Pro Bowl receiver Anquan Boldin has informed agent Drew Rosenhaus, the Arizona Cardinals and the NFL Players Association of his plans to fire Rosenhaus amid stalled attempts to force a trade or a new contract.
Rosenhaus, who represents more NFL players than any other agent, had tried pressuring the Cardinals into trading the 28-year-old receiver.
"Regarding Anquan Boldin, let me say that I have great respect for him. I'm hopeful we can work this out and he can return to the Rosenhaus Sports family in the near future. We are proud to continue to represent his brother, D.J. Boldin," Rosenhaus said in a statement to ESPN.com. "We would also like to take this opportunity to announce that we have signed Will Allen to a 2-year contract extension with the Dolphins worth $16.2 million. We are pleased to announce today that we have re-signed New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey [to a representation agreement]."
Shockey was reportedly considering new representation.
A Cardinals spokesman declined comment.
Boldin has two years remaining on a contract Rosenhaus renegotiated in 2005. He has stepped up attempts to secure a new deal after teammate Larry Fitzgerald signed a four-year, $40 million extension in 2008. The Cardinals have said they first plan to renegotiate contracts for safety Adrian Wilson and linebacker Karlos Dansby.
Boldin, who has two years left on his contract with the Cardinals, is upset with the team's management over what he says was a failed promise for a new deal last offseason. He has asked for a trade. The Cardinals said they would listen to offers but on draft day said no team had proposed a deal that could be seriously considered.
The three-time Pro Bowl receiver sat out minicamp with what he said was a sore hamstring. He has not participated in any of the Cardinals' voluntary workouts the past two weeks.
Quarterback Kurt Warner has been outspoken in his desire to get Boldin back with the team.
"Maybe Anquan felt that there was a sticking point there and that this is going to free some things up and allow them to have a different approach coming forward and work better with the Cardinals," Warner said after the workout on Tuesday. "I really don't know. I don't want to speculate on the reasons behind it all but I think I've had hope from day one that they can get something done."
Boldin reached out to other agents in recent weeks, according to a source. He spoke with Kennard McGuire, CAA agents Tom Condon and Ben Dogra, and two of Fitzgerald's agents, Eugene Parker and Paul Lawrence.
Under NFLPA rules, a player must wait five days after firing his agent before hiring a new one.
"I still believe Anquan will be traded before training camp," Rosenhaus said May 8 through his Twitter account. "I hope to work together with the Cardinals to resolve this situation by then."
On May 18, Rosenhaus disputed reports that Boldin was seeking $10 million per season, the same amount as Fitzgerald.
"We recently made a proposal to the Cards for less," Rosenhaus said via Twitter.
Boldin has been represented by several different agents since being drafted out of Florida State in the second round by Arizona in 2003. With Rosenhaus as his agent, Boldin signed a four-year, $22.75 million extension with Arizona in August 2006, a deal that keeps him under contract through the 2010 season. He has a base salary of about $2.75 million next season and $3 million in 2010.
Dansby, who also has an unsettled contract situation, said for Boldin to part from an agent who has represented him since 2004 is "huge for him."
"Hopefully the ball will get bouncing and hopefully he'll be back out here on the field and be comfortable that his situation will get handled," Dansby said.
Mike Sando covers the NFC West for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.