So the Ravens finally did the damned thing and traded for a legitimate game-changer at wide receiver this weekend. Admit it: Like me, you never thought this day would actually come. Anquan Boldin was a half hour late to his introductory press conference (which always ruffles the feathers of journalists working on deadline), and I was starting to think he wasn't going to show up, that this really was too good to be true.
But Boldin eventually showed up, and he impressed me at the presser. He wasn't up at the podium for long, but he said all the right things (more shameless self-promotion: Here's Tuesday's column). Here are some things that we learned:
1. Boldin said his well-publicized dust-up with former Cardinals offensive coordinator (and current Chiefs coach) Todd Haley was no big deal. "I don't know if people know it or not – that happens all the time in the NFL," he said. "It just so happened that it got caught on film." Take note, football fans, because Boldin is so right. There are no character concerns with this guy, especially now that he has his new four-year, $28 million contract.
2. After years of playing alongside Larry Fitzgerald, one of the top two or three receivers in the NFL, Boldin has to prove he is capable of being more than a second fiddle. Boldin realizes this, but he answered a question about it “like a Raven.”
“Well for me, I just feel like I add a piece to this offense," he said. "I know one thing that I was really looking at when looking at a team is … [that] I had an opportunity to win a championship – and I feel like I have that here. Two, a place that plays defense, runs the ball well, and has a great young quarterback.”
I like Joe Flacco and all, but Boldin has got to be kidding when he says that he wanted to play with a young quarterback. After playing with future Hall-of-Famer Kurt Warner these past few years, you’d think he’d prefer playing for a proven veteran (someone like Tom Brady, perhaps). That wasn’t a deal breaker, of course, but I thought it was interesting Boldin said that.
3. Boldin has braces.
4. The face of the Ravens franchise had been in Boldin’s ear about the possibility of the receiver coming to Baltimore for the past year. “I’ve been talking over the last year with Ray Lewis, just chomping at the bit to become a Baltimore Raven,” Boldin admitted. “And it finally happened, so I’m ecstatic about it.” When Lewis hangs up his cleats, he could have a bright, bright future as a recruiting coordinator back at The U.
5. If Boldin didn’t become a fan favorite as soon as they caught a glimpse of his purple No. 81 jersey, they did by the end of the press conference. Boldin said a reason he wanted to come to Baltimore was “the passion that the fans have for winning.” Later, when asked about the rivalry with the Steelers, he gave us this gem: "I'm seeking revenge on Pittsburgh." The Steelers beat the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.
Anyway, I know pretty much everyone in Baltimore loves the Boldin trade. So let me ask, is there anyone out there who doesn't like this deal?