got to step his game up also, adjust and work with what he has if that tall WR is not in our huddle. He’s got to put the ball where it has to be.

by njgiant on Apr 16, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I think we're in agreement actually

I shudder to think about what Elis numbers, particularly completion percentage, w/o Burress….but thats not his strong suit, so I dont think we should ever expect anything above 60%

I dont know that accuracy is something you can work on, particularly in game conditions, I think he is what he is at this point, so Reese should make every effort to make sure he’s well equipped to utilize his strengths

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 Apr 16, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that JR is going to give Eli what he needs

I think that will be Edwards. I just saw the clip of Eli talking about Edwards and there seemed to be a little gleem in Eli’s eyes when talking about him. We’ve got a possession receiver (and a good one), Eli wants someone that he can throw the 55, 65 yard bomb to. Boldin is a single, doubles hitter and Edwards is homerun waiting to happen. I still don’t want to give up the farm, but Edwards is our man and our “Smurfs” will benefit from having him stretch the field. When we’re in the “green zone”, I think that 6’6"Kevin the Hurdler Boss can handle that corner fade if given the chance.

by njgiant on Apr 16, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Well if it cost a no 1

Would that be so bad, picking so low in that round anyway, with 2 second rounders? I dont think so, but Cleveland definitely has the upperhand

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 Apr 16, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Eli and accuracy

Let’s also remember that eli’s completion percentage is impacted by the fact that the Giants have been at or near the league in dropped passes the past couple of seasons. You can’t put that on the QB.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 16, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I also think

a little too much is made of the “Eli needs a big receiver thing.” I really wonder how many throws over the past 4 seasons Eli has made that Plax caught that an average receiver wouldn’t have caught. I bet it is cancelled out by the number of times Plax peeled off a route early or simply wasn’t fast enough to catch up to an Eli ball – a smaller, quicker receiver may have caught the exact same amount of passes. I don’t think they need another Plaxico to catch Eli’s passes, I think they need another #1 receiver to draw double coverage to open up the run game or to exploit single coverage. Boldin and Edwards would both do this, even if they’re not Plax clones.

by cjmulrain on Apr 17, 2009 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Something else not to be overlooked

is the possible durability factor. Yeah, we’ve all heard about how tough Boldin has been in coming back to play hurt, but when a receiver is known for taking short passes and trying to make more out of it, he’s more likely to get whacked along the way. Edwards, on the other hand, is more likely to catch passes further downfield where hits will come from safeties and corners.

by rzor on Apr 16, 2009 9:14 AM EDT reply actions

Is getting BOTH recievers an option?

To me, the best of both worlds would be for the Giants to find a way to get both recievers. I agree that Boldin does not strike one as a #1 down the field type reciever, but he is a good RAC receiver and is tough as nails. That element would be a good addition to the Giants, but I still think they would lack the down the field threat that would allow teams to stack the box against the run. With both in the fold, the offense would be next to invincible. I know it’s a pipe deram, but man what a dream.

by MJ20 on Apr 16, 2009 9:15 AM EDT reply actions

I shudder to think

about the money that would be involve in that dream. Maybe if we traded away Jacobs and started using the Run & Shoot offense instead. We’ve already got the offensive coordinator to do it.

by rzor on Apr 16, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Get whoever costs less, bottom line.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Apr 16, 2009 10:06 AM EDT reply actions

Why not trade up and draft Crabtree?

It is going to cost draft picks and a big contract to get a deal done to bring Edwards or Boldin in anyway, why not? St. Louis may be a willing trade partner with the need to overhaul it’s team. A few draft picks and Dominic Hixon should get it done.

Has everyone overlooked a huge part of Plaxs’ game that is lost as well. He learned to block and be physical in Pittsburgh. We need that in whomever fills the #1 WR shoes. That makes the team better, wears down opposing DB’s quicker and is just flat out great to watch. I despise receivers that take a play off if the ball isn’t coming their way.

by GullySully77 on Apr 16, 2009 10:40 AM EDT reply actions

All this talk about replacing Plax

Remember, we also have to replace Amani. Is Smith or Hixon the replacement or do we need to upgrade the position. I think we also need to trade draft choices just so we don’t lose the value at cutdown time. Maybe trade up in the first or for a future year.

by TerraByte on Apr 16, 2009 11:38 AM EDT reply actions