Anquan Boldin is seeking a new contract and the Cardinals expect to eventually give the Pro Bowl receiver a new deal.
For months, the Cardinals have known wide receiver Anquan Boldin has wanted a new contract.
The Cards, understanding Boldin has outperformed his current deal, haven't disagreed, engaging in contract discussions beginning last offseason.
But with talks not proceeding the way Boldin and agent Drew Rosenhaus wanted, Rosenhaus suggested a trade as a solution – an option the Cardinals have rejected.
"We're not interested in trading him, we're not interested in fielding calls (from other teams) about him," general manager Rod Graves said. "What we are interested in is fielding a championship team with Anquan on board."
The intent, Graves said, is what it always was: Hammering out a long-term deal with Boldin.
"Anquan is important to this team on and off the field," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "He is an important part of our future success and we have no interest in trading him.
"We want as many good football players as we can get, and Anquan is a good football player. He's one of our core players, and I love his style of play."
The Cards tried to address the issue last season. The team extended an offer Dec. 1 that Graves said would have raised Boldin's compensation among the top five wideouts for the next three years of his remaining contract. There would also have been a two-year extension with the restructuring.
Boldin is currently signed through 2010.
Graves said Rosenhaus did not respond for almost a month, finally telling the team he preferred to wait until after Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald got his new contract.
Graves said he informed Rosenhaus at that point waiting was not likely to be an option since the team was trying to fit Boldin's extension into a certain financial "window" that would close heading into the offseason. Too many other issues – such as Fitzgerald's contract, Karlos Dansby's new deal, free agency and the draft – would make it difficult after that under the salary cap without releasing players.
With the draft approaching and Dansby still in need of a new deal after receiving the franchise tag, Boldin's situation is in a holding pattern.
"I told Drew we will address it as soon as we get another window to do it in," Graves said.
Boldin, currently in Florida, did not return a message asking for comment.
"You know, we were in a similar situation with Anquan and Drew before and were able to work out a deal," Graves said. "I believe we will do it again."
The reference was to Boldin's current contract, which was re-done in July, 2005. Boldin, at the time two years into his four-year rookie contract, signed the extension through 2010. Those negotiations lasted more than a year.
Contact Darren Urban at askdarren@cardinals.nfl.net. Posted 4/23/08. Updated 4/23/08.
