The wide receiver signed a one-year deal with the Lions on Tuesday, according to ESPN’S Adam Schefter, ending a three-season run with the 49ers.
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Detroit brought him in for a visit in June – Lions coach Jim Caldwell said he never worked out for the team – then signed him Thursday, the day before training camp began.
Boldin, who snared everything thrown his way by Matthew Stafford, said he feels he and tight end Eric Ebron will be able to create mismatches on the inside, whether it’s against a linebacker or a safety coming up to cover one of them. Just the physicality of a 6-foot-5, 235 pounder, you don’t have that anymore. “If you add those two things together, talent and leadership, that’s what we have to work with”. “I think it’s a good direction, it’s early in the process, but he’s surrounded himself with people he knows, and good people, and we’re excited about it”.
San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Kaleb Ramsey is retiring after just two seasons as a pro.
Entering his 14 National Football League season, the 35-year-old Boldin spent the past three seasons with San Francisco and led the 49ers last season with 69 catches for 789 yards last season while pulling in four touchdowns.
The Lions gave Boldin a one-year deal for $2.75 million, incentives and a $750,00 signing bonus for his 14th National Football League season after he made previous stops in Arizona, Baltimore and San Francisco.
Boldin reunites with Lions head coach Jim Caldwell, who served as Boldin’s offensive coordinator in Baltimore during the team’s Super Bowl championship season in 2012-13. The things that he brings in terms of competitiveness and desire sets a tone for the room. He fights for the ball. I’ve always been tough, always been a guy to make those tough catches, not afraid to take a hit across the middle.
Bob Quinn had a tough decision to make in his first weeks on the job as a first-time general manager with the Lions, figuring out whether the franchise should keep Caldwell for a third season and an 18-14 record or find someone else to coach.
Caldwell still had a job, but when Ford hired Bob Quinn away from the New England Patriots, she made it clear that he was going to be picking his own coach.
And for that, Caldwell is thankful. “I’m appreciative of it, but also I’m going to earn it”. “We’re going to be a better football team, we have to be”. “I think everybody knows what Calvin Johnson means to this community, to this organization”. In my particular case, let’s not count me out yet.
Anquan Boldin didn’t even think about it.
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“There was the familiarity and also I like the progression of where I feel like this team is headed”, Boldin said. “We have to be”.
