Boldin leaves a legacy in Arizona
‘Q’ hopes to bridge racial divisions
In an age in which athletes and other celebrities try to build brands by presenting filtered versions of themselves to the public, Anquan Boldin was refreshingly honest.
The former Cardinals receiver approached most everything with uncommon bluntness, from the way he played football to the greeting on his cell phone’s voicemail. “Yo, it’s your boy, Q. Leave it.” “Q” announced his retirement on Sunday, two weeks after signing with the Bills. In his 14-year career, the first half of which was spent with the Cardinals, Boldin caught 1,076 passes, which ranks ninth all time, for 13,779 yards, 14th best. He helped the Ravens win a Super Bowl in 2012, scoring four touchdowns in the playoffs that season.
Those are achievements that will
earn him serious consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
During an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio on Monday, Boldin said his passion for the game remains strong, but he was deeply bothered by the protests and violence in Charlottesville, Va., last week. For years, Boldin has been active for social causes, including criminal justice reform, and he plans to devote his energy to those.
“There’s something bigger than football at this point,” Boldin said in the interview. “It’s shocking for me to say that. I never thought anything would take the place of that passion, but it has.
“I’m uncomfortable with how divided we are as a country. This is not just a flyby-night decision for me. I do have a duty to stand up and make my voice heard.”
In Arizona, part of Boldin’s football legacy was helping to change the culture and direction of the Cardinals franchise. That’s why his career should be defined by more than just numbers, especially his years in Arizona.
Due to a slow 40-yard dash time, Boldin dropped to the second round of the 2003 NFL draft, and wasn’t even the first receiver picked by the Cardinals. Bryant Johnson was.
Taking Boldin was hardly a no-brainer, and there was considerable disagreement among the Cardinals' hierarchy on draft day. The credit for Boldin’s selection should go to General Manager Steve Keim, then a scout covering the eastern United States, and receivers coach Jerry Sullivan.
They lobbied heavily for Boldin, 40time be damned.
It was clear early on that the Cardinals had something special with Boldin. In his first game, he caught 10 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions. It was the most receiving yards ever by someone in his first NFL game.
What was more impressive, however, was Boldin’s reaction to the record after the game. The Cardinals committed 12 penalties, lost two fumbles and had an interception returned for a touchdown in that game, a loss to the Lions.
Boldin muffed a punt, marring an otherwise perfect day for him personally.
“I would give those stats back for a win,” he said.
Over the next few years, Boldin became the face of the organization. Scouts were told to look for players with his kind of passion. Teammates, including receiver Larry Fitzgerald, saw firsthand what hard work and toughness looked like.
In 2005, the Cardinals rewarded Boldin with a contract extension, but less than three years later that contract became the source of contention. He said the Cardinals reneged on a promise to give him a new contract. Club officials countered by saying an offer was made to Boldin's agent.
Boldin remained with the team for two more years, and in 2010, the Cardinals traded Boldin and a fifth-round pick to the Ravens for third- and fourthround selections.
“We built something special,” Boldin said during an appearance on “The Blitz” on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM on Monday. “I will always (remember) taking one of the worst teams in the league and we completely rebuilt it. Arizona is still a place I consider a football home.”