Age: 23
3rd
season in pro football & with Cardinals
College: Ohio
State
Height: 6’2” Weight: 210
Prelude:
Boston caught
a school-record 191 passes for 2855 yards (14.9 avg.) and 34 touchdowns in
college, including 85 for 1455 yards and 13 TDs in ’98, his last season. He
chose to enter the 1999 NFL draft with a year of eligibility remaining and was
chosen by the Cardinals in the first round (eighth overall). Boston caught 40
passes for 473 yards (11.8 avg.) and two touchdowns in a mediocre rookie season
but moved into the starting lineup full-time in 2000 and had 71 receptions for
1156 yards (16.3 avg.) and 7 TDs. Big, fast, and able to run effectively after
catching the ball, Boston also drew criticism for his attitude and off-field
problems, although he showed greater maturity and dedication coming into 2001.
2001 Season Summary
Appeared in all
16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 98
[7]
Most
receptions, game – 9 (for 108 yds.) at Dallas 10/28, (for 137 yds.) vs. NY
Giants 11/11
Yards – 1598 [1]
Most yards,
game – 145 (on 8 catches) vs. Denver 9/23
Average gain
– 16.3 [6]
TDs – 8 [13,
tied with five others]
100-yard
receiving games – 9
Rushing
Attempts – 5
Yards – 35
Average gain
– 7.0
TDs – 0
Scoring
TDs – 8
Points – 48
Awards & Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News
1st
team All-NFC: Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl
Cardinals
went 7-9 to finish fourth in the NFC East.
Aftermath:
Boston’s 2002
season was cut short halfway through by a knee injury and he ended up with 32
catches for 512 yards (16.0 avg.) and one TD. He signed a big free agent
contract with San Diego in ’03 and caught 70 passes for 880 yards (12.6 avg.)
and 7 TDs but clashed with his coaches and was traded to Miami in 2004. Boston
received a four-game suspension for steroid use but ended up missing the entire
season with a knee injury. He appeared in just five games in ’05 before
reinjuring his knee. Boston signed with the Buccaneers in 2006 and was released
following further off-field problems. He attempted a comeback with the Toronto
Argonauts of the CFL in ’08 and appeared in one game, catching 2 passes for 16
yards, before a foot injury that required surgery forced him to the sidelines
for good. Overall, Boston caught 315 passes for 4699 yards (14.9 avg.) and 25
touchdowns in the NFL. Of those totals, 241 receptions for 3739 yards (15.5
avg.) and 18 TDs came with the Cardinals.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
