Boldin says he will retire if released (Merged)

**trailhiker85** · 02-08-2013, 03:49 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 at that point.

Thanks for the info and the example, Ravor. Scenario seems quite plausible; I'd be all for it.

**leachisabeast** · 02-08-2013, 03:54 PM

Not only is Boldin a popular presence in Baltimore, but Ozzie also really loves Boldin and always has. I have to think they'll do everything they can to extend him. Everyone on the team loves him, with Ray Lewis gone, we need leaders like Boldin in the locker room.

I love this guy

**Boulderraven** · 02-08-2013, 03:56 PM

Good news, sounds like he is very flexible reguarding an extension.

**leachisabeast** · 02-08-2013, 04:04 PM

Btw two questions.

1. Does Boldin go into the ring of honor when he retires a Raven, after probably two more productive seasons (under Caldwell he will go over 1k in at least one year, you heard it here first)

2. Assuming that happens, is he HOF worthy?

**ballhawk** · 02-08-2013, 04:06 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..

boldin's game has never been built on speed, when he is one on one he is open. Now that they are finally using him out of the slot he is dominating. I'd like to see him extended through 2015. Ozzie loves Boldin, he isn't going anywhere. We got great production from Mason well into his 30's. I would expect even better from Boldin.

**RavenMadness** · 02-08-2013, 04:11 PM

BOLDIN ON PFT -- NBC SPORTS after commercial!!

ON NOW!!!

**goldenelite28** · 02-08-2013, 04:17 PM

We really need to extend him.

He really loves this team.

**RavenScallywag** · 02-08-2013, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

Btw two questions.

1. Does Boldin go into the ring of honor when he retires a Raven, after probably two more productive seasons (under Caldwell he will go over 1k in at least one year, you heard it here first)

2. Assuming that happens, is he HOF worthy?

1. Not so sure about that...

http://www.pro-football-reference.co...-receiving.htm

Boldin is currently 7th in both receptions and yards in Ravens history. Needs a little over 3000 yards and a little under 300 receptions to best Mason, who is tops in both. And Mason seems to frequently be not ROH worthy...

Don't get me wrong, I think Boldin's impact to the team was much more than Mason's, but in terms of where he sits in the franchise's history, I think you'd have to put in Heap and Mason before Boldin can get in. Hell, he's still behind TRAVIS TAYLOR right now (He'll bust that up in 2013 easily).

2 is possible, he's already over 10000 receiving yards, and has 772 receptions. So three more years might get him to 1000 career catches, and hopefully up near 13000 yards. Still, it'll be a tough call, because he's not even tops in the active NFL for those categories (7th in yards, #6 is Fitzgerald...Tied for 4th in catches, if you take out TEs)

In comparison, here's a name...Henry Ellard. 814 catches, 13777 yards, 65 TDs. Retired since 1998. Not a HOF finalist.

**Tucker: M&T Sec 527** · 02-08-2013, 04:54 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!

^THIS!
Joe wants to get paid (and will get paid), but if he can structure it in a way that helps keep Boldin for a couple more years, one has to think he'll be somewhat flexible.

**HoustonRaven** · 02-08-2013, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

1. Not so sure about that...

http://www.pro-football-reference.co...-receiving.htm

Boldin is currently 7th in both receptions and yards in Ravens history. Needs a little over 3000 yards and a little under 300 receptions to best Mason, who is tops in both. And Mason seems to frequently be not ROH worthy...

Don't get me wrong, I think Boldin's impact to the team was much more than Mason's, but in terms of where he sits in the franchise's history, I think you'd have to put in Heap and Mason before Boldin can get in. Hell, he's still behind TRAVIS TAYLOR right now (He'll bust that up in 2013 easily).

2 is possible, he's already over 10000 receiving yards, and has 772 receptions. So three more years might get him to 1000 career catches, and hopefully up near 13000 yards. Still, it'll be a tough call, because he's not even tops in the active NFL for those categories (7th in yards, #6 is Fitzgerald...Tied for 4th in catches, if you take out TEs)

In comparison, here's a name...Henry Ellard. 814 catches, 13777 yards, 65 TDs. Retired since 1998. Not a HOF finalist.

All well and good but stats don't decide who gets in the RoH ....

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/...-of-honor.html

I'd say he meets the criteria to a T.

**leachisabeast** · 02-08-2013, 04:58 PM

Also, I think the Ravens will count Boldin's career stats, not just his stats for the Ravens....

**Arthorn** · 02-08-2013, 05:03 PM

Q is one of the guys that I was most happy for. I hope we can retain him without hurting ourselves too much.

**RavenScallywag** · 02-08-2013, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by HoustonRaven

All well and good but stats don't decide who gets in the RoH ....

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/...-of-honor.html

I'd say he meets the criteria to a T.

Question: Do you count Mason as RoH worthy?

To me, I do. And yes, I would put Boldin in the RoH, but I think it'd be weird to keep Mason out (for reasons like he was on the Titans longer than Ravens, didn't win a SB, etc) while putting in a receiver who didn't do as much as him.

Then again, I still think Ed Mulitalo belongs in the RoH, simply because of how awesome he was off the field.

**HoustonRaven** · 02-08-2013, 05:33 PM

Mason? No. His antics, leading up to and including his assault on Joe in Carolina, preclude him IMO. Too much of a "me" guy for my taste.

Boldin? Yes. The consummate teammate whose charitable work is something every player should strive for.

**RavenScallywag** · 02-08-2013, 05:37 PM

To play Devil's Advocate, what about Jamal?

Jamal is our franchise leader in rushing, and was a huge part of our SB 35 squad...but his last few years here were rough, I recall him getting pouty and when he went to Cleveland, held onto a bit of animosity. He let it go after he was done there, but again...He would seem to me to fit the same flaws that Mason had, but he is in the RoH.

You may be right. I always took Mason's outbursts like that for just game passion, but you don't see any of that from Boldin. Couple more years of Boldin being productive with Joe and I think Boldin's case does surpass Mason's. If Boldin retired today, I think it'd be borderline.

**HolyHaloti** · 02-08-2013, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by Spider Webb

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.

Well at times he does light people up, and appears stronger than DEs

E.g. at 3:40 in this clip.

Would love to see him for another season.

**ballhawk** · 02-08-2013, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

To play Devil's Advocate, what about Jamal?

Jamal is our franchise leader in rushing, and was a huge part of our SB 35 squad...but his last few years here were rough, I recall him getting pouty and when he went to Cleveland, held onto a bit of animosity. He let it go after he was done there, but again...He would seem to me to fit the same flaws that Mason had, but he is in the RoH.

You may be right. I always took Mason's outbursts like that for just game passion, but you don't see any of that from Boldin. Couple more years of Boldin being productive with Joe and I think Boldin's case does surpass Mason's. If Boldin retired today, I think it'd be borderline.

Jamal, like Boldin, has ring. It makes a big difference, IMO. You think McCrary would be in there without the ring? Or Stover?

**HoustonRaven** · 02-08-2013, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

To play Devil's Advocate, what about Jamal?

I wasn't thrilled about Jamal, for the reasons you mention, but I can see why he got in. He did a ton if work with inner city outreach programs.

That seems to be the one factor that makes or breaks if you get in or not, after being a true team player.

**RavenScallywag** · 02-08-2013, 06:23 PM

Fair enough, but I still think we see Mason in the Ring of Honor in a few years. We're going to have a slight bit of backlog with Heap, Ray, and possibly OJ Brigance, but I could see a Jamal case happening with Mason (Jamal retired a few years ago, but we inducted him this year when we didn't have any more obvious candidates "ready")

I agree he is a tough case, and I think if Boldin's numbers get closer, the ring and his attitude and toughness put him in better position.

Off topic a bit...but do you think Heap goes in this year, or Ray? It would hands down be Ray, but if the statue for him isn't happening this year, I could see them waiting until 2014 and doing it all in one fell swoop.

**RavenScallywag** · 02-08-2013, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by ballhawk

Jamal, like Boldin, has ring. It makes a big difference, IMO. You think McCrary would be in there without the ring? Or Stover?

Stover most definitely. He was MR. RAVEN for gosh sakes. Seriously, the ring on Stover's finger was probably a distant 4th or 5th on the reasons why he was inducted.

McCrary, you have a stronger case on. He was 2nd in career sacks to Boulware at the time he retired...but I always thought a big reason for him getting in was the way he destroyed his body in 2001 and 2002 to try to keep it going for the Ravens. That guy knew his knees were getting ruined, but kept plugging away anyway.