Gbagzz
Footballguy
After reading this article I thought, even he does 75% of what he did in 2001 he'll more than out perform his draft position. There are no guppies in my leagues anymore. No such thing as sleepers, it's just a matter of who jumps on who first... which leads to owner taking players earlier than they'd like to ensure they get them.
Boston Wants Pro Bowl Form Back
By IRA KAUFMAN The Tampa Tribune
TAMPA - Before David Boston races under any long passes launched by Chris Simms this fall, he'll have to outrun his past.
After leading the league in receiving yardage (1,598) and earning a Pro Bowl berth with the 2001 Arizona Cardinals, Boston has seen a blossoming pro career undermined by injuries and poor decisions.
Two months after signing with the Bucs for the $585,000 minimum, the former Ohio State standout heads to the NFL crossroads in Lake Buena Vista on Thursday as Tampa Bay players report to training camp.
"David played his butt off for me - in 2001, there was no better receiver in the NFL," said Tennessee linebackers coach Dave McGinnis, Boston's head coach in Arizona for three seasons. "Since I worked with David, he got married and now he has a child. We all grow up."
Boston, 27, is thankful for the opportunity to play for his fourth organization.
He has no assurances of making an NFL roster in 2006, a scenario which seemed preposterous when he was terrorizing defensive backs for McGinnis in the Arizona desert.
"My first few years I had a lot of success," said Boston, whose father, Byron, has been an NFL line judge for 11 years. "I was healthy and I was able to make a lot of plays. Right now I'm on my way back. I don't want a little bit back … I want it all back."
The eighth pick in the 1999 draft caught 71 passes for the Cardinals in 2000, setting the stage for his career year. Late in that memorable 2001 season, Boston sparked a 34-31 road upset of Jon Gruden's Raiders by catching six passes for 106 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown.
"He signed a contract here that was very much different than the ones he's signed in previous years," Gruden said. "He came out here and ran a 4.52 into a 15-mile an hour wind. He's made some mistakes and he's had some tough breaks, but he's a great kid.
"He got into some whatever you want to call it, bad situations, and he got hurt. He's going to get a shot and we're going to see what happens."
Boston's career began to turn in 2002, when a knee injury forced him to the injured reserve list for the final seven games.
The Cardinals declined to place a franchise tag on Boston the following spring, and he received a $4.5 million signing bonus in joining the Chargers as an unrestricted free agent.
Boston and old-school coach Marty Schottenheimer clashed to the point the Chargers suspended their high-profile receiver without pay in Week 4 for "unacceptable" conduct.
Boston responded with a career-high 14 receptions at Jacksonville the following week, but the workout freak couldn't hoist himself out of Schottenheimer's doghouse.
"All I know is David was a good teammate," said Bucs running back Michael Pittman, who spent three seasons with Boston in Arizona. "Before we signed him, Coach Gruden talked to me, and I gave him good insight. He'll come out here and compete and he'll work hard."
Traded to Miami in 2004, Boston sustained a season-ending knee injury in a training camp practice.
Less than three months later, Boston was charged with simple assault in an airport altercation, pleading innocent to striking a ticket agent who stopped him from boarding a flight.
The hits kept on coming. The NFL suspended Boston for four games in December for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
New Miami coach Nick Saban re-signed Boston in May 2005, 10 weeks after releasing the mercurial receiver. Another knee injury limited Boston to five games and four catches last year.
"I neglected to work out for teams until I came all the way back," he said. "I was on my way to Chicago after my Tampa trip, but I never got there. I'm excited to be here. I came in with open eyes and they welcomed me. I'm 27 now, with a family, so I'm a little bit different in that respect."
Boston's blend of size (6-2, 230) and speed proved too imposing for opposing defenders in 2001. Simms saw a glimpse of that package in May, when Boston auditioned at One Buc Place.
"He was a great player in this league and you can tell he will be again," Simms said. "He's impressive physically, but you could also see the work ethic. He really gets after it. David's very quiet, but he's also very driven."
Pittman is already envisioning Boston in pewter, another Buc bargain in the mold of defensive tackle Chris Hovan, reclaiming past glory while silencing skeptics.
"I remember the David Boston of 2001, when he believed he was unstoppable," Pittman said. "It seems like he has humbled himself and he's taking this opportunity very seriously. When he had his problems, I tried to get through to him. I don't know exactly what went on, but it seems to me David has mellowed out a little bit. He is so focused on making this team and I'm so glad he's here."
Boston Wants Pro Bowl Form Back
By IRA KAUFMAN The Tampa Tribune
TAMPA - Before David Boston races under any long passes launched by Chris Simms this fall, he'll have to outrun his past.
After leading the league in receiving yardage (1,598) and earning a Pro Bowl berth with the 2001 Arizona Cardinals, Boston has seen a blossoming pro career undermined by injuries and poor decisions.
Two months after signing with the Bucs for the $585,000 minimum, the former Ohio State standout heads to the NFL crossroads in Lake Buena Vista on Thursday as Tampa Bay players report to training camp.
"David played his butt off for me - in 2001, there was no better receiver in the NFL," said Tennessee linebackers coach Dave McGinnis, Boston's head coach in Arizona for three seasons. "Since I worked with David, he got married and now he has a child. We all grow up."
Boston, 27, is thankful for the opportunity to play for his fourth organization.
He has no assurances of making an NFL roster in 2006, a scenario which seemed preposterous when he was terrorizing defensive backs for McGinnis in the Arizona desert.
"My first few years I had a lot of success," said Boston, whose father, Byron, has been an NFL line judge for 11 years. "I was healthy and I was able to make a lot of plays. Right now I'm on my way back. I don't want a little bit back … I want it all back."
The eighth pick in the 1999 draft caught 71 passes for the Cardinals in 2000, setting the stage for his career year. Late in that memorable 2001 season, Boston sparked a 34-31 road upset of Jon Gruden's Raiders by catching six passes for 106 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown.
"He signed a contract here that was very much different than the ones he's signed in previous years," Gruden said. "He came out here and ran a 4.52 into a 15-mile an hour wind. He's made some mistakes and he's had some tough breaks, but he's a great kid.
"He got into some whatever you want to call it, bad situations, and he got hurt. He's going to get a shot and we're going to see what happens."
Boston's career began to turn in 2002, when a knee injury forced him to the injured reserve list for the final seven games.
The Cardinals declined to place a franchise tag on Boston the following spring, and he received a $4.5 million signing bonus in joining the Chargers as an unrestricted free agent.
Boston and old-school coach Marty Schottenheimer clashed to the point the Chargers suspended their high-profile receiver without pay in Week 4 for "unacceptable" conduct.
Boston responded with a career-high 14 receptions at Jacksonville the following week, but the workout freak couldn't hoist himself out of Schottenheimer's doghouse.
"All I know is David was a good teammate," said Bucs running back Michael Pittman, who spent three seasons with Boston in Arizona. "Before we signed him, Coach Gruden talked to me, and I gave him good insight. He'll come out here and compete and he'll work hard."
Traded to Miami in 2004, Boston sustained a season-ending knee injury in a training camp practice.
Less than three months later, Boston was charged with simple assault in an airport altercation, pleading innocent to striking a ticket agent who stopped him from boarding a flight.
The hits kept on coming. The NFL suspended Boston for four games in December for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
New Miami coach Nick Saban re-signed Boston in May 2005, 10 weeks after releasing the mercurial receiver. Another knee injury limited Boston to five games and four catches last year.
"I neglected to work out for teams until I came all the way back," he said. "I was on my way to Chicago after my Tampa trip, but I never got there. I'm excited to be here. I came in with open eyes and they welcomed me. I'm 27 now, with a family, so I'm a little bit different in that respect."
Boston's blend of size (6-2, 230) and speed proved too imposing for opposing defenders in 2001. Simms saw a glimpse of that package in May, when Boston auditioned at One Buc Place.
"He was a great player in this league and you can tell he will be again," Simms said. "He's impressive physically, but you could also see the work ethic. He really gets after it. David's very quiet, but he's also very driven."
Pittman is already envisioning Boston in pewter, another Buc bargain in the mold of defensive tackle Chris Hovan, reclaiming past glory while silencing skeptics.
"I remember the David Boston of 2001, when he believed he was unstoppable," Pittman said. "It seems like he has humbled himself and he's taking this opportunity very seriously. When he had his problems, I tried to get through to him. I don't know exactly what went on, but it seems to me David has mellowed out a little bit. He is so focused on making this team and I'm so glad he's here."
One of the only times i really laughed at a post on a message board 
