David Boston is ready for a new start in Miami. So are fellow NFL wide receivers Keyshawn Johnson in Dallas and Joey Galloway in Tampa.
Boston passed his physical and officially joined the Dolphins on Thursday. Meanwhile, the trade of Keyshawn Johnson from Tampa Bay to Dallas for Galloway was completed when Galloway accepted a new deal with the Buccaneers.
Boston made the Pro Bowl after the 2001 season, in which he caught 98 passes for 1,598 yards with Arizona. He has had his share of problems off the field since.
He pleaded no contest to drunken driving charges in 2002 when police said he tested positive for marijuana and cocaine. Boston missed eight games that season because of a knee injury and a positive drug test.
Then, Boston signed a seven-year, US$47 million contract with the Chargers, but had a rough season in San Diego. He missed one game because of a heel injury, and was suspended for another for conduct detrimental to the team after he got into a shouting match with the team's strength coach.
"That is in the past," he said. "I'm not even thinking about it. I'm thinking about working out and getting better and starting my way toward a championship."
He'll team with Chris Chambers and could form Miami's best receiving duo in years.
"Coming here where guys are excited about winning a Super Bowl, it all feels good," Boston said.
Johnson, deactivated by the Bucs in midseason, agreed weeks ago to a four-year, US$20 million contract with a US$4 million bonus to play for Dallas and Bill Parcells, his coach for three seasons with the New York Jets. That was finally accomplished when Tampa Bay and Galloway agreed on Friday on a contract that could be worth US$2.6 million with incentives.
-- Tampa retooled its backfield by signing running backs Jamel White and Brandon Bennett, who also returns kicks.
Bennett was with Cincinnati, where he rushed for 1,127 yards and five touchdowns in five seasons, while catching 90 passes for 756 yards and one TD.
White, a veteran of four NFL seasons, finished second on the Cleveland Browns with 46 receptions for 303 yards and one TD last season. He also rushed for 266 yards and one TD.
-- The free-spending Washington Redskins added cornerbacks Ralph Brown and Walt Harris, although both figure to be backups behind Shawn Springs and Fred Smoot.
Brown left the New York Giants and agreed to a two-year, US$1.4 million contract. He's coming off a dislocated shoulder.
Harris agreed to a three-year deal with contingencies that hinge on his recovery from a recent knee injury. He was a starter for the past two years with the Indianapolis Colts, who cut him last month in a salary cap move. He previously played six seasons with Chicago.
-- Tight end Eric Johnson re-signed with San Francisco, getting a three-year, US$4.5 million deal. He missed last season after breaking his collarbone in an exhibition game. A seventh-round draft pick in 2001 out of Yale University, he had 76 catches for 683 yards and three touchdowns in his first two seasons.
-- Veteran placekicker Mike Hollis was waived with a failed physical by the Giants.
Hollis, who signed a five-year, US$4 million contract a year ago, never kicked for the Giants in a regular-season game. He hurt his back in training camp and spent last season on injured reserve.
The Giants also claimed safety Jack Brewer on waivers from Minnesota.
-- Arizona agreed to terms on a two-year contract with return specialist/wide receiver Karl Williams, who has played all eight of his NFL seasons with the Buccaneers. Williams holds several Tampa Bay records, including most punt return yards in a game, 116 against Chicago in 1997.
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