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Comfort level played a big part in the David Boston trade to Miami. The Chargers signed Boston a year ago to a seven-year, $47 million contract and found out they didn't like him. Personalities clashed. Boston spent too much time in the weight room and didn't relate with his teammates. Management felt he was difficult to deal with, so, they gave him the ability to shop for a new team in a trade.
Only one call was made. Boston called the Dolphins because they hired his former receivers coach, Jerry Sullivan. In many circles, Sullivan is considered the league's best receivers coach. Last year, as offensive coordinator of the Cardinals, he helped to develop Anquan Boldin into a 101-catch receiver as a rookie. He helped to develop Herman Moore in Detroit. He has a long list of success stories, Boston being perhaps the best.
Together in 2001, Boston and Sullivan sent shivers down the spines of NFL defenses. By focusing Boston's concentrations on route running, Sullivan harnessed one of the most dangerous weapons on mass destruction to hit a secondary. Boston was 235 pounds of pure muscle at that time. He could run in the 4.35 40 range. Bigger than a running back, Boston was impossible to jam. Being more precise as a route runner, Boston broke more big plays because he caught that the ball in stride and, being sometimes 40 pounds bigger than the cornerback covering him, he was tough to tackle.
Boston went to the Pro Bowl with 98 catches and 1,598 yards.
"Jerry is not a classroom guy; he's a guy who works his best on the field working on the details of route running," Boston said. "I needed to get back with him, so as soon as the Chargers decided to let me go, I was only interested in getting down to Miami and working with him."
Boston's acquisition could end up being one of the steals of the offseason. The Dolphins only had to give up a conditional sixth-round choice in 2005 and cornerback Jamar Fletcher, who was probably going to be cut after the signing of Reggie Howard as an expensive third cornerback.
"The key is we trust each other," Sullivan said. "You need to establish trust in a relationship between a coach and a player. Once we got on the phone this offseason, I told him that he needed to weigh less for this thing to work in Miami. He was willing to listen. One thing about great players is they want to be thought of in the best light. I'm sure David felt the past couple of seasons, he might have put in a position where he felt he has lost his place among the league's best. We immediately set up some guidelines for this thing to work in Miami."
Boston already is off to a good start. He showed up weighing 236 Monday in Miami instead of the overly muscular 250 pounds of last year. Boston did everything asked of him during the first couple of days of the offseason program.
Only one call was made. Boston called the Dolphins because they hired his former receivers coach, Jerry Sullivan. In many circles, Sullivan is considered the league's best receivers coach. Last year, as offensive coordinator of the Cardinals, he helped to develop Anquan Boldin into a 101-catch receiver as a rookie. He helped to develop Herman Moore in Detroit. He has a long list of success stories, Boston being perhaps the best.
Together in 2001, Boston and Sullivan sent shivers down the spines of NFL defenses. By focusing Boston's concentrations on route running, Sullivan harnessed one of the most dangerous weapons on mass destruction to hit a secondary. Boston was 235 pounds of pure muscle at that time. He could run in the 4.35 40 range. Bigger than a running back, Boston was impossible to jam. Being more precise as a route runner, Boston broke more big plays because he caught that the ball in stride and, being sometimes 40 pounds bigger than the cornerback covering him, he was tough to tackle.
Boston went to the Pro Bowl with 98 catches and 1,598 yards.
"Jerry is not a classroom guy; he's a guy who works his best on the field working on the details of route running," Boston said. "I needed to get back with him, so as soon as the Chargers decided to let me go, I was only interested in getting down to Miami and working with him."
Boston's acquisition could end up being one of the steals of the offseason. The Dolphins only had to give up a conditional sixth-round choice in 2005 and cornerback Jamar Fletcher, who was probably going to be cut after the signing of Reggie Howard as an expensive third cornerback.
"The key is we trust each other," Sullivan said. "You need to establish trust in a relationship between a coach and a player. Once we got on the phone this offseason, I told him that he needed to weigh less for this thing to work in Miami. He was willing to listen. One thing about great players is they want to be thought of in the best light. I'm sure David felt the past couple of seasons, he might have put in a position where he felt he has lost his place among the league's best. We immediately set up some guidelines for this thing to work in Miami."
Boston already is off to a good start. He showed up weighing 236 Monday in Miami instead of the overly muscular 250 pounds of last year. Boston did everything asked of him during the first couple of days of the offseason program.
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