Arizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin is taking a major hit in the court of public opinion for his seemingly immature and selfish outburst during and after Sunday’s NFC Championship Game.
Boldin, if you remember, had a verbal outburst with offensive coordinator Todd Haley on the game-clinching drive when Boldin was taken out of the game. And then Boldin reportedly snuck out the back door and left the stadium as he teammates were celebrating the upset of the Eagles.
This has become the biggest story, at least through Tuesday, heading into the media mess that is the two weeks leading to the Super Bowl. Boldin’s Cards remain 7-point underdogs on WagerWeb.com to the AFC champion Steelers.
Everyone involved with the Cardinals is saying the right things this week, and it’s hard to imagine this being any type of distraction. It certainly could affect Boldin’s stay with the team next year, however.
“I was not given any explanation why I was taken out,” Boldin said of why he was upset. “Like any competitor I wanted to know why.”
The Cardinals used only one receiver on nine of their final 14 plays in the NFC Championship Game, and that was Larry Fitzgerald.
Boldin added that he had “not a problem at all,” with Haley. “I’m committed to this team … one goal in mind … to win the Super Bowl. That’s why I came back early from the facial injury. You don’t get this opportunity all the time.”
Teammates dismissed the idea that the incident was an indication of deeper problems with Boldin.
“During the heat of the moment, tempers get riled up,” cornerback Rod Hood said. “Q is an emotional guy. I talked to him, and I know he’s ready to play in the Super Bowl.”
“It happens all the time, really,” defensive tackle Bryan Robinson said. “[The media] is going to focus on the star players, but through the season, I had a couple of those altercations, but it’s nothing. I’m sure it won’t even be brought up when we’re in our group.”
Boldin, 28, has openly lobbied for a new deal despite being under contract with the Cardinals through 2010. He requested a trade last offseason, but Arizona wouldn’t comply. Boldin finished the season finish with 89 catches for 1,038 yards and 11 touchdowns despite missing four games.
But Fitzgerald has been a superstar in the playoffs and Arizona has another 1,000-yard receiver in Steve Breaston, so expect the Super Bowl to be Boldin’s final game for this franchise.
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