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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Anquan Boldin: Believes he can still play
Anquan Boldin still works out every day and believes he could continue playing in the NFL if he wanted to, though he said he hasn't put too much thought into the matter recently, Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun reports.Boldin signed with the Bills last year during training camp and retired a couple weeks later to focus on humanitarian work, with his assessment of the Buffalo roster possibly a factor in the decision. He reportedly still had some level of interest in playing as of late October, but the Bills didn't surrender their rights to the 37-year-old wideout until the start of the new league year Wednesday. Boldin is free to sign with any team, but he's currently focused on his work with the Players Coalition, helping prospects prepare for the upcoming draft. While he might be enticed by an opportunity to play close to his home in Florida, neither the Dolphins nor Bucs are in need of a veteran possession receiver. The Panthers, Falcons and Saints could use a No. 3 receiver, but each of the three seems more inclined to test out younger, faster players.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Anquan Boldin: Free to join new team
The Bills released Anquan Boldin from their reserve/retired list Wednesday, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reports.Boldin signed a one-year contract with the Bills last summer and then retired during the preseason. He expressed a desire months later to continue his playing career, but with Boldin unwilling to report to the Bills, the team declined to relinquish its rights to the veteran wideout. It appears the organization has since had a change of heart, and Boldin is now free to sign with another team. Even if Boldin is still eager to continue his playing career, it's hard to see him drawing significant interest, given that he's set to turn 38 years old in October.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Anquan Boldin: Rights won't be released
Bills general manager Brandon Beane said Tuesday that the team wouldn't release its rights to Anquan Boldin and allow him to play anywhere else this season, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reports. "We made a commitment to Anquan, and he made a commitment to us back in [training] camp. He left for the reasons he mentioned back in August," Beane said, alluding to Boldin's announcement that he would retire shortly after he signed a one-year deal with Buffalo.About two months after indicating his career was over and subsequently landing on the Bills' reserve/retired list, the 37-year-old Boldin informed management that he was still interested in keeping his career going if he could play for a team closer to his home in Florida. The Bills reportedly gave Boldin and his agent permission about a week ago to speak with prospective suitors for the "sole purpose of discussing a trade," but with the veteran wideout's rights remaining with Buffalo following Tuesday's deadline for any deal, it looks likely that he'll stay retired. Rather than holding out hope that Boldin might reconsider his stance and play for them, the Bills were proactive in bolstering their weak wideout corps for the second half of the season, acquiring Kelvin Benjamin from the Panthers on Tuesday to likely serve as their new No. 1 receiver.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Anquan Boldin: Making a comeback?
Anquan Boldin is interested in playing again and the Bills have given his agent permission to seek a trade with another team (the Bills hold his rights) if there's a fit, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports, per a letter ESPN obtained.While Boldin is likely moving past his fantasy days, he did have eight touchdown catches for the Lions last season and could probably serve as a decent No. 3 receiver for someone. This is the time of year when a number of teams are working through wideout injuries, and with plenty of franchises about to go on bye it seems someone would be willing to bring in and assess Boldin, assuming the 37-year-old is truly interested in playing again after surprisingly retiring from football right before the 2017 season. It's thought that Boldin would ideally like to play closer to his Florida home, but that state's three teams are pretty well stocked at the receiver position.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Anquan Boldin: Announces retirement from football
Anquan Boldin announced his retirement from the NFL on Sunday, Jim Trotter of ESPN reports.While it isn't clear why Boldin is calling it quits just two weeks after signing a one-year contract with the Bills, the gritty veteran has plenty to hang his hat on as he looks back on a 14-year career, one that started with the Cardinals selecting him in the second round of the 2003 draft. Boldin immediately exploded onto the scene -- catching 10 passes for 217 yards in his first game -- and ultimately finished as the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Then, after earning three Pro Bowl nods along the way, Boldin won a Super Bowl title with the Ravens before separate, less celebrated stints with the 49ers and Lions. He'll retire ninth all time in receptions (1,076), 14th in receiving yards (13,779) and tied for 23rd in receiving touchdowns (82). As for the Bills, Boldin's departure leaves the team with even more uncertainty at receiver. Second-round rookie Zay Jones is probably the favorite to claim the starting role opposite Jordan Matthews, but former Raiders Andre Holmes and Rod Streater (toe) could make a bid as well.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Bills' Anquan Boldin: Quiet in Buffalo debut
Anquan Boldin caught one pass for five yards on three targets in Thursday's preseason game against the Eagles.Boldin appeared to get snaps both outside and from the slot, after almost exclusively playing inside the past two years in Detroit and San Francisco. He may be moved around out of necessity as part of a shaky receiving corps, especially considering that Jordan Matthews (sternum) has also done his best work from the slot. With Sammy Watkins gone and Matthews sidelined, Tyrod Taylor looked horrific in Thursday's game, often forced to bail on plays and panicking on multiple occasions when he couldn't find an open man. The Buffalo Bills admittedly were facing a tough opponent and still have time to cobble together a respectable passing attack before Week 1.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Bills' Anquan Boldin: Ready to suit up
Anquan Boldin will make his debut for Buffalo on Thursday night in Philadelphia, Chris Brown of the Buffalo Bills' official site reports.The Bills have pretty much a brand-new receiving corps this season, while Boldin was just signed last week. Hence, much of the slotting still needs to be worked out, though Boldin is generally thought to fit at the very least in the top three and the guy most likely to work from the slot. Even at 36, Boldin remains a guy who knows who to haul in his share of catches, though no one's pretending he has breakaway speed at this stage of his career. What's odd is the Bills now have no stud receiver after trading Sammy Watkins, while several guys seemingly fit the same kind of make-up -- bigger targets with good hands that aren't known for stretching the field.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Bills' Anquan Boldin: Fit complicated upon Matthews' arrival
Anquan Boldin's fit within the Buffalo Bills offense could be complicated by Friday's trade acquisition of Jordan Matthews, who also prefers to operate out of the slot, NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal reports.Boldin only signed with Buffalo this week, but it's already a bit unknown how Buffalo will maximize both he and Matthews within its scheme. Fifteen years into his NFL service, Boldin no longer possesses the explosiveness needed to gain separation outside, thus restricting him to making his impact from the slot. Through his first three seasons, however, Matthews has totaled 225 catches, 2,673 yards and 19 touchdowns while predominately operating from a similar spot. As a result, the Bills suddenly have a pair of slot specialists, which could prove to hurt Boldin most considering the value the team surrendered for Matthews.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Bills' Anquan Boldin: Out for preseason opener
Anquan Boldin, signed by the Buffalo Bills on Monday, will not play in Thursday night's preseason opener against the Vikings, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reports.Boldin is still getting up to speed, and with plenty of potential roster cuts to evaluate there's no reason to rush things for the first preseason game. We expect him to see action in next week's preseason contest.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Bills' Anquan Boldin: Working from slot
Anquan Boldin mostly worked from the slot with the starting offense Tuesday in his first practice with the Buffalo Bills, Chris Brown of the team's official website reports.Boldin mostly figures to work from the slot for a third straight season, but there's still an opportunity for him to emerge as Tyrod Taylor's second or third target in an offense that lacks proven pass catchers beyond Sammy Watkins and LeSean McCoy. The 36-year-old's presence likely means rookie second-round pick Zay Jones will get more work on the outside, where he's seemingly the favorite to lock down a starting job over the likes of Andre Holmes, Rod Streater and Philly Brown.