The Arizona Cardinals great who got overshadowed

Anquan Boldin was a great wide receiver who ultimately fell short to Larry Fitzgerald in the eyes of the Arizona Cardinals

For six straight seasons, the Arizona Cardinals’ starting wide receiver duo could not be touched. The combination of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin terrorized NFL secondaries throughout the 2000’s. But as with most good things, it couldn’t last forever.

Boldin arrived on the scene first. A sub-par 40-yard dash caused the Florida State product to be drafted later than he should’ve in 2003. The Cardinals nabbed him in the second round with the 54th overall pick, a bargain to say the least.

Fitzgerald endured no such tumble in the 2004 Draft. After starring at the University of Pittsburgh, Arizona selected the 6’3″, 220-pounder with the third-overall pick. In just two years, Fitzgerald caught 161 passes for 2,677 yards and 34 touchdowns for the Panthers.

During their first few seasons playing together, it was tough to determine who the Cards’ number-one receiver was. The pair were equally amazing in 2005. Fitzgerald hauled in 103 balls for 1,409 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Boldin chipped in 102 receptions for 1,402 yards and seven scores.

Three years later, both were starters on the 2008 Pro Bowl squad. That season, Fitzgerald accounted for 96 catches, 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns. Boldin added 89 receptions for 1,038 yards and 11 scores.

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Fitzgerald finally pulled away in the two-wide receiver race during Arizona’s 2008 playoff run. In four postseason contests, he totaled 30 catches, 546 yards and seven touchdowns. That performance allowed Fitzgerald to take hold of the Cardinals’ number-one wideout title, leaving Boldin in the rear-view mirror.

Boldin was aware of Fitzgerald’s emergence, and 2009 would be the last season in the desert for “Q”. He did make his finale with the Cards a good one, catching 84 balls for 1,024 yards and four touchdowns. But the writing was on the wall, one of the two was gonna have to go, and it wasn’t going to be Fitzgerald.

When Fitzgerald signed a four-year, $40 million contract extension, Boldin wanted to be paid the same. That wasn’t going to happen, so the Cardinals begrudgingly agreed to trade their unhappy soldier to the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens were thrilled to get him, and gave Boldin a three-year, $25 million extension.

Fitzgerald and Boldin managed to co-exist for six glorious years. Jealousy, egos and economics eventually drove them apart. But it sure was fun while it lasted.

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