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http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/6671087

Boston suspended without pay for violating team policy Sept. 25, 2003

SportsLine.com wire reports

SAN DIEGO -- David Boston was suspended without pay for one game by the San Diego Chargers on Thursday for behavior coach Marty Schottenheimer called unacceptable.

Schottenheimer was going to tell Boston of his suspension at a meeting Thursday morning, but the player didn't show up. The suspension, which will cost Boston $32,353, came three days before the winless Chargers play at Oakland.

By early afternoon, no one in the organization had spoken with Boston, Schottenheimer said.

"There were a number of different circumstances that have taken place, and you all are aware of several of them," Schottenheimer said during a news conference. "It was time. I'm a tolerant guy, to a point."

Several problems involving Boston have come to light recently. He was involved in a shouting match with injured wide receiver Reche Caldwell in the locker room before Sunday's loss to Baltimore, and he had a run-in with strength coach Dave Redding on Tuesday.

The wide receiver, who signed a $47 million contract in March, missed the home opener with a bruised heel and watched the game in street clothes. He was seen walking up a stadium tunnel toward the players' parking lot, talking on a cell phone, before the end of the 37-13 loss to Denver. He also declined to join his teammates in the locker room for Schottenheimer's postgame speech.

Schottenheimer alluded to Boston missing or being late to mandatory team activities. Boston participated only sporadically in the team's offseason workout program.

Boston, whose father is a respected NFL official, was sent home from practice Wednesday after a meeting with Schottenheimer.

"We have certain standards that we set and we're going to have our people, coaches and players alike adhere to those policies and standards," Schottenheimer said. "The conduct is not acceptable. This doesn't make David Boston a bad person. I think he's a good person. But we do things differently here maybe than they do other places."

The Chargers (0-3) said they investigated Boston thoroughly before signing him as an unrestricted free agent from Arizona. The Cardinals had no interest in re-signing Boston.

"This particular conduct was not an issue in Arizona," Schottenheimer said. "I don't know exactly how the interaction went there. But I'm a hands-on person and I believe in certain things being done a certain way."

While with the Cardinals, Boston pleaded no contest to a charge of driving under the influence of drugs. Police said he tested positive for cocaine and marijuana.

Boston's seven-year contract included a $4.55 million signing bonus and $550,000 in base salary this year. The Chargers hoped Boston could supply balance to an offense that features Pro Bowl running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

Boston caught six passes for 91 yards in Sunday's loss to Baltimore. He refused to speak to the media afterward, and the Chargers said he wasn't available to reporters after Monday's workout.

The last player suspended by the Chargers was quarterback Ryan Leaf, who was banished for four weeks, at a cost of $73,530, in November 1999 for an obscenity-laced tirade at then-general manager Bobby Beathard and other Chargers personnel.

Coincidentally, Boston was selected by Phoenix with a 1999 first-round draft pick obtained from the Chargers in a trade prior to the 1998 draft that allowed San Diego to pick Leaf.

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CZAR: Chargers suspend Boston after near-brawl

BY JOHN CZARNECKI

FOX Sports

Sep. 25, 2003 3:32 p.m.

The San Diego Chargers suspended $47 million wide receiver David Boston for one game Thursday for conduct detrimental to the team.

Boston will not practice with the team and will not play in the club's game Sunday at Oakland, according to a statement released by the team. He will forfeit his pay for that game.

"This one-game suspension is the result of a pattern of conduct in which David failed to comply with team policy," Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer said. "This series of recent incidents — including some in which David has missed or been late to mandatory team activities — needed to be addressed."

Those incidents included a clash with strength coach Dave Redding on Wednesday. According to sources, Redding handed Boston a fine for failing to work out in the training room. Boston reportedly crumpled up the paper and tossed it into Redding's face. A war of words between the two men followed this incident. Redding supposedly followed Boston into the parking lot.

Redding has spent much of his NFL career working under Schottenheimer in both Cleveland and Kansas City. You can bet Schottenheimer believed Redding's version of what happened Wednesday in the weight room. The Chargers sent Boston home before practice Wednesday.

The San Diego Chargers suspended $47 million wide receiver David Boston for one game Thursday for conduct detrimental to the team.

Boston will not practice with the team and will not play in the club's game Sunday at Oakland, according to a statement released by the team. He will forfeit his pay for that game.

"This one-game suspension is the result of a pattern of conduct in which David failed to comply with team policy," Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer said. "This series of recent incidents — including some in which David has missed or been late to mandatory team activities — needed to be addressed."

Those incidents included a clash with strength coach Dave Redding on Wednesday. According to sources, Redding handed Boston a fine for failing to work out in the training room. Boston reportedly crumpled up the paper and tossed it into Redding's face. A war of words between the two men followed this incident. Redding supposedly followed Boston into the parking lot.

Redding has spent much of his NFL career working under Schottenheimer in both Cleveland and Kansas City. You can bet Schottenheimer believed Redding's version of what happened Wednesday in the weight room. The Chargers sent Boston home re practice Wednesday.

http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=1694870

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