Siven Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7110758 click link for full article Boston looks for a fresh start in Tampa www.foxsports.com About six years ago I was sitting in a Pro Bowl locker room in Honolulu talking to then-Pats corner Ty Law as he marveled at the NFC's top vote-getting receiver. Law, pretty much giggling in disbelief, was admiring David Boston, the Cardinals' young Pro Bowl receiver, trying to figure how this wideout could be such a freak of nature. Law laughed and pointed. "Look at that guy, it's not fair," he said (to paraphrase). "That's not a receiver we're covering, it's a linebacker. It's really not fair." What hasn't been fair is the fact that football fans never really got to see just how much of a freak Boston could have been. Rather than shine at Pro Bowl upon Pro Bowl, he bounced from team to team. "I had some off the field incidents and I had some injuries," Boston said. "I wasn't working as hard as I should have, I was slacking off and I had a poor attitude. I had the wrong attitude to play the game. I wasn't really focused back then on making the team better and how could I make everyone around me better. I was just going through the motions. I was more narcissistic. I think a lot of problems happen when your mind starts to go down that road." Before traveling down that road, Boston ravaged NFL secondaries in 2001 to the tune of 98 catches for a whopping 1,598 yards and eight touchdowns. It was his second consecutive year with 1,000-plus receiving yards. But instead of continuing to dazzle opponents, teammates and fans, Boston's road took several negative and unproductive turns. A drug suspension, injuries and problems with coaches replaced what should have been accolades, yards and touchdowns. A now infamous, disastrous and controversial stint in San Diego, a brutal injury in Miami, questions about how big he allowed his frame to get and way too much controversy for one guy to have, sent his career plummeting. In fact, Boston's credibility dropped so much in the last six years he actually found himself banished to the unemployment line last season. But now he appears to have turned the corner, back from the abyss he only has himself to blame for sinking into. "I made a lot of mistakes and I'd like to think I learned from those mistakes now," Boston said after a midweek practice in Tampa. "I think I'm in the best shape of my life and I'm just really grateful the Bucs gave me a second chance." Last year, Boston said and did all the right things, too, but didn't make the team. This year, however, his coaches and teammates believe he could actually make the climb back to the big show. "He's looked awesome," said cornerback Ronde Barber. "He should make our team. He's not the same guy he was the last few years. I can only tell you from what I see out there in going against the guy but I think he's come all the way back." I'm healthy again, I'm stronger and faster than I've ever been, I feel great," he said. "Like I said, I've learned from my mistakes. I think I took football for granted in the past. Now, obviously family comes first, but football comes right after it. "Everything I was back then I'm better at everything now," he added. I'm faster, I'm stronger and I'm more explosive than I was back then. "I'm just grateful that I've got a second chance and hopefully it works out." Boston appears to have seen his football life flash before his eyes. Whether or not he can resurrect it remains to be seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chachie Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 Fantasy sleeper? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUCS_FAN6263 Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 When Galloway's gone I can already see Stovall on one side and Boston on the other Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeMarco Murray 29 Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 Boston was the man back in his college days!!!! Recent Boston ' Old Boston Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDoyler23 Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 Wasn't he a big steroid user? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsand521 Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 He was starting to look WAY too massive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrypticVillain Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 Wasn't he a big steroid user? I don't know about a "Big User", but he got suspened when he was with Miami. He is injury prone though. But I expect him to shine in Tampa now. Garcia can get anybody the ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siven Posted August 12, 2007 Author Share Posted August 12, 2007 David Boston was money in 2000 and 2001. Then he made a bad move to SD and it went south. The thing with David Boston, is he all of a sudden became obsessed with his body. I don't think he used steroids, but he just got himself jacked beyond belief. The thing is, he put on the weight so he could take hits better and be less susceptible to injury, yet he put on so much weight, his frame couldn't handle it and he got injured all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tr1 Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 I hope he can get back to form, though after a career like his it's unlikely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumbo Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 Siven--in order to regain your thread-starting privileges, read the rules on formatting starting a thread based on an article, fix this, and PM me to let me know it's been done correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney B Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 The thing with David Boston, is he all of a sudden became obsessed with his body. I don't think he used steroids, but he just got himself jacked beyond belief. Actually, you can be sure that everyone who looks like David Boston is using steroids or HGH, according to Dr. Harrison Pope, a steroid expert at Harvard Medical School. And in David Boston's case, he was, in fact, suspended for steroid use: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1944718 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C26 Run Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 Champ Bailey used to always say that David Boston was the toughest WR he had to face, just cause he was so big. If he makes the Tampa roster, they should do pretty well. Boston vs. Taylor:yikes: . I've seen Taylor seperate receiver from ball, I wonder if he can do the same to Boston. :helmet: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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