Boldin bullish on Baltimore move

After seven years with the Arizona Cardinals, receiver Anquan Boldin is eager to try his wings for the Baltimore Ravens.

Calling Baltimore "a place that fits me," Boldin said Monday he thought he could be the big-play wide receiver that the Ravens were lacking in 2009.

"I feel like I add a piece to this offense," said Boldin, who was introduced as a Raven days after the NFL team acquired him and a fifth-round pick in the 2010 draft from the Cardinals in exchange for a third- and fourth-round selection.

"This is something we've been hoping for," said Ravens coach John Harbaugh, whose team ranked 18th in passing last season. "He fits us just perfectly. We're excited about what's in store."

After passing his physical Boldin, who was due to make three million dollars in 2010, inked a new four-year, 28 million-dollar deal that includes a guaranteed ten million dollars.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said the acquisition was a chance to make up for his failure to take Boldin in the 2003 NFL draft.

"When Anquan came out in the draft, he was the subject of a lot of discussion in our war room," Newsome said. "Not too many times do you get a chance to recover from a mistake.

"I think I made a mistake in that draft, to worry more about measurables than about the football player. And what Anquan is is a football player."

Boldin admitted that the idea of leaving Arizona was hard - at first.

"Arizona had been the only home I'd known professionally. I'd been there seven years and built a lot of relationships," he said. "It's kind of hard to leave something like that.

"But in order for us to grow as human beings, change is necessary. And this is definitely a welcome change for me."

In seven seasons with Arizona, Boldin had 586 catches for 7,520 yards and 44 touchdowns."