Arizona UDFA's and Bolden wants new contract

[faba]

ayer eyes new contract; team targets extension

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Wide receiver Anquan Boldin skipped the first voluntary on-field workout Monday because of the Arizona Cardinals' failure to extend his contract.

Anquan Boldin

Wide Receiver

Arizona Cardinals

Profile

2004 SEASON STATISTICS

Rec Yds TD Avg Long YAC

56 623 1 11.1 31 156

Boldin was the 2003 NFL offensive rookie of the year after being chosen in the second round, and believes he deserves first-round money.

"I think the significance is that he feels that he should have a new contract," coach Dennis Green said. "And we feel that he should have a new contract extension, too, so that hasn't changed.

"We said it a long time ago, so it's been over a year since we said it, and it's just unfortunate that we haven't been able to reach an agreement on it."

Green wasn't sure if Boldin would attend the post-draft minicamp that begins Friday.

Also Monday, the Cardinals released offensive tackle Anthony Clement and signed four veteran free agents along with 13 rookie free agents.

Among the undrafted rookies signed were Hawaii record-breaking quarterback Tim Chang and Notre Dame wide receiver Carlyle Holiday. Chang set NCAA Division I career passing and total offense records as a four-year starter with the Warriors. Holiday began his career as a quarterback with the fighting Irish before switching to receiver.

Veteran free agent offensive tackles Ian Allen and Adam Haayer were brought in to strengthen the line. The team also signed kicker Matt Fordyce and cornerback Raymond Wells.

Cornerback David Macklin, signed last year, wound up as a starter, and Green believes free agency has helped the team again.

"We were fortunate enough to get him last year," Green said. "He, along with [fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo] and Bertrand Berry were a big part of us making a move last year, and now we've added eight more guys that were free agents."

The 6-foot-8 Clement was one of the tallest players drafted by the Cardinals when he was picked in the second round in 1998, but never achieved the dominance on the line of scrimmage that the team expected.

He started 70 of 81 games, but made only four starts at right tackle last year before Green replaced him with L.J. Shelton. Clement started the last three games after Shelton was injured.

Allen spent last year with Philadelphia. He played in four games but was inactive in 10 others and in the Eagles' three postseason games.

Haayer, another four-year veteran, was Tennessee's sixth-round pick in 2001. He has appeared in nine NFL games, making his first career start for Minnesota on Sept. 26 against Chicago.

Fordyce signed with the Cardinals last year but was released during training camp.

Wells played 16 games with Baltimore last season, getting his first career start at New England on Nov. 28.

Other rookies free agents signed are strong safety Ernest Shazor of Michigan State, tight end Adam Bergen of Lehigh, tight end John Bronson of Penn State, defensive tackle Tim Bulman of Boston College, cornerback Isaiah Ekejiuba of Virginia, cornerback Jermaine Hardy of Virginia, defensive end Tyler King of Connecticut, cornerback-kickoff returner Lamont Reid of North Carolina State, running back Roger Robinson of Northern Arizona, wide receiver Dan Sheldon of Northern Illinois and cornerback Aaron Francisco of BYU.

On first glance Cardinals really got some pretty good players potentially as undrafted free agents

Bergen, Shazor, Bulman and King out of the Big East.

[nj meadowlands]

THEY GOT TIMMY CHANG!!!!!

[stormshadow19]

Not only did Zona have the best draft (Yeah, I said it), they got the best UDFA pull. Bergen and Shazor were both damn good prospects, and day one picks on the JN mock (which, with the knowledge on this board, is saying something). They should be good for a good long while.