ESPN's Steven Guyot and Ashly Robinson are with Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald on the NFL players' charity trip to Africa through Oxfam.
They filed the following interview transcript featuring Boldin's reaction to his trade from the Baltimore Ravens to the San Francisco 49ers.
Way to go, guys.
Can you comment about being traded to the 49ers?
Boldin: "Uh, yeah. You know, for me it was an initial shock because I had no clue that I was going to be traded. So for me, it was shocking at first, but I mean it, for me it is also a good thing. You know, when I look at the organization and what they’re about, and as a football team, the talent that they have, I think it's a good, good place for me to be."
How were you informed that you were traded?
Boldin: "I actually found out as I got off the plane last night. Finally arriving here in Senegal, you know, there was a bunch of text messages coming through, saying, you know, 'Congratulations on getting traded to San Francisco.' Things like that, so I found out I guess through text messages."
Can you describe your time with the Ravens?
Boldin: "My time with the Ravens has been great. For me, I'm very thankful for all the support of the fans. I'm very thankful for the organization, the things that they’ve done for me and my family. It's been a great locker room. You know, I was brought to Baltimore to win a championship and, you know, we were able to do that, so I feel accomplished. I definitely don’t feel like I’ve left anything behind as far as on the football field in Baltimore, but there’s a lot of great people that I am going to miss. You know, for me, it’s a little bittersweet because, you know, I always thought that Baltimore would be my last stop. I gave my all to the city, so I don’t have any regrets from that part. You know, sometimes the business part of this, of football, you don’t let things end the way that you want it to."
How do you feel about going from one Harbaugh to another?
Boldin: "You know, it's cool. Like I said, you know, to be where San Francisco is and was, you know, the team that we played in the Super Bowl, a team that’s very close, a team that I feel like is on the cusp and hopefully I can go there and help them achieve the goals they have in mind."