MESA, Ariz. -- Between 2005 and 2008, Shane Boyd could almost set a watch to getting waived by an NFL team. The dual-threat quarterback was cut between Aug. 29 and Sept. 2 every year for four consecutive years.
In between cuts from the Titans, Steelers, Cardinals and Texans, there were successful stints on practice squads and the now-defunct NFL Europe, but for each of the four years after the former University of Kentucky quarterback ended his college career, cut-down week found its way to Boyd's door.
But Boyd never quit. Despite bouncing across continents and oceans, from the NFL to Europe to the Canadian Football League to the United Football League to the Arena Football League and even briefly to the Continental Indoor Football League, Boyd, now 32, has stayed focused and hungry.
"The love of the game," said Boyd of the reason he kept at it. "I've learned something different from each team, knowing how to deal with different players, and adjusting my leadership skills as well. And it's just another chance to add on to what I've been doing. There's a reason I've still stayed around, and (it's that) people continue to want me to play. I've still got something left in the tank."
Now with the Rattlers, his 11th team since leaving Kentucky, Boyd has found himself in the middle of a unique opportunity. He was signed as the team's third-string quarterback, but star passer Nick Davila's toe injury and the surprise departure of second-stringer B.J. Coleman in May gave Boyd a temporary starting position on a dynasty.
For the Rattlers, Boyd's flexibility and preparedness couldn't have been more valuable. While the three-time defending champions could have been reeling after the sudden loss of Coleman, coach Kevin Guy and his team didn't miss a beat. With Davila sidelined, Boyd stepped in and threw seven touchdown passes in a 59-47 win in the notoriously hostile confines of the Spokane Shock last Saturday.
"I think it speaks to our player personnel department and the coaches and 'DT,' David Turner," Guy said. "The recruiting that we do here -- we have plans, and it's our job to have plans, so when B.J. quit during the bye week, we've got answers. That's our job to have answers. And we play these guys and they went out and executed for us."
As far as Boyd's concerned, he's just happy to contribute.
"It's an amazing time for me," Boyd said. "It's an amazing feeling to be able to get a chance to play, but to play for an organization who has had plenty of success and who does it right. They have a commitment to excellence, and they expect whoever they bring in to continue that."
Davila missed his first start for the Rattlers since 2010 following a toe injury during an April 25 game against the LA Kiss and hasn't played since. He is expected to return to the starting lineup on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Storm, a game which can be seen at 6 p.m. on FOX Sports Arizona Plus.
But Boyd still practiced this week as if he might start on Saturday, an approach he says he has taken every week of his career.
"It doesn't change," Boyd said. "My whole career I practice like a starter, because in the game of football you're always one play away, so you can't get into a mindset where, 'Oh I'm just going to be a backup and not play.' You've got to be ready. Now Nick is coming back and he's getting healthier, but one of those types of injuries, you could stub it, anything could happen and you'd have to come out. I've got to be ready, so there's no excuse for, 'Oh I wasn't preparing'."
If Davila plays as expected, Boyd won't approach his duties any differently, despite performing them from the other side of the boards.
"Mental reps," Boyd said. "I listen to the plays. I write down coverages. I just watch from the back and watch what's going on and just stay in the flow of the game. That's the big thing. It's an emotional game, and emotions are running, and it's just kind of staying in the flow of the game, so if I am called upon, I just hop in the thing and I'm running, instead of slowing everybody else down."
The Rattlers are rumbling toward a shot at their fourth consecutive ArenaBowl championship. But Boyd's long-term future remains uncertain -- a position with which he's eminently familiar. Whether Boyd remains a Rattler or continues his tour through every level of professional football, he seems unconcerned. For now, he's just enjoying the moment, playing an important role for a championship-caliber team.
"It just feels good to be able to contribute to something like this," Boyd said. "It's one of those things where I'm on a natural high right now, playing, doing what I love, and it's great being around a great group of guys and a great organization who just knows how to do it right."
