Protester’s death redirects his life
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — A deadly, racially charged conflict in Charlottesville, Va., caused Anquan Boldin to reassess his priorities and led to the Buffalo receiver’s decision to retire after 14 NFL seasons.
In an interview Monday on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Boldin said he’s “uncomfortable” with how divided the nation is and wants to focus on humanitarian and criminal-justice causes.
“I always felt like football would be my passion, football would be the path to a lot of things,” said Boldin, who played three of his 14 seasons with the 49ers (2013-15). “But just seeing the things that transpired over the last week or so, I think for me, there’s something bigger than football at this point.”
He then clarified that he was referring specifically to what happened in Charlottesville on Aug. 12, when a counterprotester was killed during a rally involving neo-Nazis and other right-wing groups.
“Do I think I can solve all the problems that we have in this country? Of course not,” he said. “But I think I have a duty to stand up and make my voice heard and be a voice for those who don’t have a voice.”
The NFL’s 2015 Walter Payton Man of the Year, Boldin oversees the South Floridabased Q81 Foundation, which offers educational support for underprivileged children. He has become an advocate for criminal-justice reform since his cousin was killed by a plainclothes police officer along a Florida highway in October 2015.
Boldin spoke to SiriusXM a day after informing the Bills he was retiring two weeks after signing a one-year contract with a base salary of $1.75 million.
Boldin insisted his decision had nothing to do with the Bills trading their top receiving threat, Sammy Watkins, on Aug. 11, or how the team’s offense struggled in a 20-16 preseason loss at Philadelphia on Thursday.
“I didn’t come to Buffalo just to play with Sammy Watkins,” Boldin said, reiterating comments he made immediately following Watkins’ trade to the Rams. “For me to put some thought into anything like, ‘This is not what I signed up for’ would be absurd.”
He dismissed the notion that he might reconsider retirement and play for a contender this season.
“Do I feel like I can still play? Of course,” said Boldin, 36. “My passion for the advocacy work that I do outweighs football at this point, so I’m not coming back to play for a contender or to do anything else. I’m done with the game of football.”
Boldin’s decision to retire coincides with what he witnessed on the field in Philadelphia during the national anthem. Eagles defensive end Chris Long showed his support by putting his arm around cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, who stood in silent protest with a raised fist. Buffalo backup lineman Cameron Jefferson was so inspired by what he saw that he also raised his fist on the Bills’ sideline.
Boldin had ranked in the top four among active receivers with 1,076 catches, 13,779 yards receiving and 82 touchdowns receiving.
He spent last season with Detroit, where he had 67 catches for 584 yards and eight touchdowns in 16 games. The Florida State alum spent his first seven NFL seasons with Arizona, then played three years with Baltimore and three with the 49ers. He helped the Ravens win the Super Bowl in February 2013.