Tag Archives: Arizona Cardinals

CFL, NFL

Boston, David

Card: Topps 2002
Acquired: Future Considerations, 2016

At Ohio State, Boston was head and shoulders above the competition. He set school records as a receiver, and his 1998 was among the best single season marks in Buckeye history (85 catches, 1435 yards and 13 TDs.  After 3 years at Ohio State, Boston decided to declare for the 1999 NFL draft.  The 1999 draft was pretty star studded.  David was the second receiver taken off the board overall (behind Torry Holt) with the 8th pick overall by the Arizona Cardinals.

After a not so convincing rookie season (40 receptions, 473 yards, 2 TDs in 8 starts), David really took off in 2000. He put up 71 receptions for 1156 yards and 7 TDs. He followed his second season in the NFL with a dominant 2001 campaign earning his only probowl and All-Pro Nomination with 98 receptions for 1598 yards and 8 TDs. He’d be the second youngest receiver ever to break the 1,500 yard plateau. Before he could continue his career march towards stardom further, he blew out his knee after 8 games. The tragedy of it is, that David has really worked on becoming not only more disciplined as a player with his routes, but also disciplined mentally- not drawing the unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and the self-destructive behavior that plagued him early in his career. It was also a contract year…

Arizona couldn’t match San Diego’s offer to David Boston- who had become so lean and mean looking, he should’ve been playing tight end or linebacker instead of wide receiver. The guy was a walking 8 pack with 21-inch biceps! The Chargers deal was a mega contract at $47 million over 7 years.  Who knows why things didn’t workout in San Diego, but the Chargers jettisoned him just after one season (70 catches for 900 yards, and 7 TDs) in 2003. It has been rumored that the Chargers didn’t like David’s work ethic or his attitude- but regardless, he was traded to the Dolphins in 2004, in the midst of a spate of legal issues.

Boston was ready for a clean start in Miami, but then was suspended for 4 games because of steroids, and soon thereafter he tore some knee ligaments ending his season.  He returned to play briefly in 2005, but tore his knee ligaments again. In 2006 he joined the Buccaneers, however before the season began he was arrested for a DUI and GHB. Tampa quickly cut him.  David attempted to resurrect his career in 2008 in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts, but a stress fracture in his foot ended his career after just one game.

Lance hit up a boat show from what I remember and David Boston along with a few other random players were at this event. I had always wanted Boston on a card or two. His history as a physical specimen and his subsequent burnout of the league has always fascinated me.

G/GS 75/61    REC  315     YDS  4699    AVG  14.9    TD 25    LG 70T

NFL

Porter, Joey

Cards: Upper Deck 2009, Score 2009
Acquired: TTM 2016, C/o The Pittsburgh Steelers
Sent: 8/22    Received: 9/12   (21 days)

Joey Porter pound for pound was one of the most dominant linebackers of the 2000s.  Taken in the 3rd round of the 1999 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Joey was still pretty raw to the linebacker position, something he had switched to from H-Back during his college days at Colorado State.

He’d bide his time on special teams generally over the course of his rookie year. Still he’d record his first professional touchdown on a forced fumble from Neil O’Donnell.  In 2000, he’d start his first full 16 game slate for the Steelers at right outside linebacker, recording 10.5 sacks, and another fumble that he’d return for a TD- that time as he victimized Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. He’d also notch his first career safety.  In 2002, Joey earned his only All Pro nomination, with a career high 60 tackles, and 4 interceptions for 153 yards, to go along with 9 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.  Porter also went to Hawaii after the season and also in 2004 and 2005 while with the Steelers.

Joey took his show to Miami in 2007 where he was unleashed upon the AFC East. Adding teeth to the Dolphin defense, Joey played all over the field at linebacker, outside linebacker, and at defensive end. In 2008 he’d make one more Pro Bowl, as he had a career high 17.5 sacks.  After the 2009 season, Joey signed with the Arizona Cardinals. He’d play for them through the 2011 season, and then retire after signing a one day contract with the Steelers in 2012.

Joey entered the coaching ranks, first as a defensive assistant at Colorado State in 2013. Afterwards he joined the Steelers in the same capacity, honing his knowledge under then defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau in 2014.  He’d be promoted to linebackers coach in 2015, a capacity in which Joey’s served through 2017.

Among his honors, Joey was named to the NFL 2000’s All Decade team and the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team. In 2016 he also was nominated to the Pro Football Hall of Fame but did not make the final cut. He kindly signed these two cards for me through the Steelers in under 30 days.

G/GS 188/171   TAC 498   SAC 98.0   FUM 25
INT 12   YDS 233    AVG 19.4     TD 1    LG 84

NFL, University of Texas

Whittaker, Fozzy (3)

sp12 fwhittakerpaut15_fwhittakerCards: SP 2012 #399/750, Upper Deck Star Rookies 2012, TNT UT, Photo Memorabilia, Upper Deck Star Pics 2012, SP 2012 Authentics, Panini UT 2015
Acquired: IP 2016, Mighty Fine Burgers Battle of the Beast, Coop UT Celebration.
See Also: Fozzy Whittaker, Fozzy Whittaker (2)

Fozzy’s NFL career has required a lot of grit and a good agent. He’s clawed his way into the lineup tntcol fwhittakerwith Carolina where he serves primarily as a 3rd down scat back for the Panthers offense, after brief stops in Arizona, Cleveland, and San Diego. During the last 2 seasons, Fozzy has played in 25 games, starting 2.  He’s rushed 57 times for 253 yards and 2 TDs, while catching 17 passes for 124 yards and a TD. He’s also spent a bit of time on special teams returning 20 kicks for 471 yards.
During his relatively brief NFL career, Fozzy has demonstrated a knack for being a dangerous receiver out of the backfield. He has had a few highlights, such as transforming a 26 yard screen pass to a diving TD against the Saints, and a swing pass 39 yards across the middle for a TD against the Cardinals in the Wild card game of the 2014  playoffs.

A great fan favorite, Fozzy signs at
all events, and volunteers regularly for team events to meet fans. At the Mighty Fine Burgers
Battle of the Beast event, Whittaker was in rare form. As the maitre ‘d of the event he was in charge of motivating local high school players to eat as much as they could. Surrounded by a large and raucous crowd Fozzy was in his element, with a beaming smile, having a great time. Whittaker has no shortage amazingly of great photos, whether it is him jumping over a would be tackler, galloping across the grass, or getting a kiss from a baluga whale, I did honestly
ask for a lot.
I’m not really a photo memorabilia kind of guy, but with such a plethora of great shots of Fozzy, I compromised and decided to get some things signed on high quality 4×6 photo stock- which could eventually become a thing for me as I run out of stuff for guys who appear regularly. Still Fozzy kindly and patiently signed everything, while discussing how his career has progressed along.  We talked also briefly about how some of those photos need to make their way onto Carolina Panthers cards of him, and how I thought his efforts in their Super Bowl loss provided the team a much needed spark.

Fozzy was also a guest star on the Comedy Central show Key and Peele which routinely made fun of NFL players and their outrageous names. Instead of lampooning Whittaker, they just had him appear on the skit and say his name. When I asked him about this event, he told me that it wasn’t like they flew him out to LA for the taping- they just shot the video in front of a green screen. After getting one of the Comedy Central photos signed, I gave him the extra one on me, which he really liked and showed his wife.

The fun times didn’t end there as I had two more cards to get Fozzy on at the Coop event in May. He signed his Panini UT card and this really nice SP Authentics canvas card.

Whittaker continues to blossom as a pro. In 2016 he posted career highs across the board with 57 carries for 265 yards and 25 receptions for 226 yards. He also chipped in 12 kick returns for 275 yards- a 22.9 yard average.