Bill’s New Veteran WR Boldin is Retiring, Cites Higher Purpose

Veteran NFL wide receiver Anquan Boldin is retiring from football just a few weeks after inking a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills. 

Citing a higher purpose, it would seem that the Charlottesville violence and ensuing national discussion impacted Boldin's decision to move on from football so immediately.

Boldin issued this statement to ESPN:

"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 to ESPN.com. "My life's purpose is bigger than football."

Boldin, who will soon be 37, has spent 14-years in the league playing in Arizona, Baltimore, San Francisco and Detroit. He's amassed nearly 14,000 receiving yards. Boldin had one catch for 5-yards in Buffalo's 20-16 loss to Philadelphia in the their second pre-season tilt on Saturday.

The news of his retirement puts the Bills in a tough spot for the upcoming season. Boldin would have provided a solid, veteran presence while bringing consistency to a usually sputtering offense. Agreeing to a contract in Buffalo may have also played a role in the team's decision to deal former first-round pick Sammy Watkins.

The Bills wound up getting the young and talented Jordan Matthews from the Eagles, however, he quickly suffered a chest injury that sidelined him almost immediately. Matthews began catching passes with the team again on Sunday, the Bills's official team site reports.

The Bills have two more pre-season games remaining to workout their wide receiver core. They host the AFC East rival Jets in Week 1 of the regular season on Sunday,  September 10, 2017.