Yardbarker: David Boston

Camp Breakdown - WR

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:08:41 -0500

Last season proved to be a tough one for the WR corp of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Big things were expected from some former high draft picks, who failed once again to make an impact in our passing game. The group is led by old but still kicking vet, Joey Galloway. Ike Hilliard firmly entrenched himself as the number 2 receiver last year, and proved to be quite a reliable target on 3rd downs. We signed one FA receiver who we have high hopes for, and drafted a receiver in Round 2. This position battle should be one of the more interesting camp battles, as there are 3 wide open spots in my opinion. Currently on the Roster - Taye Biddle, Antonio Bryant, Brian Clark, Michael Clayton, Joey Galloway, Cortez Hankton, Ike Hilliard, Dexter Jackson, Chad Lucas, Maurice Stovall, Paris Warren Gauranteed Roster Spots - Joey Galloway, Ike Hilliard, Dexter Jackson Joey Galloway had another stellar last season for the Bucs. He finished the season with 57 catches, for 1014 yards, 8 Td's and a 17.8 YPC average. Our puny armed QB had a tough time utilizing Joey and his deep play abilities, but occasionaly Carmela mustered up enough will power to throw some bombs to Joey, the long being a 69 yard touchdown. Galloway still has plenty left in the tank (how this is possible, I don't know) and is still one of the leagues faster receivers. Ike Hilliard actually led the team in catches with 62, and proved to be quite a reliable 3rd down choice for Mrs. Garcia. Dexter Jackson will rarely see the field as a WR, but should get plenty of action at both punt and kick returns, until he learns the offense, and learns how to catch. No Chance - Taye Biddle, Brian Clark, Cortez Hankton Battling for Spots - Antonio Bryant, Michael Clayton, Chad Lucas, Maurice Stovall, Paris Warren I find it hard to imagine more than 2 of these players making the team. We will most likely carry 3 TE's and 4 RB's which would make it hard to have more than 5 total receivers on the 53 man roster. Hence the reason earlier, I said this should be the most interesting camp battle to watch. Antonio Bryant is a player that has shown some promise in his career. In 2005 in Cleveland, he had 69 catches for 1000+ yards. He has proven to have some issues with coaching and was out of the league last season. This is Gruden's David Boston project for camp. If he pans out, Bryant has potential to give us a dangerous 3rd option receiving wise. If not, we cut his ass, and tell him goodbye. Michael Clayton (a guy who once looked like the next Hines Ward) has been inconsistent now for 3 seasons. He has not posted more than 33 catches or 375 yards since his 80 catch 1200 yard rookie season. If that player could ever come back to the Bucs, I think our WR class is very strong. I am slowly losing hope though. I realize that he was injured one of those seasons, but he has still yet to regain that super confident form that made him such a devastating receiver his rookie season. Chad Lucas is a guy who always seems to stick around through camp, and ends up being one of the last cuts. He does some impressive stuff in camp, so I had to throw him on this list. I don't think he will make the team though. Maurice Stovall is another Gruden draft choice whom I once held out high hopes for. He is a giant, and could be a dangerous middle of the field possesion receiver. Could be, is the optimal phrase here though. Stovall actually saw action in 15 games last season, but ended up with 10 catches. He has an upper hand on some of our other receivers though, as he might have been our best special teams player last season. As a gunner on the punt team, he was a force to be reckoned with. Paris Warren was having a brilliant pre-season last year before suffering a season ending injury. He is a great route runner, and has awesome hands. Very Ike Hilliardesque in my opinion. As mentioned earlier, should be the most hotly contested battle of camp.

THE 'ROID REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 15

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:28:28 -0500

by Gary Gaffney, MD, Steroid Nation

Here is something to get you up and going this week: Viagra as a performance enhancing drug, on the athletic field, not in the bedroom. Experts in athletic doping like Don Catlin suspected that sildenafil (Viagra) could be used to enhance physciological aspects of athletic performance; the drug increases blood flow to various organs and muscles. Word came out that multi-drug cheat Roger Clemens took Viagra when he took the mound -- pitching mound. Several media outlets now report on viva Viagra, which would not be illegal in sporting events at this point.

Sadly, PED or Viagra use may have led to the demise of a bright NFL prospect -- Heath Benedict. Benedict played college football for a small D-2 South Carolina school, however impressed NFL scouts as a top lineman for the 2008 draft. Benedict died at home in March. Autopsy revealed an enlarged heart, and drugs were found near his body. Two vials -- Viagra and Arimidex (anti-estrogen) and an unknown syringe lay beside him. Speculation centers on the role of toxic PEDs in the athlete's death.

An athlete might take an illegal drug, yet still be able to compete at the Olympic trials. That's what sprinter Justin Gatlin wants to see happen. Following a positive urine test for testosterone in 2006, Gatlin received 4 to 8 years suspension, depending on what agency ruled against him. Earlier in his career Gatlin tested positive for amphetamine, which he said he took for ADHD; however he served a one year suspension nonetheless. When he tested positive for the androgenic drug at the Kansas race, US agencies ruled the sprinter needed to sit out competition for 8 years. The Court of Arbitration for Sports ruled that Gatlin, once the 100M world record holder, should sit for 4 years -- 2006 to 2010. However a judge in Gatlin's home town of Pensacola, Fl issued a restraining order (against whom?) purportedly to allow Gatlin to run in the 2008 Olympics trials now starting in Oregon. More to come on this story -- which is to be expected when legal systems start clashing jurisdictions.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) long ago ruled Human Growth Hormone (HGH) illegal in Olympic type athletic events. That ruling never stopped drug-cheats like Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery from using HGH to cheat competitors. However, new developments continue in the use or misuse of HGH in sports. Researchers look for new biological dog tracks to catch drug-cheats. WADA says new HGH testing may be ready for the Beijing Olympics later this summer. And some even doubt HGH enhances performance.

Veterinarian medicine and drug cheating appeared bust last week. Horsemen appeared on Capitol Hill to testify about the doping of race horses. However, the main protagonist of the horse racing spring -- Rick Dutrow -- pulled up lame before the event. Nonetheless horse jockeys and horseman came out with a statement against steroid doping of horses. In a weird related event, two horsemen long known for their anti-steroid stance feel a colt of theirs was a victim of sabotage when the animal tested positive for clenbuterol, which neither endorses or uses for horses. The trainer -- Larry Jones -- trained Eight Belles the filly who died on the track after the Kentucky Derby.

The other event related to vet medicine occurred in Canada where Julie Coram -- a figure competitor -- tested positive for Equipose -- a horse steroid, boldenone -- along with other androgenic metabolites during an event (photo above). No reactions from jockeys on this horseplay.

Other women in the PED world news this week include several Olympic competitors who will be suspended for the Beijing Olympic Games (and here), and interestingly Greg Anderson's wife. Anderson, as you recall, worked as Barry Bonds steroids and PED source; the bodybuilder spent months in jail rather than turn on Bonds. However, as part of the pressure on Anderson to fess up on the career home run record holder, the IRS appears to be leaning on Nicole Gestas, Anderson's wife.

With all this PED intrigue brweing, Fox Sports came up with a list of sports Top Ten Train Wrecks. Drugs, including steroids look like universal currency for screwed-up human beings, including Jose Canseco. The could have losted Ex-NFL player David Boston, a multi drug, multi-PED abuser.

Lastly, the fake phallus with the bogus urine -- the Whizzinator made the news again. The downfall of one Onterrio Smith -- the disgraced Minnesota Viking running back -- the multi-toned custom-ordered penis facsimile to beat the dope testing made the news this week as competitors pull out all stops for the 2008 Olympic Games.

ESPOsition: Ex Arizona college and pro football players hit new low

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:58:31 -0500

Remember David Boston (if you are an ASU fan how can you forget, he cost you a national championship)? The former Arizona Cardinals wideout, who once had a 1598 yard 8 touchdown season, has hit an all time low (and surprisingly enough steroids, illegal substances or driving aren't involved ).

Matt Millen Knows How to Pick'em

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:51:47 -0500

His teams have won thirty-one games compared to eighty-one loses. He's never built a team that has won more than 7 games in a season. His continued employment has inspired an "Angry Fan March", a halftime walkout and a stadium full of fans to wear a visiting team's colors. Is Matt Millen a terrible General Manager? Yes Is his penchant for selecting wide receivers in the first round and subsequent inability to do so successfully evidence of his inabilities to run a franchise? Not necessarilyâ€¦. Consider the subjective observation first. We tend to forget that each of the wide receivers Millen drafted (Charles Rogers, Roy Williams, Mike Williams and Calvin Johnson) was chosen in the widely-regarded appropriate slot. He never reached. It's true there were questions surrounding Mike Williams concerning his year off from football and potential weight issues. However, if not for those concerns Williams would not have even lasted until the tenth pick where the Lions selected him, the latest they drafted any of the four wide receivers. To be honest, I must admit that as a Titans fan I was upset when Tennessee chose Pacman Jones over Williams. In hindsight, disregarding off-the-field issues (And the troubles both players have had can be attributed to "off-the-field" issues. Pacman loves strip clubs so much he eats his meals there and Mike Williams treats every meal with the enthusiasm of a trip to the strip club.) the decision between Jones and Williams was like choosing between Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. Once one got kinda fat and the other went crazy you suddenly wished you had given Mandy Moore a longer look. The other three were highly praised picks. Furthermore, all indications are that Calvin Johnson will join Roy Williams as a successively used high draft pick, giving Millen a 50% Success Rate when it comes to drafting 1st Round Wide Receivers. Is this Success Rate acceptable or further evidence that Millen belongs in a broadcast booth? To answer this question we need to determine what characterizes a successful first round wide receiver. Then we must determine a way to objectify whether or not a player meets those criteria and compare Millen's Success Rate against the league's average. First off, for a comparison I used the 1st Round Wide Receiver classes from 1995 to 2005 as my data set. This eleven year period works well as it gives us a representative sample of current trends while allowing enough time to evaluate selections to determine their success or indications of success to come. It should be noted now that the remarkable "1996 First Round WR Class" is included in the sample. A class featuring Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn, Eddie Kennison, Marvin Harrison and Eric Mouldsâ€"all of whom proved themselves to be worthy first round selections by the metric of this study. During this stretch forty-eight wide receivers were drafted in the first round by a total of twenty-nine teams (Dallas, Oakland and San Diego were the three who did not make such a selection). Now, back to the question of what personifies a successful first round wide receiver. After considering the matter, I determined that an NFL team expects two attributes from a wide receiver it selects in the first round: impact and duration. Teams don't draft wide receivers that highly in the hopes that they will merely contribute nor do they select players hoping to get one or two good years out of them. A successful first round wide receiver is one that produces at a high level for an extended period of time. With this in mind, I set out to uncover a simple metric that would indicate if a player had achieved an acceptable level of impact and duration. Immediately upon reviewing the stats one number jumped out and it proved itself to be an appropriate metric after further analysis: 60 receptions. A player with 60 catches in a season averages 3.75 per game, or nearly one per quarterâ€"which would demonstrate a wide receiver of notable value to his offense. Furthermore, since 1995, players with 60 grabs have a median ranking of 41st for receptions on the year (mean = 40.923). It's safe to assume that NFL teams selecting a wide receiver in the first round expect that player to become a top 40 receiver at some point in their career. For a better understanding of what 60 receptions is, and the level of player that typically achieves the mark, consider a listing of some of the wide receivers who just topped 60 catches last year and some who fell just short. 60+: Andre Johnson (60), Santana Moss (61), Reggie Brown (61), Roy Williams(63) <60: Amani Toomer(59), Joey Galloway (57), Ronald Curry (55), Roydell Williams (55) Given that Johnson, Moss and Roy Williams missed multiple games, this list also demonstrates the conservatism of 60 receptions as a benchmark. I wanted this quality in such a simple metric because if Matt Millen's Selection Success Rate is 50%, as I claim, I would like to give other GMs every benefit of the doubt and err on the side of caution. In fact, the benchmark could even be dropped as low as 56 catches without changing any of the conclusions of this analysis. However, given the above argument, 60 receptions is a reliable metric for determining a "successful" wide receiver season. Sixty receptions signify significance but how many times must a player achieve this standard in order to demonstrate duration? Looking at the data the magic number seems to be three. Three years of 60+ receptions separates guys like Eddie Kennison (3) and Ike Hilliard (3) from Peter Warrick (2 â€¦. really?). And this works well across the board. So the standard for a Successful First Round Wide Receiver is at least three years of at least sixty receptionsâ€"with one exception. Some of the players in this data set haven't been in the league long enough to require three successful years for justification. A simple solution: any player drafted since 2004 only needs one year of at least 60 catches to make it upon the successful selection list. This allows for the inclusion of guys who have demonstrated an indication of future success while leaving off the players who can't reasonably be considered a justified first round wide receiver. Michael Jenkins is the personification of the young guys who didn't make the cut; four seasons with a single season high of 53 snags. On the flipside, this unfortunately leads to Michael Clayton's inclusionâ€"this truly is a conservative standard of success. However, between 1995 and 2005, only twenty-one of the forty-eight receivers drafted in the first round achieved the 60 receptions in three years (or one) benchmark, 43.75%. And while other examinations would have to be performed to determine the success rate at other positions, the fact that less than half the receivers taken in the first round since 1995 can be declared successful is truly telling of the risk a team undertakes by selecting a wide receiver with their first pick in the draft. If this percentage seems unusually low, then you might question the validity of the "60 x 3 Metric." However, it proves to have done a pretty accurate job of separating players who have proved themselves worthy of their draft position versus those who fell short. Guys who just made the list: Eddie Kennison, Ike Hilliard and David Boston. Kennison and Hilliard have never been anything special but have put together careers which justify their presence of the list of successful choices. And although Boston might seem as though he doesn't belong, a review of his short career reveals otherwise; over a four-year period he was a highly effective wide receiver. 2005: Games:5 Receptions: 4 Yards: 80 Touchdowns: 0 2003: Gms:14 Rcpts: 70 Yds: 880 TDs: 7 2002: Gms:8 Rcpts: 32 Yds: 512 TDs: 1 2001: Gms:16 Rcpts: 98 Yds: 1598 TDs: 8 2000: Gms:16 Rcpts: 71 Yds: 1156 TDs: 7 1999: Gms:16 Rcpts: 40 Yds: 473 TDs: 2 Then, those guys who just missed the list: Peter Warrick, Travis Taylor, Rod Gardner and Javon Walker. The first three clearly never justified their high selection and the fact that they just missed the list once more highlights the conservatism of the "60 x 3" metric. Arguments could be made for Walker's inclusion but he really hasn't accomplished as much as you initially thinkâ€"at least not yet. Aside from one strong year and one Pro Bowl level one, he's been barely more than a replacement level receiver, granted he lost a year to an ACL tear. Regardless, no metric will be perfect and Javon Walker's exclusion is more than made up for with Michael Clayton's inclusion. The proportionality of successful picks is maintained. So assuming Calvin Johnson proves himself to be worthy of his high selectionâ€"the great assumption of this analysisâ€"Matt Millen's 1st Round Wide Receiver Selection Rate of 50% is above the league average of 43.75%. While the difference is certainly not enough to declare that Millen has been "better" than the rest of the league in his selections, the numbers indicate that he is at least as good as other general managers. Indeed, only five teams who have selected multiple receivers in the first round since 1995 have a higher success rate: the Jets, Rams, Colts, Bills and Cardinals. By this standard, the worst team at selecting receivers early is not Detroit but Jacksonville. Despite these numbers, the argument could still be made that Millen's mistake is not in which receivers he drafted but in his selection of receivers at all. And this is a valid point. A position in which the majority of first round picks failâ€¦ might be a position to avoid with your first round pick. Or perhaps you should limit yourself to two wideouts per decade rather than four every five years. Just a little rule of thumb for Millen to consider. At the same time, the data shows that wide receivers picked in the Top 10 have faired relatively well (52.38% Success Rate), certainly better than those selected lower down in the first round (37.04% Success Rate). Perhaps this in some way justifies Millen's selecting four wide receivers with Top 10 selectionsâ€"if you're going to draft a receiver in the first round, make sure it's within the first ten picks. Just more than half of these players pan out and of the four chosen by the Lions it appears as though two will do so. I guess Nick Bakay is right. However, I would still say that Millen's mistake has not been the players he's chosen but agree with the common opinion that his mistake lies in his affinity for choosing receivers. But enough with Matt Millen. Regardless of his "Receiver Selectionability" he still sucks. What else can the numbers from this study tell us? After all, a review of forty-eight first round wide receivers should tell us a little more than, "Millen's ok." For starters, the higher success rate of Top 10 picks versus lower first round picks begins to address an assertion that has become popular the past few years, that high expectations lead to the (perceived) failure of first round receivers. However, Top 10 picks have higher expectations than lower first round picks yet have been more successful as a group. That's why is was such a big deal when Dwayne Bowe outperformed Calvin Johnson last yearâ€"we weren't expecting it. Johnson was the higher pick, he should have done more. Nevertheless, typically the Top 10 guys do outperform the guys picked in the 11th-32nd range, seemingly indicating that Superior Ability and Greater Opportunity trump Better Team Talent and Lower Expectations. Forget pressure. They're all first round draft picks, they feel the pressure. Just ask Robert Meachem. Continuing in this theme, the general consensus is that it takes three years for a wide receiver to truly "get it" and begin producing at a high level. While this may be true in regards to a player reaching his potential, or eventual, level of production, it doesn't seem to be true that a team has to wait for three years to see what it has in a wide receiver. Of the players who ever met the "60 x 3" metric, nearly 40% caught 60 balls in their first season and two-thirds did so within their first two seasons. Lastly, the data revealed an interesting patternâ€"the extremely high likelihood that the 3rd receiver selected in the first round will fail. Of these eleven players in this position, only one made the list of successful picks. Eddie Kennison; the receiver on the successful list who came the closest to being left off. Kennison is a combined eleven receptions over the successful threshold. Honestly, I couldn't come up with any logical explanation why this might be. There is always the probability that this finding is nothing more than a statistical anomaly but if you can come up with some rational reason, please share. Regardless, it's quite bizarre. I set out to answer a simple question, "Just how bad is Matt Millen at selecting wide receivers?" The answer was quite surprising, albeit unprofound. If nothing else, perhaps this study has uncovered a simple metric for determining receiver success and given some further insight into the uncertainty of 1st Round receiver selections. Or perhaps it reveals something different altogether, that the Detroit Lions don't select receivers that are doomed to fail but that the receivers they select are doomed to fail once they become Lions. I'm sorry Detroit fans. My "Fire Millen" shirt is in the mail. By: Parker Woodard Pwoodar1@utk.edu

Leaf's San Diego failure had ripple effect

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:32:35 -0500

Peyton Manning tossed more touchdown passes in his first 10 NFL games than Ryan Leaf threw during his career. A decade after Indianapolis made Manning the first player drafted in 1998, leaving Leaf for San Diego at No. 2, the Chargers have recovered. Their playoff victory over Manning's Colts in January proved as much. But the most regrettable draft outcome in San Diego sports history continues to reverberate well beyond Southern California. Leaf's quick demise impacted the quarterback fortunes of four franchises, demonstrating how draft-day mistakes can carry unintended consequences. If Leaf had performed to expectations, Michael Vick might never have found his way to Atlanta. Drew Brees never would have flourished in San Diego, perhaps diminishing his chances of landing a long-term deal in New Orleans. The New York Giants might have been unable to swing a draft-day trade with San Diego -- or anyone else -- for franchise quarterback Eli Manning. Philip Rivers certainly wouldn't be lining up under center in San Diego. And Bobby Beathard, the Chargers' general manager during the 1990s, would be fielding fewer questions about Leaf and more about his role in building seven Super Bowl teams across four decades. "I thought then and I think today, more sure than ever, that Bobby Beathard belongs in the Hall of Fame," Colts president Bill Polian said. "You never hear his name mentioned simply because of that one pick, and to me that is a tragedy. No one, including [former Giants general manager] George Young, has done what Bobby Beathard did in his career." Few players have undone as much as Leaf managed to undo. this is a great read on the ripple down effect some draft picks have on teams and players-click it if ya wanna ~ peace out ck0712

David Boston definitely not flying to New Zealand to buy party pills

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:01:31 -0500

Former Pro Bowl wide receiver David Boston said on Friday that his last-minute trip to New Zealand "absolutely, 100 percent no way" had anything to do with the country's upcoming ban on so-called legal "party pills" that have similar side effects to uppers, ecstasy and other recreational drugs that are currently illegal in the US. Boston, who has had a checkered past with both performance-enhancing and recreational drug use during his playing career, told reporters that his trip was purely sightseeing in nature.

You Must Think Like The Dolphin

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:42:05 -0500

Two Dolphins stories together are like two Dolphins fans in the same place. Chris Rock once said, "Seeing two Dolphins fans in the same place is like seeing two Indians in the same place". The shit just don't happen. Just remember where you were when it happened.

Going Deep

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:40:45 -0500

Curtis Conway, David Boston and the late Keenan McCardell represent the Chargers recent failures to field a threatening presence at receiver. Eric Parker may be the latest addition to a recent Charger model-the crisp route running possession receiver, not particularly intimidating in size or stature. However, these patterns shall soon change. Young San Diego Chargers receivers Vincent Jackson and Craig Davis may soon develop to form a formidable duo for quarterback Philip Rivers. With their emergence grows the potential of the entire offense. Eric Parker shall remain the number two receiver and behind him the rookie, Davis will learn and partake limitedly. Since the David Boston experiment, San Diego has not only been reluctant to bring in help through free agency but also have they been unable to start a receiver with size, speed and hands, if Boston accounts to as much. Second round pick Vincent Jackson has the potential to be a legitimate play-making receiver in the mold of recent standouts at the position. And not only has he begun to adapt to the pace and speed of an NFL game, coming on strong at last years end but he has remained steady in assuming the number one role this year. The vertical passing game must develop past Antonio Gates for the Bolts to hoist the Lombardi. At the other end, Eric Parker, not counting last years playoff mishap has been a consistent producer, his yardage and efficiency seemingly increasing every year. He is quicker than fast, tough over the middle and sure handed as they come. His route running continues to impress, as does his off field personality and endless work ethic. His absence from the offense at this season's start has been largely underestimated, especially his contributions on third down. In his stead has risen former LSU receiver Craig Davis. Davis provides the Chargers another weapon at the position, being the team's first round pick and Parker's apparent heir. The development of Davis, coupled with the continued improvement of Jackson shall provide space for both Antonio Gates and Tomlinson to work. It is crucial that at least these three, including Malcolm Floyd develop promptly, for their success, like the offensive lines is crucial to the teams overall offensive effectiveness. Judging alone by the early 2007 season it is obvious eight man fronts have stifled- as of late the explosiveness of the bolts backfield, if Rivers begins to stretch the field he will not only loosen up his team, but provided the much needed space required for Tomlinson to run successfully.

My All-Time NFL Marijuana-Smoking Fantasy Team

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:30:14 -0500

Now that Denver Broncos Running Back Travis Henry has tested positive for marijuana and put his career in jeopardy, it begs the question, Why is it that so many athletes risk their livlihood to smoke drugs? In the past few years, you can almost field a fantasy team worth of players who have been caught using recreational drugs: QB: Michael Vick RB: Ricky Williams, Travis Henry WR: Randy Moss, David Boston TE: Jerramy Stevens Even more, at the last NFL scouting combine, top rookies Calvin Johnson, Gaines Adams, and Amobi Okoye all admitted to previously using marijuana!! Then again, if you are 20 years old and have millions to spend, what else are you going to spend it on? You can only have so many fancy cars and HD TV's!! I even remember years back when a bench player for the Celtics had a big Halloween party at his place in Boston. He was 24 with millions to spend, and so he had a special room in his house just for marijuana smoking! Can you imagine? An entire room devoted to toking... I understand why these guys do it. I'm just shocked by how dumb they all are to get caught. For More great articles, see: http://www.roto-world.com

Date Rape Boston

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 13:51:11 -0500

Ah, of all the performance enhancing substances out there, this one truly knocks the rest out (and fu@#s em).

David Boston partying with GHB

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 05:14:10 -0500

When Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver David Boston was arrested back on August 23rd, police now have found out that Boston was under the influence of GHB when found asleep behind the wheel of his SUV.