Jarrett Bell of USA Today Sports is reporting that Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin has declined to reduce his $6 million base salary for the 2013 season. Whereas the belief was that Boldin, 32, would retire if he did not remain with Baltimore, that may no longer be the case.
“Boldin has rejected a Ravens proposal to reduce his salary, and is preparing to become an unrestricted free agent if released, according to a person person with knowledge of the negotiations.
The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because talks are ongoing.
Boldin, 32, is entering the final year of a four-year contract and is due a $6 million base salary in 2013. He won’t budge to take a pay cut, as the Ravens try to maneuver under the $123 million salary cap before the start of the new league year on Tuesday.”
Boldin has been a Raven for the past three seasons after spending his first seven in Arizona. He was a key piece of the Super Bowl champion Ravens, scoring four touchdowns in this year’s postseason. The Ravens, you will recall, are in salary cap hell, and are trying their best to hold onto as many of their key free agents as possible. The belief, according to Bell, is that they hope to sign linebacker Dannell Ellerbe with the money saved by reducing and/or cutting Boldin’s figure.
