Joe Flacco just got paid the money he believed he was worth by the Baltimore Ravens. The quarterback believes wide receiver Anquan Boldin shouldn't settle for anything less than his perceived value.
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Coming off a season in which their on-field chemistry helped lead the Ravens to the promised land, Flacco made it clear he supports Boldin's decision to turn down Baltimore's request to restructure his contract -- a $2 million pay cut of his $6 million base salary, according to league sources with knowledge of the situation.
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported he's hearing Boldin isn't budging, telling people "won't take a pay cut."
The decision could lead to Boldin's release.
"Without him, we don't win the Super Bowl," Flacco told USA Today from Kurt Warner's flag football charity event in Arizona. "He's a huge part of this team and someone I want to see back.
"Obviously, when you're a player of his caliber, you believe you're worth a number and that's what you should get. He's going to stick to his guns, and that's the way it should be."
Boldin had a solid regular season in 2012, finishing with 65 catches for 921 yards and four touchdowns. But he showed his true worth in the playoffs, where he piled up 22 receptions for 380 yards and four touchdowns as Flacco's go-to guy.
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"This league is about going out and performing and playing well and having fun doing so," Flacco said. "But it's also our livelihood and it's about getting paid. So teams are going to let go of you as soon as they can. So when you're playing, you have to make sure you can get as much money as you can because that's what's going to take care of your family down the road."
On the heels of signing the largest contract in NFL history, logic dictates that Flacco now has a louder voice in the room. If Tom Brady got on a soap box to back one of his receivers, you know the New England Patriots would take notice. Could Flacco help keep Boldin in Baltimore?
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.