Receiver Fit The Team and City
Mention the name Anquan Boldin to Ravens fans and emotions will swing high and wide. On one hand, fans will remember the good. They will remember his toughness and his physical style of play that fits the personality of Baltimore like a custom No. 81 jersey.
Boldin’s play in some of the Ravens biggest games only adds to his legend in Charm City. After all, who could forget those skinny posts to the back of the end zone against the Patriots in the 2013 AFC Championship Game and of course against the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII? Boldin snatched balls out of the air in traffic during clutch moments.
The memories are indelibly etched upon the canvas of Baltimore Ravens history.
And then on the other hand, the mention of Boldin’s name is akin to picking the scab of an old wound that just never seems to heal. After that unforgettable stretch of games to finish the 2012 season, the Ravens opted to unload Q’s salary and create cap space by trading him to the team he just outmuscled in the Super Bowl for a 6th round pick.
The move was understandable albeit indigestible.
It was a move that fans still hold against GM Ozzie Newsome.
But we all certainly liked the move Ozzie made to get Boldin six years ago this week. On March 5, 2010 the Ravens brought Boldin to Baltimore from Arizona, along with a fifth round pick in exchange for a third and fourth round pick.
At the time Boldin was added to a receiving corps that included Donte’ Stallworth, Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams, Marcus Smith and Justin Harper.
“I’m a piece of the puzzle,” Boldin said in a statement immediately following the trade.
“They have a great group of guys over there. I’m just happy to be going to a team that has a lot going for it. I believe I can help them, maybe get them to another level. I think I’ll fit in with them. It’s going to be a lot of fun being a Raven.”
Derrick Mason re-signed with the team on March 10, 2010 and Mark Clayton would eventually be traded prior to the start of the regular season.
But looking back as we do on Flashback Friday, Boldin is arguably the wide receiver that Ravens fans hold in highest regard. Big plays in big games can define you in the eyes of fans. They might even forget a dropped potential game-winning touchdown in the playoffs (Ravens at Steelers, 2010 season) if you show up big later on.
And Boldin did exactly that, hence his lofty status in Baltimore.
But Q’s Q-rating in Baltimore isn’t supported statistically. Consider the regular season averages of these 5 former Ravens.
It will be interesting to see where Steve Smith, Sr. falls in line after his third and final season in Baltimore. For now his stat line is tracking at 63/868/13.8/5/1.
Will he have a chance to step up in the 2016 postseason?
Time will tell but as evidenced by Boldin, the postseason, good or bad, is where legends are made.
Just ask Joe Namath…
