Update on Anquan Boldin: Patriots are front-runners; Ravens are working it

by Josh Kirkendall on Mar 5, 2010 4:07 PM EST in Analysis

Even though it's been pretty quiet Friday from a Cincinnati Bengals perspective, it won't stop us from coming up with scenarios that range from being realistic to outright fantasy. One in the middle has been the conjecturing scenario that the Bengals could make a trade to acquire Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

Third round pick. Should be cheap enough. Yes. If we ended there, then the Bengals could make the trade. So could 30 other teams. There's a reason why such a move hasn't been made, nor is it really being explored by that many teams. It's money. A lot of it. And it's knowing that if Boldin isn't paid, he'll pout like he did with the Cardinals when Larry Fitzgerald scored on a big deal several years ago.

Again, it would be nice, but the reality is that the Bengals would have to pay and the reality is that the Bengals most likely wouldn't pay. But we can hope. We can keep searching, slapping the living crap out of our F5 keys. I'm fine with that. I'm doing the same thing in the same belief that the Bengals could surprise us. Right?

So far, here's what we know. The Baltimore Ravens are working hard to acquire Boldin but, according to Aaron Wilson, the New England Patriots are the front runners.

Terrell Owens is still a possibility. And it's somewhat surprising that his name has been mentioned so little on the first day of free agency. In fact, the most comprehensive report we've heard is that it's possible that the Bengals could be the other team opposite of the Baltimore Ravens to have shown interest in the receiver. Geoff Hobson and Joe Reedy believes that of the receivers they could sign, Terrell Owens is the most likely. Hobson also wrote that receivers Antonio Bryant, Kevin Walter, Chris Chambers and Josh Reed are other receivers that are generating interest by the Bengals.

UPDATE: On the other hand. PFT writes that the Ravens are the front runners and that the Chiefs are also interested.

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LOL!

…slapping the living crap out of our F5 keys.

by TheWalrus1971 on Mar 5, 2010 4:09 PM EST reply actions

Oh, and...

It’s not Chris Chamber…it’s f[censored]g ChamBERS…plural!

by TheWalrus1971 on Mar 5, 2010 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

I think when I slapped my F5 key, it disloged my S. :)

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Mar 5, 2010 4:13 PM EST up reply actions

If all we do

is go after T.O. then we are not setting ourselves up for the future this way. I wish they would have gone after Boldin or Marshall due to the fact that T.O. would likely be a one year deal and Chad isn’t going to be around forever especially with the chances of a lockout next year. If there is a lockout next year this will be Chad’s last year in stripes. So they need to start making moves for our future at WR.

by JamesShively on Mar 5, 2010 4:20 PM EST reply actions

RE:

I believe in their mind, they still believe that they have the future with Caldwell and Simpson. Then they’ll just pepper veterans with one-year contracts. Not saying that’s the best approach, but it might be what’s on their mind.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Mar 5, 2010 4:29 PM EST up reply actions

There is also this thing called the 2010 NFL Draft that takes place after free agency and can be used to set up the future.

by Todd G on Mar 5, 2010 4:31 PM EST up reply actions

it's all unproven talent... someone need's to have a break out year...

by JamesShively on Mar 5, 2010 4:33 PM EST up reply actions

We need to pull the trigger

Boldin is absolutely worth a third.

I don’t know that he’s worth a second, but given how badly we’ve misfired on some of ours—Irons, Simpson, etc.—I’d strongly consider it, especially if it hurts the Ravens.

My fear is that we sign a washed-up TO and do nothing else.

by Big Sky Bengal on Mar 5, 2010 4:29 PM EST reply actions

My fear is the same. I hope the Bengals do nothing before they sign TO and do nothing else. Granted I hope they do something (Tank, Bobbie, add a TE who can block and do that little thing in the passing game called catching the ball).

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Mar 5, 2010 5:01 PM EST up reply actions