Utah Blaze: Receiver a Boone for the team
But he found out that it came with a price — literally.
"The biggest negative (about playing for the Blaze) has been trying to get my whole family into games," Boone, who is the sixth of 10 children, said jokingly. "Most of my paycheck goes to buying tickets."
The Boone clan has liked what they've seen of Aaron's play all year — and of the Blaze's play as a whole the past month or so. Utah, once the laughingstock of the Arena Football League after losing its first nine games of the season, could actually clinch a playoff spot on Monday night when they host the Los Angeles Avengers in an ESPN2 game. The Blaze have won four of their past five games and are currently one of the hottest teams in the AFL.
"We knew all along we had a good team and a good bunch of guys," Boone said. "Now we're finally showing it, and we need to keep showing it."
Even in the bad times this year, Boone and his fellow wide receivers Huey Whittaker and J.J. McKelvey were putting up big numbers. Boone currently ranks first in the AFL with 123 catches on the year. Whittaker is second with 117, while McKelvey is 10th with 105. All three have more than 1,300 yards on the year, ranking them in the top six in the league in that category.
A big key to the Blaze receivers' success this year has been staying healthy. Boone was excited about returning to Utah to play professionally after stints in NFL Europe and with the AFL's Kansas City Brigade prior to the 2007 season. But a nagging ankle injury caused him to have little impact for the Blaze a year ago.
"Last year was definitely frustrating," Boone said. "In Game 1, first quarter, I got hurt. I tried to play with the injury, but it was frustrating, to say the least, because I couldn't play like I knew I could."
Boone saw action in seven games in 2007, catching 32 passes for 420 yards and eight touchdowns.
White isn't surprised Boone has more than returned to his 2006 form, when he was named to the AFL All-Rookie team as a member of the Brigade.
"We watched Aaron score five touchdowns against us in one game (in 2006), so I knew what his potential was and that he was a playmaker," White said. "Last year was a little bit of a disappointment for him and for us where he was concerned. But this year he's been able to stay healthy and he's put up some big numbers."
Recent comments
Players don't throw balls intentionally into the stands this...
fine | June 6, 2008 at 4:06 p.m.
I remember the game well when Boone torched us with five touchdowns...
BooneFan | June 6, 2008 at 5:26 a.m.
