View source for David Boston

{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1978)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = David Boston
| image       =
| number      = 89, 80
| position    = [[Wide receiver]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1978|8|19}}
| birth_place = [[Humble, Texas]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 2
| weight_lbs  = 228
| high_school = [[Humble High School|Humble]]
| college     = [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]] (1996–1998)
| draftyear   = 1999
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 8
| pastteams   =
* [[Arizona Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|1999}}–{{NFL Year|2002}})
* [[San Diego Chargers]] ({{NFL Year|2003}})
* [[Miami Dolphins]] ({{NFL Year|2004}}–{{NFL Year|2005}})
* [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] ({{NFL Year|2006}}–{{NFL Year|2007}})
* [[Toronto Argonauts]] ({{CFL Year|2008}})
| highlights  =
* First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[2001 All-Pro Team|2001]])
* [[Pro Bowl]] ([[2002 Pro Bowl|2001]])
* [[List of National Football League season receiving yards leaders|NFL receiving yards leader]] (2001)
* First-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1998 College Football All-America Team|1998]])
* 2× First-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] ([[1997 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1997]], [[1998 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1998]])
| statlabel1  = [[Reception (American football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue1  = 315
| statlabel2  = [[Receiving yards]]
| statvalue2  = 4,699
| statlabel3  = [[Touchdown|Receiving touchdowns]]
| statvalue3  = 25
| pfr         = BostDa00 
}}
'''David Byron Boston''' (born August 19, 1978) is an American former professional [[gridiron football|football]] player who was a [[wide receiver]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL).<ref>{{cite web |first=Chicago |last=Tribune |title=SReport: Steroids ban for Boston |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-12-07-0412070207-story.html |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=December 7, 2004 |access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> He played [[college football]] for the [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State Buckeyes]], earning first-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] honors in 1998. Selected by the [[Arizona Cardinals]] with the eighth overall pick in the [[1999 NFL draft]], Boston became a [[Pro Bowl]] selection with the Cardinals in 2001. He also played for the [[San Diego Chargers]], [[Miami Dolphins]], and [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]].

==Early life==
Boston was born in [[Humble, Texas]], and played youth football in the Humble Area Football League.<ref>[http://www.Humblefootball.org HAFL]</ref>

==College career==
Boston became a three-year starter for the [[Ohio State Buckeyes]] (1996–98). He set several Ohio State receiving records during that time. His 191 pass receptions as a Buckeye was a record and is now the third most in school history ([[Emeka Egbuka]], 2024; [[K. J. Hill]], 2019). His 2,855 career receiving yards and 1,435 single-season receiving yards were school records until surpassed by [[Michael Jenkins (wide receiver)|Michael Jenkins]] in [[2003 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|2003]] and [[Jaxon Smith-Njigba]] in [[2021 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|2021]]. With 34 career touchdown receptions (and one [[two-point conversion]]), Boston averaged 5.89 points per game. Additionally, he held the school touchdown reception record until [[Chris Olave]] surpassed it in [[2021 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|2021]].

Boston's best-remembered moment remains his game-winning five-yard touchdown reception from [[quarterback]] [[Joe Germaine]] with 19 seconds remaining in the [[1997 Rose Bowl]].

===College statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=3| !!colspan=3| Receiving 
|-
! Year !! Team !! GP !! Rec !! Yards !! TDs 
|-
| 1996 || Ohio State || 12 || 33 || 450 || 7 
|-
| 1997 || Ohio State || 13 || 73 || 970 || 14 
|-
| 1998 || Ohio State || 12 || 85 || 1,435 || 13
|- style="background:#555; font-weight:bold; color:white;"
| colspan=2 | College Totals || 37 || 191 || 2,855 || 34 
|}

''Source:''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/david-boston-1.html |title=David Boston College Stats &#124; College Football at Sports-Reference.com |access-date=December 7, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221003809/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/david-boston-1.html |archive-date=December 21, 2016 }}</ref>

==Professional career==

{{NFL predraft
|    height ft = 6
|    height in = 1 1/4
|       weight = 215
|         dash = 4.32
|    ten split = 1.56
| twenty split = 2.52
|      shuttle = 4.09
|   cone drill = 7.20
|     vertical = 37
|     broad ft = 9
|     broad in = 8
|    wonderlic = 
|     arm span = 32 1/4
|    hand span = 8 1/2
|         note = All values from [[NFL Combine]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=60935&DraftYear=1999 |title=David Boston Draft Profile |work=NFLDraftScout.com }}</ref>
}}

===Arizona Cardinals===
Boston left Ohio State with a year of eligibility remaining, and was selected with the eighth overall pick in the first round of the [[1999 NFL draft]] by the [[Arizona Cardinals]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1999 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1999/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2000, David was an alternate selection for the Pro Bowl. In 2001, Boston had 98 receptions for a league-leading 1598 yards and eight touchdowns, starting in the [[Pro Bowl]] and earning [[All-Pro]] honors.

===San Diego Chargers===
Boston signed a seven-year, $47 million contract ($12 million guaranteed) with the [[San Diego Chargers]] in 2003. That season, he caught 70 passes for 880 yards and seven touchdowns, though head coach [[Marty Schottenheimer]] suspended him for a game after he cursed out strength coach Dave Redding. Chargers GM [[A. J. Smith]] traded Boston to the [[Miami Dolphins]] for a sixth round draft choice.<ref>{{cite web |first=John |last=Clayton |title=San Diego to get pick, player to be named |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/columns/story?id=1760497 |publisher=ESPN Magazine |date=March 16, 2004 |access-date=June 29, 2019}}</ref>

===Miami Dolphins===
Before the 2004 season, Boston tested positive for a minor HCG infraction and was ordered to serve a four-game suspension. The suspension became moot after he tore ligaments in his knee and was unable to play for the entire season. The Dolphins cut him at the end of the year, then proceeded to re-sign him for the veterans' minimum in 2005 for $700,000. He played in five games that year before tearing knee ligaments again.

===Tampa Bay Buccaneers===
In 2006, Boston signed with the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Bucs take a chance | website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune | date=2006-05-26 | url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2006/05/26/bucs-take-a-chance/28479938007/ | access-date=2025-04-13}}</ref> He was released by the team on September 12, 2007, after being injured.

===Toronto Argonauts===
After spending the 2007 season out of [[American football|football]], Boston signed with the [[Toronto Argonauts]] of the [[Canadian Football League]] on April 21, 2008. Boston reported to training camp but his medical report showed a stress fracture in his right foot and recommended surgery. He was placed on the suspended list, never practicing or playing in the pre-season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=241997|title=Argos' Boston to have surgery, out 10-12 weeks|date=June 29, 2008|publisher=TSN.ca|access-date=June 30, 2008}}</ref> A second doctor's opinion, however, was that it was a two-year-old injury and cleared him to play in the regular season opener on June 27, 2008, when he recorded two receptions for a total of 16 yards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://liveplay.cflcentral.com/LPFiles/11_2008_cfllive_scoreboard.html|title=CFL Live Game Day|date=June 27, 2008|publisher=Canadian Football League|access-date=June 30, 2008|archive-date=June 30, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630160523/http://liveplay.cflcentral.com/LPFiles/11_2008_cfllive_scoreboard.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the game, however, Boston reported feeling too much pain and opted to follow the original doctor's suggestion of surgery requiring a 10 to 12 weeks rehabilitation period.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/Sports/Football/article/451583|title=Boston needs foot surgery after all|last=Zelkovich|first=Chris|date=June 30, 2008|publisher=Toronto Star|access-date=June 30, 2008}}</ref> He never played another down of pro football.

===NFL statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Year !! Team !! GP !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! FD !! Fum !! Lost
|-
! [[1999 NFL season|1999]] || [[1999 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 16 || 40 || 473 || 11.8 || 43 || 2 || 21 || 1 || 0
|-
! [[2000 NFL season|2000]] || [[2000 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 16 || 71 || 1,156 || 16.3 || 70 || 7 || 48 || 1 || 0
|-
! [[2001 NFL season|2001]] || [[2001 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 16 || 98 || 1,598 || 16.3 || 61 || 8 || 72 || 1 || 1
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] || [[2002 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 8 || 32 || 512 || 16.0 || 34 || 1 || 28 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2003 NFL season|2003]] || [[2003 San Diego Chargers season|SD]]
| 14 || 70 || 880 || 12.6 || 46 || 7 || 42 || 2 || 2
|-
! [[2005 NFL season|2005]] || [[2005 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 5 || 4 || 80 || 20.0 || 54 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Total<ref name=ESPN>{{cite web|title=David Boston Stats|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/1759/david-boston|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=January 28, 2014}}</ref> || 75 || 315 || 4,699 || 14.9 || 70 || 25 || 213 || 5 || 3
|}

==Personal life==
Boston's father, [[Byron Boston|Byron]], is an [[American football official]] in the NFL. He was not permitted to officiate regular season games in which David was playing. Byron worked as a line judge for one of his son's preseason games, between the Cardinals and the San Diego Chargers on August 14, 1999.

On March 27, 2000, David Boston and Na'il Diggs were traveling northbound in a [[Hummer]] on I-71 in Columbus, Ohio. A Ford Escort driven by Danielle Carfagna was traveling the wrong way on the interstate and collided with the Hummer. Boston and Diggs were injured, and Carfagna was killed in the accident.<ref>{{cite web |last=Shapiro |first=Mark |title=Cardinals' Boston Safe In Fatal Crash |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-03-27-0003270137-story.html |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=March 27, 2000 |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref> Boston suffered lingering nerve damage from the accident.<ref name=espn_magazine>{{cite web |last=Friend |first=Tom |title=Wide Load |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/magazine/archives/news/story?page=magazine-20030901-article6 |publisher=ESPN Magazine |date=September 1, 2003 |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref> Police were not able to determine why the woman was driving the wrong way.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kremer |first=John |title=Celebrity Automobile Accidents - Famous people who have died in car crashes |url=http://www.celebratetoday.com/autoceleb.html |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref>

On October 19, 2004, Boston was accused of punching a male airline ticket agent who wouldn't let him board a plane at an airport in Burlington, Vermont. He pleaded no contest, was fined $500 and paid $211 in restitution.<ref name="espn_magazine" /><ref name="usa_today">{{cite web |last=Schrotenboer |first=Brent |title=NFL Player Arrests - Arrest Database |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/nfl/arrests/ |access-date=June 28, 2019 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref>

On August 23, 2007, Boston was arrested in [[Pinellas Park]], [[Florida]] and charged with [[DUI]] after a failed sobriety test was conducted. Boston was released on his own recognizance.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tbo.com/video/xml/MGBMLUB3R5F.html |title=TBO.com. Tampa Bay video news<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=August 26, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121102120/http://tbo.com/video/xml/MGBMLUB3R5F.html |archive-date=November 21, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Boston's breath test resulted in a reading of 0.00 BAC. On September 10, 2007, it was released to the media that David Boston tested positive for [[Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid|GHB]],<ref>[http://www.pewterreport.com Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Pewter Report :: Index<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> a recreational drug that the body produces naturally. After learning of the drug charges the Buccaneers quickly came to an injury settlement with Boston allowing him to be released. On September 12, 2007, Boston was officially released by Tampa Bay when they decided to sign [[Mark Jones (American football)|Mark Jones]].

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{footballstats|yahoo=4656}}

{{1999 NFL Draft}}
{{Arizona Cardinals 1999 draft navbox}}
{{CardinalsFirstPick}}
{{NFL receiving yardage leaders}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boston, David}}
[[Category:Players of American football from Harris County, Texas]]
[[Category:American football wide receivers]]
[[Category:Ohio State Buckeyes football players]]
[[Category:Arizona Cardinals players]]
[[Category:San Diego Chargers players]]
[[Category:Miami Dolphins players]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players]]
[[Category:Toronto Argonauts players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Humble, Texas]]
[[Category:American sportspeople in doping cases]]
[[Category:Doping cases in American football]]