CARDS WON’T BUDGE ON BOLDIN?

Though the Arizona Cardinals apparently are willing to give receiver Anquan Boldin a new contract that better reflects his value in light of the current market, we’re hearing scuttlebutt from folks familiar with the organization’s thinking that the team will not budge on Boldin’s renewed request to be traded. The thinking is that, because the Cardinals hold his rights for two more seasons, they can keep him around for 2009 and then consider trading him in 2010, the final year of his contract. Boldin has made it clear that he wants out. But, as a practical matter, he has no leverage. As Terrell Owens learned nearly four years ago in Philly, being chronically disruptive might eventually work, but only after losing a significant chunk of bonus money and becoming a local villain. As Chad Johnson learned last year, failing to show up will require repayment of plenty of money that has already been received and/or spent. In the current economy and with an uncapped year looming, NFL teams likely won’t be quick to give up their contractual rights, especially when those rights are extremely favorable to the team in question. It’s a fairly simple situation. Boldin voluntarily signed a contract binding him to the Cardinals through 2010. He agreed to accept a salary of $2.75 million this year and $3 million next year. No language was included to adjust his pay to reflect the contracts subsequently given to players like Larry Fitzgerald. We think there’s still a chance that the Cardinals will squat on Boldin for the next two seasons, slap him with the franchise tag in February 2011, and trade him thereafter. Though Boldin might not like any of it, he can do nothing to force his way out of the situation. That said, having a guy around who isn’t happy and who doesn’t want to be there and who is being grossly underpaid in comparison to Fitzgerald could eventually cause trouble for the franchise. As evidenced, however, by his fairly quick return from a broken face, Boldin seems to have a genuine passion for the game. So even if he has a stick up his butt about his contract, he doesn’t seem like the type who’ll jeopardize his ability to continue to suit up and play.