Boldin says he will retire if released (Merged)

**Paintballguy** · 02-08-2013, 02:49 PM

Jim Rome ‏@jimrome
Anquan Boldin told The Jungle “I definitely expect to be back" w/ Ravens next year. “I’m not playing anywhere else.”

**StingerNLG** · 02-08-2013, 02:54 PM

He was on Jim Rome this morning and said he expected to be back:

http://jimrome.com/2013/02/08/anquan...ut-his-future/

“I definitely expect to be back,” said Boldin. “I have another year left on my deal. I’ll have to retire a Raven. That’s just the way it is."

“I love the organization, love the fan base, love the team,” Boldin added. “I’m not playing anywhere else.”

**bt12483** · 02-08-2013, 02:56 PM

Q's catches this year reminded me of all the O's 1 run wins last year.

You just kept thinking "how long can this keep up"?

And they just kept coming.

Is it repeatable? I doubt it.

I love Q as a player but he really doesn't separate, and is quite slow at this point. His hands are good, and his toughness and attack on the ball is unquestioned. But I could see the Ravens going more youth oriented. If they pay Joe what he wants, he is expected to perform with any WR. None of our young guys have seized a role, which is the concern.

I really want to see if Streeter can contribute, and if Doss can turn things around. Jacoby can't be a #2 either. Despite his heroics, I still don't trust his hands.

The question is always how long is too long with respect to older players. See Mason and Heap. It hurts to see them go but is a necessity in today's NFL cap world..

**kronusthebonus** · 02-08-2013, 02:57 PM

Dude will never have to buy a drink/meal in Baltimore. How can you not say this guy embodies everything that the Ravens stand for. He is the epitome of Raven. I read that Ozzie was super high on him coming out of FSU and hoped to have drafted him. They were decisive when they traded for him. They need him here as a leader on offense.

**NOLARavenFAN** · 02-08-2013, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by bt12483

Q's catches this year reminded me of all the O's 1 run wins last year.

You just kept thinking "how long can this keep up"?

And they just kept coming.

Is it repeatable? I doubt it.

I love Q as a player but he really doesn't separate, and is quite slow at this point. His hands are good, and his toughness and attack on the ball is unquestioned. But I could see the Ravens going more youth oriented. If they pay Joe what he wants, he is expected to perform with any WR. None of our young guys have seized a role, which is the concern.

I really want to see if Streeter can contribute, and if Doss can turn things around. Jacoby can't be a #2 either. Despite his heroics, I still don't trust his hands.

The question is always how long is too long with respect to older players. See Mason and Heap. It hurts to see them go but is a necessity in today's NFL cap world..

I'd say Boldin has got two years left before he gets to wear Heap was when we cut him....

**ravenjoe** · 02-08-2013, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by bt12483

I love Q as a player but he really doesn't separate, and is quite slow at this point. His hands are good, and his toughness and attack on the ball is unquestioned. But I could see the Ravens going more youth oriented. If they pay Joe what he wants, he is expected to perform with any WR. None of our young guys have seized a role, which is the concern.

Well, quite honestly, he does not have to seperate - Flacco just throws it up, and Q muscles it down, without dropping it! As long as he can still jump and out tough the opponent, keep him.....Streeter will just have to wait until he proves he is the better receiver!

**B-more Ravor** · 02-08-2013, 03:10 PM

Here's what he says on PFT Live -

“For me that’s not something that I worry about,” Boldin told Erik Kuselias of Pro Football Talk. “I think you go out and let your play speak for itself. You deal with that if you have to, but, I think for m — I know for me — Baltimore is the only place I want to play. It’s the last place that I will play. For me, I’ll retire a Raven, I’m not putting on any other uniform.”

Boldin then reiterated the point.

“I won’t play in another uniform,” Boldin said. “We have a saying, once a Raven, always a Raven, and I’ll always be a Raven.”

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...cut-by-ravens/

Not exactly "I'll retire if I'm released", but I would say it would definitely indicate a willingness to work something out and stay.

EDIT: Although after rereading the piece on PFT, it's unclear if he was asked directly - "what would you do if cut?"

Either way, I think it shows a real willingness to stay around.

**bt12483** · 02-08-2013, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by NOLARavenFAN

I'd say Boldin has got two years left before he gets to wear Heap was when we cut him....

I'd love it if that was the case. I know he had a knee issue at the end of last year, but generally seems in decent health. Had one of the weirdest injuries ever, but not to any part that matters in football.

**trailhiker85** · 02-08-2013, 03:12 PM

I know the FO has stated they don't want to repeat the mistakes of 2001 and do a lot of restructuring or extensions, and I certainly agree with that point of view.

But ...if they can manage to make one exception to that rule, Anquan Boldin has to be that exception.

**Lee Van Cleef** · 02-08-2013, 03:14 PM

I wish Ed Reed had that mindset...

But still, you have to love Q. He, Ed, Suggs, Flacco and Birk were the guys I was most chuffed for when they won the SB

**jonboy79** · 02-08-2013, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by trailhiker85

I know the FO has stated they don't want to repeat the mistakes of 2001 and do a lot of restructuring or extensions, and I certainly agree with that point of view.

But ...if they can manage to make one exception to that rule, Anquan Boldin has to be that exception.

I think they were more talking about restructuring deals like Ngata and Sizzle... as in simply converting salary to bonus money, to kick the can down the street. EXTENDING a player is a different story in my mind.

**trailhiker85** · 02-08-2013, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by jonboy79

I think they were more talking about restructuring deals like Ngata and Sizzle... as in simply converting salary to bonus money, to kick the can down the street. EXTENDING a player is a different story in my mind.

You may well be right. But I guess my thinking is that under the status quo Boldin's contract ends at the end of the 2013 season. Even an extension means they would now have to allocate some cap money for him in 2014 and possibly beyond, right? And if he then retires anyway after 2013, wouldn't there be dead money to account for in 2014? Admittedly I don't have the best handle on these intricacies. I'm just assuming that even an extension isn't wholly without consequences.

That said, I hope Boldin will be a Raven at least for 2013.

**B-more Ravor** · 02-08-2013, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by jonboy79

I think they were more talking about restructuring deals like Ngata and Sizzle... as in simply converting salary to bonus money, to kick the can down the street. EXTENDING a player is a different story in my mind.

Agreed.

Totally different situation.

**saintmatthew** · 02-08-2013, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by ravenjoe

Well, quite honestly, he does not have to seperate - Flacco just throws it up, and Q muscles it down, without dropping it! As long as he can still jump and out tough the opponent, keep him.....Streeter will just have to wait until he proves he is the better receiver!

Seriously, dude took that corner from Indy's arm as a second trophy.....

**Spider Webb** · 02-08-2013, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by NOLARavenFAN

I'd say Boldin has got two years left before he gets to wear Heap was when we cut him....

I disagree. Boldin lights people up, Heap got lit up. Boldin is WAY stronger than Heap. Well Boldin might not "light" people up but he's definitely more physical than most CBs.

These are the top five receivers from last year in terms of receptions: Megatron, Welker, Marshall, Andre Johnson, Reggie. Welker, Andre and Reggie will all be 32 or older starting next season.

BTW those 5 guys were the only receivers with more than 100 receptions (and other than Marshall none of them had more than 6 TDs). With a new offensive philosophy next year I could see Boldin with a boat load of catches.

**The Excellector** · 02-08-2013, 03:40 PM

As long as Boldin is being paid by the organization, unless he gets emotional over back to back Championships, he won't retire. At least, the front office would not expect that.

**jonboy79** · 02-08-2013, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by trailhiker85

You may well be right. But I guess my thinking is that under the status quo Boldin's contract ends at the end of the 2013 season. Even an extension means they would now have to allocate some cap money for him in 2014 and possibly beyond, right? And if he then retires anyway after 2013, wouldn't there be dead money to account for in 2014? Admittedly I don't have the best handle on these intricacies. I'm just assuming that even an extension isn't wholly without consequences.

That said, I hope Boldin will be a Raven at least for 2013.

Basically everything you said was correct. An extenstion that lowers his cap number involves a bonus. You use a bonus to push cap dollars into the future.

I just think we could give him 3 years(including the upcoming year) and at worst be left with 1/3 of the bonus we give him this year, assuming he plays two more years. that's acceptable if you ask me.

**B-more Ravor** · 02-08-2013, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by trailhiker85

You may well be right. But I guess my thinking is that under the status quo Boldin's contract ends at the end of the 2013 season. Even an extension means they would now have to allocate some cap money for him in 2014 and possibly beyond, right?

I would assume they would structure it so that they would be able to afford him from a Cap perspective for the next 2 years. After that, in 2015, the Cap should jump substancially and they can much more easily afford to deal wtih any dead money then.

A 3 year/$15M deal with a $6M bonus (and base salaries of $1M, $3M, $5M) makes sense to me. It give Boldin $7M next year, instead of the $6M he's presently set to make - which should be enticing to him - and would reduce his 2013 Cap hit by $3M.

His 2014 Cap number would be a reasonable $5M.

The 3rd year would just be fluff and he could be released with only $2M in dead money that could much more easily be dealt with at that point.

**RavenMadness** · 02-08-2013, 03:46 PM

I love Anquan Boldin... hope he retires as a Raven after getting at least another Lombardi! .oO(am a greedy bitch arent I?)

**The Excellector** · 02-08-2013, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by B-more Ravor

I would assume they would structure it so that they would be able to afford him from a Cap perspective for the next 2 years. After that, in 2015, the Cap should jump substancially and they can much more easily afford to deal wtih any dead money then.

A 3 year/$15M deal with a $6M bonus (and base salaries of $1M, $3M, $5M) makes sense to me. It give Boldin $7M next year, instead of the $6M he's presently set to make - which should be enticing to him - and would reduce his 2013 Cap hit by $3M.

His 2014 Cap number would be a reasonable $5M.

The 3rd year would just be fluff and he could be released with only $2M in dead money that could much more easily be dealt with.

You are the man Ravor. You are this close to being called Ravor Ramon.