Getty Images fileArizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin says the team's failure to rework his contract last offseason has left an irreparable rift between him and the organization, and Kurt Warner says healing that rift will be a key factor in whether he chooses to return in 2009.
"I don't think the relationship can be repaired with the organization," Boldin told USA Today. "It takes more than, 'Well, we did you wrong and we'll pay you this.' It's not about the money. It was always about the principle. Guys being true to their word. I guess I was expected to uphold my end of the bargain, and it wasn't reciprocated."
Cardinals President Michael Bidwill said before the Super Bowl, in which Boldin had eight catches for 84 yards, "We view (Anquan) as one of our core players. We've tried to work with him to restructure his deal and extend it. ... We're hopeful we can get it done."
Boldin did not go so far as to say that he would ask for a trade, but he told the newspaper, "I'll deal with my agent (Drew Rosenhaus) and see what we have to do. But my feelings won't change."
Warner told Boldin that he wants him back and thinks cooler heads can prevail, according to USA Today's report.
"It's too key to our success to let Anquan go," Warner told the newspaper. "I don't know if I'm leaning either direction. But (Boldin's situation) is going to be a key piece to it, whether we can do something as a team like this year.
"If we can keep that together, that excites me about the possibility of coming back. If not, there will be a lot of struggles to overcome that'll make it harder."
Boldin had 89 catches for 1,038 yards and 11 touchdowns in the regular season. He has two years remaining on his contract with the Cardinals, worth $2.75 million in 2009 and $3 million in 2010.
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