Boldin-Cardinals relations getting ugly

Boldin-Cardinals relations getting ugly
Posted: Wednesday August 20, 2008 07:17AM ET
www.fannation.com

Anquan Boldin stood outside the building on a serene college campus, praised the Cardinals for signing him to a contract extension and called it "a tribute" to what the team was trying to accomplish. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, that was a different time (three years ago) and a different place (Prescott). Now, Boldin is in Flagstaff calling team officials liars and saying his relationship with coach Ken Whisenhunt has soured to the point that he doesn't talk to his boss. Those are damaging words from a player whom coaches, management and media have propped up as the new icon of the organization. Team officials pointed at Boldin and told scouts that this is the kind of player they wanted. They pointed at Boldin and told players that this is how you practice; this is how you conduct yourself off the field. Now the relationship has devolved into accusations and denials. The Cardinals have been adamant in their refusal to consider trading Boldin, at least for now. The Eagles, Redskins and Cowboys supposedly could use a receiver, but the Cardinals aren't likely to deal with those teams, which happen to be on the Cardinals' 2008 schedule.