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A Boston TD party?
David Boston thinks he can be a big-time receiver again, and the Buccaneers like what they've seen so far
By
Dana Caldwell (
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Tuesday, August 8, 2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA — Once one of the top receivers in the NFL, David Boston is trying desperately to catch on with Tampa Bay. Boston, who will turn 28 on Aug. 19, is several thousand miles from Arizona, where he was stationed while amassing 2,754 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Cardinals from 2000-2001.
He also is quite a trek from the Pro Bowl form of 2001.
"I'm a long way away," said Boston, who has shown with his giant hands and lightning-like high steps during training camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports that he is rapidly slicing the gap between now and then.
But the former Ohio State All-American also insisted he's a far cry from the fellow who has become known more for trouble than double coverage.
After missing the final eight games of 2002 with a knee injury, Boston signed a seven-year, $47 million deal with San Diego, where he caught 70 passes for 880 yards and seven TDs in 2003. During that stint, Boston was suspended for a game by old-school coach Marty Schottenheimer for actions "detrimental to the team."
After that, the 6-foot-2, 228-pound Boston continued going South. San Diego traded him to Miami in 2004, but he missed the season after reaggravating the left knee during a training camp in which Boston said he was in "the best shape of my life."
Associated Press
Tampa Bay wide receiver David Boston talks with reporters after a training camp workout session last week.
A few months later, Boston was charged with simple assault for allegedly striking a ticket agent who stopped him from boarding an airplane.
In December 2004, Boston was suspended for four games by the NFL for violating its substance abuse policy. Boston already was on injured reserve, but he took a $1.3 million hit from his $5.35 million salary.
He played just five games for the Dolphins last season — starting none — while managing just four receptions for 80 yards.
Asked about the problems, specifically possible steroid use, as some have reported, Boston glared.
"I never took steroids, but mistakes in the past are really immaterial to what's going on in my situation right now," he said.
Associated Press
Tampa Bay receiver David Boston (11) reaches for a pass during a recent workout.
Boston admitted to a tendency of being a spoiled sport, saying competition is what drives him. To illustrate, he reminisced to the time when, as a 6-year-old, he shattered his parents' TV by firing an Atari game set into it.
"I'll run through a brick wall until I win," Boston said.
But age, wife Renee and daughter Alaia have helped calm the Humble, Texas, native.
"We've all heard things in the past of other places what's happened," said wide receiver Joey Galloway. "But it doesn't really matter to us. All we care about is what happens once he shows up here.
"And he's been great so far."
Richard Mann, the Bucs' wide receivers coach, said he loves Boston's attitude.
"Excellent," Mann said. "Very coachable. And I've spent a lot of time with that young man, trust me."
Bucs coach Jon Gruden nodded, saying Boston's focus has been "great" and that he will judge him solely on what he sees.
"He's had some setbacks and they've been well-documented," Gruden said. "But he's real big and he's real fast and he's got a burning desire right now to prove he can still play. I'm encouraged. I'm excited about working with this guy.
"He's been working every day. He's a quick study and he's learned our stuff extremely fast. I like what I've seen a lot."
A tempting blend of size and speed, Boston said Gruden was a key reason he signed with the Bucs two months ago for just $40,000 over the $545,000 NFL minimum.
"It was THE difference on why I came here," Boston said. "He's a guy that when I sat down and talked to him, his passion, love for the game and dedication is something I wanted to be around.
"He's also a guy that understands veterans who can play, and he's putting me on a regimen right now that fits me coming off an injury. I think that's big and it's a key reason I came here."
Knee jerks
Boston knows quite a bit about knees, and not just from personal experience. He plans on becoming a trainer after his playing days and he'd rather flip through a Frank Netter novel on human anatomy than an issue of Sports Illustrated.
For Boston, this training camp is no tea party. But the Bucs have been working him just once a day as they did before Galloway's breakout season of a year ago. Boston said much of his speed returned by April and the rest (stop and goes, planting, acceleration) is getting there.
"It's definitely a good feeling and something I'm not taking for granted," said Boston of his health. "I take care of my body right now, do all the little things I need to do to stay healthy."
Boston acknowledged he is responsible for some mental fumbles, but said it is almost exclusively the knee problems that have hobbled his career.
"I'm just glad my body can go out there and make plays again in practice and I can start to show my talents," he said. "In the last couple of years, I wasn't able to do that because I was hurt. My mind wanted to do it, but my body just wouldn't let me, so it was frustrating. I want to go out there and prove that I can still play. It's driving me to go out there and compete.
"I'm a long way away. My route running has got to improve. There are lots of things that have to improve for me to get back to that kind of status (of 2001). But the intangible things that got me there — being big, fast, strong, speed — I haven't lost any of that. That stuff is there now.
"I know what I can do. It's just a matter of my body holding up day after day after day."
Fitting in
Boston, who played in Arizona with Bucs All-Pro defensive end Simeon Rice, said his new teammates have welcomed him.
"They've all been real good to me," he said.
That's largely because the Bucs feel Boston can be real good for them.
"He's a good guy and it's hard not to acknowledge his talent," said quarterback Chris Simms. "You could see it from the get-go. First of all, you just look at him, you go, 'Wow! That guy must be pretty good at something.' You watch him run, watch him catch the ball, the things he can do after the catch. The catches he can make down the field.
"You can't forget that four or five years ago, he was probably the best receiver in the NFL for a year or so."
With Michael Clayton struggling with injuries last season after a slam-dunk rookie campaign, the Bucs turned to Boston as insurance to help keep the focus — and constant double-teams — off Galloway. But with Clayton back in stride, Tampa Bay could sport three serious receiver threats.
"This receiving corps that we have here, we bang," Clayton said. "We go get linebackers and we go get safeties. And that's one thing they stress. And doing that, sometimes you are going to get a little banged up. You need big receivers.
"(Boston is) a fast guy. He can catch the ball. As a team player, you love guys like that because we can all make plays on this offense. I think it makes our offense complete, going out and getting David."
Veteran cornerback Brian Kelly has been trying to keep up with Boston, particularly on the slants and hitches that he so favors.
"David Boston, he looks like one of those guys who's going to find himself and restart his career here," Kelly said. "He's running well. It's a great package for him. He's a big guy, runs good after the catch.
"I expect him to do well here. I think he'll fit well in this offense and have a big year."
Said Boston: "This is an exciting offense. There's a lot of playmakers in this offense, a lot of talent and a lot of competition out there. So I'm excited to figure out my role on this team and try to maximize it.
"I'm just another guy that can go out there and hopefully make plays in one-on-one situations. This offense is designed to create matchups and we've got a lot of talent."
Mann said Boston has come "a long way in a short period of time" in grasping the Bucs' scheme of things.
Yes, Boston is getting there. But it will be up to him to complete this transition.
"I'm excited to be here, man," Boston said. "I feel like I'm in the right direction. "I feel real good."
David Boston has looked explosive during the first weekend of training camp, fueling hopes that he will follow in the career-resurrection footsteps of other recent Buc acquisitions 
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