David Boston hadn't so much as touched a regulation CFL football and already he was a casualty.
But with all that Boston has brought upon himself since he led the National Football League in receiving in 2001, a minor foot injury won't knock the 6-foot-1, 232-pound wide receiver for a loop.
The Argos were on the field yesterday at the University of Toronto's Erindale campus for the first day of their mini-camp before the real thing starts on Sunday, and Boston did little more than cross his arms and watch. A small problem with his right foot put him in the role of spectator, but both Boston and the Argos expect him to be cleared to practise after he is examined by a specialist this morning.
"I'm not concerned at all," Boston said. "I just have to be smart and safe -- there's no reason to go out there and let your emotions take over and you get hurt."
The Argos are keeping their fingers crossed that Boston turns out to be a better reclamation project than Ricky Williams. Boston totalled 1,598 years seven years ago with the Arizona Cardinals, but has not made a major impact since. He has created headlines all right, but for a naughty list of off-the-field woes that includes a four-game suspension in 2004 for testing positive for steroids, a couple of major knee injuries and an arrest last year in Florida for driving under the influence.
Boston, who still cuts an imposing figure, will challenge Arland Bruce, Obed Cetoute, Andre Talbot and fellow free-agent ex-NFLer Bethel Johnson, among others, for a starting job, but is mindful of the fact he has not caught a pass since 2005 when he played for the Miami Dolphins.
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