Ravens want Boldin to take a pay cut in order to stay.
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin faces an uncertain future with the franchise, with NFL.com reporting that he is ready to reject a proposal of a reduced salary.
Boldin is fresh from playing a big part in the Ravens success last season and is scheduled to earn $6m in the coming season as he carries a $7.531m salary-cap figure.
He caught 22 passes for 380 yards receiving (95 yards per game) and four touchdowns in the play-offs last year and has led the Ravens in receiving yards for the past three years.
The 32-year-old had reportedly stated he would retire if he was cut by the Ravens, joining the likes of linebacker Ray Lewis and center Matt Birk from the Super Bowl winning team to call time on their careers.
Boldin insisted the situation had nothing to do with money.
“When I signed with the Ravens, I signed for four years. With me, it’s all about principles. At no point, no matter how well I played, would I come back to the table and say, ‘I need more money,'” he told USA Today on Saturday
“I know how the Ravens feel about me, from a coaching standpoint, from an organizational standpoint, from the guys in the locker room. But sometimes the business side doesn’t express that,” he added.
Speculation continues to suggest that the Ravens will offer Boldin a reduced salary with no extension, thus potentially paving the way for the receiver to test the free agency market next week.
With the Ravens rumoured to be trying to free cap space in order to retain free-agent linebacker Dannell Ellerbe as suggested by ESPN, it appears they are willing to sacrifice Boldin if he does not accept a new deal.
There is still time for the two concerned parties to come to an agreement, but come the new season, Super Bowl winning receiver Boldin could be plying his trade away from Baltimore.
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