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New England Patriots, retired WR Anquan Boldin could be match

By The Sports Xchange
Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker C.J. Mosley (57) tries to wrestle the ball away from Detroit Lions wide receiver Anquan Boldin (80) on an 8-yard gain during the first half of their NFL preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, August 27, 2016. File photo by David Tulis/UPI
Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker C.J. Mosley (57) tries to wrestle the ball away from Detroit Lions wide receiver Anquan Boldin (80) on an 8-yard gain during the first half of their NFL preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, August 27, 2016. File photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Anquan Boldin knows a job with the New England Patriots could have a nice ring to it.

Boldin, 36, is intrigued by the possibility of joining the defending Super Bowl champions, who lost slot receiver Julian Edelman to a season-ending knee injury last month.

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Only a few weeks removed from retirement, Boldin walked away from a spot on the Buffalo Bills' roster 13 days after signing a one-year deal with New England's AFC East rival.

Boldin said at the time the decision was "bigger than football" and driven by his desire to make an impact beyond the game. Boldin was known for his charity work, including being recognized as Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.

Boldin was expected to bring a veteran presence to the offense after signing a one-year contract with the Bills on Aug. 7. The 36-year-old made one catch for 5 yards in his lone preseason game with Buffalo against the Philadelphia Eagles.

"Football has afforded me a platform throughout my career to have a greater impact on my humanitarian work, and at this time I feel drawn to make the larger fight for human rights a priority," Boldin said in a statement. "My life's purpose is bigger than football."

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Boldin spent portions of the last two years on Capitol Hill fighting for criminal justice reform. His cousin, Corey Jones, was shot to death by a plain-clothes police officer in 2015 after Jones' van broke down on the side of a South Florida highway.

In his 14-year NFL career, Boldin ranked ninth all-time in receptions (1,076), 14th in receiving yards (13,779) and tied for 23rd in receiving touchdowns (82). He won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens after the 2012 season.

His departure leaves Buffalo with questions among its wide receiver ranks. Former first-round pick Sammy Watkins was traded to the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 11, and while wideout Jordan Matthews was acquired from the Eagles the same day, he is recovering from a chipped bone in his sternum.

Boldin began his career with the Arizona Cardinals as a 2003 second-round draft pick out of Florida State. The 6-foot-1, 218-pounder played seven years with the Cardinals and appeared in the Super Bowl following the 2008 season, with Arizona losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He moved on to Baltimore in 2010 and spent three years there.

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While with Baltimore, Boldin caught the first completion of current Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor's career in 2011. It came in mop-up duty during a late-season loss to the San Diego Chargers, as Taylor, then a rookie, hit Boldin for an 18-yard completion.

Boldin spent 2013-15 with the San Francisco 49ers. He played 2016 for the Detroit Lions, catching 67 passes for 584 yards and eight touchdowns. Seven of his touchdowns came when he was lined up in the slot, the second most from that position in the NFL last season behind only Sterling Shepard of the Giants.

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