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December 16, 2007 - 6:30PM
Playing in pain, Boldin returns to Arizona’s lineup
Comments | RecommendScott Bordow, Tribune
NEW ORLEANS - Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin’s dislocated toe felt good enough for him to play Sunday. But after catching six passes for 83 yards in Arizona’s 31-24 loss to the New Orleans Saints, Boldin knows what he’s in store for today.
Pain.
“Yeah, I’m probably going to pay the price,” Boldin said. “But it was worth it.”
Boldin dislocated the second toe on his left foot in Arizona’s Dec. 2 victory over Cleveland. He missed last week’s game against Seattle and didn’t practice until Thursday. But there was no question in his mind he was going to go against the Saints.
“I felt good enough to play,” he said. “Adrenaline took over while I was out on the field. I didn’t think about it unless I was on the sideline.”
Boldin didn’t start and he wasn’t in on every Cardinals’ possession. Nor could he cut as sharply as he wanted to, which affected his route running. But his six catches were a team high, and he was a big factor in the second half, catching four passes for 64 yards.
“We know Anquan is a tough player,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “When he got in there, he maybe felt better than we or he had hoped. He made some plays. That’s the competitive side of Anquan you know about.”
This has been a frustrating season for Boldin. A hip injury sidelined him for three games earlier in the year, and just when he was starting to feel better, he dislocated his toe.
After catching 102 passes in 2005 and 83 in 2006, he has just 54 this year with two games to go.
Quarterback Kurt Warner said Boldin’s injuries — and limited effectiveness when he did play — are one reason the Cardinals have had trouble at times finishing off drives.
“He’s special when he’s able to do what he normally does,” Warner said. “It’s unfortunate this year. We’ve missed a lot of that with him not being 100 percent.
“You see the toughness he brings. He brings an attitude, a passion, a fire. … He’s going to be one of the guys who’s going to make the play. He’s going to spark your team.
“I can’t say enough about him. I just wish he could have been healthy all year. That would have made a huge difference for us.”
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