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Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Jeremy from Phoenix writes: Hey Mike. As always your hard work is appreciated by all. My question is in regards to the Boldin/Dockett drama. I'm interested in your opinion on who is more to blame, Boldin/Dockett or [agent] Drew Rosenhaus? I can't help but feel that if Boldin and Dockett had a different agent, this situation would not be occurring. Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't Drew Rosenhaus have an extensive history of creating problems between his high profile clients and their organizations?

As a longtime Cardinals fan, or any fan of any team for that matter, it's extremely upsetting and near heartbreaking to see your fan favorite star players want out. Especially after the magical and emotional finish to the 2008 season. it pains me to say this, but this ongoing drama has led me to possibly doubt the character of Anquan Boldin and that is one player I never in a million years thought I could even consider saying that about.

Boldin has been a role model player and team leader both on the field and in the locker room from day one. Very few players in this league can bring an equal level of effort, heart, and intensity that Boldin can bring. So I am hoping you will tell me that you think this is less about Boldin/Dockett and more so being fueled by Rosenhaus manipulating and coaxing them into this mess. What is your personal opinion mike?

Mike Sando: No question, Rosenhaus has used aggressive tactics at times. However, he also represents more NFL players than any other agent. Many are high-profile players and most of them are not openly demanding new deals. His other Cardinals clients include Bryant McFadden and Gabe Watson. He represents the 49ers' Frank Gore, etc.

Anquan Boldin is a 28-year-old man. Darnell Dockett is a 27-year-old man. We can ultimately hold them responsible for how their agent conducts business. If both players show up for the season and play hard -- as they did last season -- the team comes out OK.

That said, Rosenhaus and every other agent benefits from additional transactions. The more deals they can reach, the more up-front money their clients can command and the more money the agent can pocket in the short term.

Rosenhaus has already earned the bulk of what he'll earn from the deals Boldin and Dockett signed with the Cardinals. Boldin received $10 million in bonuses as part of the renegotiated deal he signed in 2005. If the agent earned a 3 percent commission, which agents sometimes command, he would have pocketed $300,000 from those bonuses.

Fast-forward to 2009. Boldin is scheduled to earn $2.75 million in salary. Three percent of that total is $82,500. Boldin's salary in 2010, the final year of the deal, is $3 million. Three percent of that figure is $90,000.

An agent earning a 3 percent commission for Boldin's current deal would earn $172,500 over the next two seasons if Boldin played out his deal. That is great money, but not close to what the agent would receive if his client commanded another $10 million or more in up-front bonuses.

Therefore, if you are the agent and your client's deal appears outdated, as the case appears to be with Boldin moreso than Dockett, you have strong incentive to work out a new deal as soon as possible. Three hundred thousand bucks today beats $172,500 over the next two years.

Finally, the Cardinals might face fewer of these situations once they more firmly establish how they will conduct business. How early are they willing to revisit contracts? Are they confident enough in their ability to re-sign free agents that they can feel OK letting higher-profile players reach the final years of their contracts? Boldin's situation is a little different from most because Larry Fitzgerald commanded so much on his new deal, but the answers to these questions could influence future negotiations.