What is it about wide receivers?
Add Anquan Boldin to the list of pass catchers who are bad apples. He can go right to the top of the group that includes Terrell Owens, Chad Ocho Cinco, (or Chad Johnson, depending on the year or jersey lettering), Randy Moss and others.
After Arizona's win yesterday over Philadelphia in the NFC Championship Game, a win sending his Cardinals to their first Super Bowl in team history and their first title game in 61 years, Boldin did not celebrate with his teammates. Instead, he was seen ducking out of University of Phoenix Stadium early, evidently angry about his limited role in the Cardinals offense Sunday. This is the same Boldin whose status was uncertain for the game after he strained his hamstring in wild card weekend and didn't play in the Divisional Round.
For a guy looking to find his way out of Arizona at the end of the season, he's making a strong case to be traded after the Super Bowl.
Like the other bad apple wide receivers in the NFL, Boldin shares some common characteristics. He's selfish, he overrates his value to his team's success, and he makes it very difficult for other teams to want to put up with his antics.
He was seen yesterday yelling at Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley during the game. Boldin was apparently livid that he didn't have a bigger role in the Cardinals offense. (He had four receptions in the game for just 34 yards.) But Boldin wasn't the receiver with the hot hand, and Haley was using Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston more exclusively because unlike Boldin, both are healthy.
Both Haley and Boldin are downplaying the incident, saying that emotions were running high at the heat of the moment. And Boldin claims today that he's all about the team and wants whatever's best for the Cards' success. But when it's the heat of the moment, isn't that when the truth comes out?
And how do you defend deserting your teammates during the celebration for the biggest triumph for his football team in six decades?
Boldin is suffering from the same thing most big named wide receivers suffer from at some point in their careers. He's learning that he's not critical to his team succeeding on the offensive side of the ball. When he's used, he can be a great asset. But the Cardinals didn't need him to advance to the NFC Championship, and they didn't really need him to win it either. He's learned that he's easliy replaceable. While Boldin used to be the top option for the Arizona passing game, Larry Fitzgerald has stolen his thunder and has received all the accolades and headlines.
Sound appealing football fans? You want this guy on your team? Another big-egoed receiver with wounded pride?
The Cardinals are just the newest team to prove that having a big named wide receiver can help you (a.k.a. Larry Fitzgerald), but they're not always crucial to a team's success (Anquan Boldin).
There's no question Fitzgerald has been phenomenal in this incredible playoff run for Arizona, but a good quarterback and a well executed offense can push a team over the hump regardless of the names running routes each play.
Wide receivers have to learn to share the football, and that they're part of a team. Never has their been a wide receiver who by himself had lead a team to Super Bowl victories. Boldin is just the next big-egoed wideout that has had to learn that the hard way.
So if the Cardinals win the Super Bowl, his teammates shouldn't let him celebrate, no matter what his role in the game. He walked out on them. He doesn't deserve the glory.
Jordan, you're good people. BUT...
ReplyDeleteHOW IN THE WORLD IS Boldin the next primadonna WR?
because boldin didnt completely destroy multiple teams like t.o. has, because boldin has never made the game more of a spectacle and a magic act like Ocho Cinco does, because Boldin is a competitor and wants to be out on the field to help his team, why isn't edgerrin james like t.o. when he said he's done after the season no matter what happens? Because Boldin's trade requests prior to the season came when the team stunk...why is he like t.o. doing something that almost every other athlete has done? He said don't make anything of the back and forth, so lets not make anything of the back and forth.
This seems to be blowing the whole situation way out of proportion. To put Boldin in the same category as TO is ridiculous. Even the mention of Randy Moss seems a little stretched. Since his arrival to NE when was the last time you saw a Moss outburst. And its not just because the Pats are winning, this year there was a ton of adversity for the patriots with the loss of Tom Brady. That led to a decline in pass attempts and a decline in his numbers, but you never heard moss complain and you never heard any negative stories in the media about him. Moss has matured and doesn't deserve to be placed in that category. Boldin doesn't either. TO's antics are a public spectacle each and every week at his press conference on the side lines as he belittles players and coaches alike. Unlike TO Boldin didn't make a public spectacle, he had a sideline encounter similar to Warner's in the first half, was upset and left the facility without saying something he would regret, but unfortunately FOX, ESPN and every other network has made this a HUGE story. Who cares. Boldin was upset he wasn't in on a crucial drive when he has given everything he has had for the Cardinals even after his contract dispute. This broad categorization would probably place over 1/2 of athletes into the same category as TO. Contract disputes and arguments happen all the time and shouldn't place someone in the same category as TO. As a fan I like to see a player that shows he cares that much and wants to be a contributor. That is totally different then how TO acts. This was one isolated incident and I don't think it warrants being placed into the category you have placed him in.
ReplyDeleteTwo well written posts. First, in using Randy Moss, his track record prior to his time in New Englad still puts him in this category. It's easy to say now that he's not a problem, which he hasn't been in New England, because they win. If New England was bad, I doubt Moss would be so squeaky clean. Just look at his brief stint with the Raiders for evidence of that.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I understand the guy wants to be on the field, and that he's a competitor. But you don't berate your offensive coordinator while you know the cameras are on you on national TV. That's a selfish move, that TO has pulled many times.
Now, I'm not saying that Boldin is TO quite yet. Certainly he is not at that level yet because TO's laundry list of problems is so long we can't even reference it all in one post or comment. But Boldin acted very selfishly yesterday, and the fact that he wouldn't celebrate the win with his teammates shows he's only in it for himself. That's the problem with these wide outs. They think they're the reason their offenses succeed. No. Offenses succeed with productive offensive linemen and a good quarterback. Teams don't need world beaters at every offensive skill position to win, but they need a line and a QB.
Boldin should have taken pride in the 1,000+ yard season he put in and the 11 TD he caught in the regular season, and the TD he caught against the Falcons in the Wild Card round. He should have taken pride and celebrated his team going to the Super Bowl. They haven't been there, ever. That's a cause for a team celebration.
After all, they're a team right? Everyone has to make contributions for a team to accomplish what the Cardinals accomplished. Boldin's actions yesterday show that he only cares about his individual performance and not the results produced by his team.
I completely disagree with the above comments. What Boldin did is unacceptable. It is not his place to voice his displeasure with his playing time to the coach in a public forum, with the chance that it could be captured on video, which it was. If Boldin has a problem, which he clearly does, he should take up with the coach in his own time - not during the NFC championship game on the sidelines. Granted his antics aren't on par with T.O but they are reflective or a self centered player who is putting his own interests above the team. That should never be tolerated. There are few WR's in football who can carry a team and most of them are replaceable. Even if this wasn't the most heinous act committed by a WR it should never be condoned by fans and certainly not by management. I would launch is sorry ass out the door after the season. Its good that Boldin cares about playing but his method of expressing it were completely wrong.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I agree with your assumption on Moss and that if he was on a losing team he would revert back to his old antics. To these self-centered players, like you said, it is more about themselves then the teams. Even if a player is winning, not receiving the ball enough warrants a outbreak. Even when Dallas was winning TO was upset about the touches witten was receiving overhimself. I think he should be given the benefit of the doubt instead of saying that winning is the only reason why he has matured. It seems like everyone is fet up with Oakland stemming from the out dated owner Al Davis.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to this last comment, completely wrong or unacceptable is walking off the field of play when the game is still being played or taking plays off, but correct me if I am wrong Boldin was arguing with his coach because he wanted to be on the field to help his team win. Why was this action selfish, its not like he was out there trying to catch a TD because he would get an incentives bonus, he was arguing because he wanted to be out there to help his team get to the superbowl. This guy has been a consistent performer for the last 4-5 years and even with his early contract disputes this past offseason he came out and caught more TD's then he ever had in his career this past season. He also broke his jaw and several bones in his face and could have easily probably taken the rest of the year off but came back to help his team win. His method of expressing his concerns was the same method Warner used in the first half when FOX showed his confrontation with Haley on the sidelines. That's how the game is played its the heat of the battle and competitive people who want to win get upset. I don't see people criticizing Warner for voicing his opinion in this manner. Now if this became a repetitive behavior with him always causing problems with coaches and players then I could see your point of view, but one confrontation on the sideline? please thats ridiculous.
Good points on above comment but what is the appropriate forum to complain or even voice one's concerns to the coach? No one is questioning Boldin's ability or contributions to the team over the year. But, he should support the coaches decisions even if that is to his detriment at the time. There should be ONE GOAL - to quote Jonathon Toewes - and that should be whatever the TEAM or coaches deem it to be. Follow the leader - the ultimate football neandrathal mentality that most linemen possess but few WR's seem to have.
ReplyDelete