Anquan Boldin laughs during his press conference Thursday.
While waiting for his turn at the interview podium Thursday ? Adrian Wilson was up answering questions -- Anquan Boldin playfully took a camera from a team employee and shot a couple of pictures of his teammate.
The Cardinals wide receiver was smiling, knowing the topic of conversation was going to be about his argument with offensive coordinator Todd Haley at the end of the NFC Championship game and his leaving the celebration quickly.
To Boldin, though, the incident was long over ? and the reaction to it ?hilarious.?
?I don?t want to sit here and dwell on it because that is something that is in the
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?Once it?s all done, it?s dead on both sides. It?s not something I wish to dwell on and it?s not something I?ll let distract this team.?
Boldin was upset with being removed from the game on the Cards? final drive. He did go back in at the end of the drive and he said he thought any competitor would have reacted the same.
He said his hamstring was not bothering him in the game and is no longer an issue this week. He also said he celebrated with his teammates after the game, talking to every teammate before he left.
?I just tried to avoid this,? Boldin said with a chuckle, speaking of the media. ?Me leaving, earlier than everyone else, seems to have made it worse.?
The attention the Cardinals get being in the Super Bowl also has played a factor, Boldin said.
?There are only two teams left now,? Boldin said. ?All the attention is on those two teams. The attention has grown. Do you have to be careful? I guess so, but at the same time, you can?t alter who you are.?
Wilson and quarterback Kurt Warner said the mini-controversy hasn?t been an issue. The way Boldin was acting Thursday with his smiles and laughs, it certainly didn't seem to be an issue with him.
?It?s a new day, we?re in the Super Bowl, which I am excited about, so naw, I?m not mad,? Boldin said.
ON THE BIG STAGE
Backup quarterback Matt Leinart has played in his share of big games, including the national championship his last year at USC against Texas. But it doesn?t compare to the Super Bowl ? and Leinart hasn?t even dealt with next week?s media crush in Tampa.
?This feels about 20 times bigger than the national championship,? Leinart said. ?It?s different because I?m not playing, but I still feel the excitement of the Super Bowl. (The national championships) were just another game for me, really. ? When the ball is snapped, football is football and you do your assignment. In the course of the game, I don?t think guys think about 100 million people watching.
?You do think about it (now), though.?
INJURY UPDATE
Running back J.J. Arrington (knee) didn?t practice Thursday, but coach Ken Whisenhunt said he hopes Arrington will be able to practice next week and play in the Super Bowl. With the extra time before the game, Arrington is unlikely to practice this week to rest the knee. Defensive end Travis LaBoy (biceps) was limited Thursday and Whisenhunt said he too will hopefully work more next week.
Whisenhunt added that he didn?t think defensive end Antonio Smith (knee) would have a problem being ready for the game.
