Former Baltimore Ravens receiver Anquan Boldin was reportedly stunned to hear he was traded by the Ravens to the San Francisco 49ers, according to ESPN.com.
"You know, for me, it was an initial shock because I had no clue that I was going to be traded," Boldin told ESPN producer Ashly Robinson, who is in Africa to document his trip with fellow NFL receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Roddy White, who are working with Oxfam to restore farmland in Senegal, Africa.
Boldin also posted a message of thanks to the Ravens' fans through his Twitter account Tuesday.
"I would like thank the Ravens fans for their incredible support for myself and my family throughout my years in Baltimore," he wrote. "I am grateful in getting to know you and will miss what I call home.
"I thought this was the last stop of my career but regardless of the circumstances I came here to win a Championship and in February we came home Champions."
Boldin was in deal that will land the Ravens a sixth-round draft choice, which is contingent on Boldin passing a physical when he returns from his charity mission in Africa.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco reacted with disappointment when he learned of the trade Monday.
"Anquan was a great receiver for myself and for our football team," said Flacco, who signed a six-year, $120.6 million deal with the Ravens last week. "It's sad to see a guy like that go, but at the same time you want what's best for him and you just wish him the best of luck.
"Anquan was a big part of this football team, a big part of this offense. He's one of the many reasons we won the Super Bowl this year."
A 10-year veteran, Boldin led Baltimore with 65 catches for 921 yards and four TDs in 2012. He was sensational in the postseason, totaling 16 receptions for 276 yards and three scores.
He had six catches for 104 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens' 34-31 Super Bowl victory over the 49ers. Boldin also had five receptions for 60 yards and two scores against New England in the AFC title game.
With numbers like those, it's kind of hard to not be excited if you're Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who considers Boldin's addition to be of great value.
"He's a great player," Kaepernick said. "I don't think you're going to find anybody in the sixth round to come in and play better than what he's doing right now."
