Conservative "Martyball" won't change with the Chargers addition of wide receiver David Boston, but Chargers quarterback Drew Brees can become a contestant for the television show "Fear Factor."

Adding Boston has put the fear factor in the Chargers offense. Boston agreed to a deal with San Diego on Wednesday.

Schottenheimer's first two free-agent moves tip off how he is going to attack defenses in the AFC. He signed Pro Bowl fullback Lorenzo Neal to clear running room for Pro Bowl halfback LaDainian Tomlinson and also improve the team's conversion problems on third-and-short situations.

	Boston had 241 catches for 3,739 yards and 18 TDs in four seasons with the Cards.

Tomlinson averaged 23 carries a game and rushed for 1,683 yards last season. Including his 79 receptions, Tomlinson touched the ball 28 times a game. Naturally, defenses are going to commit an extra safety close to the line of scrimmage to contain and hit Tomlinson.

Enter Boston. Once that eighth defender approaches the line, Brees can make a quick audible and send Boston downfield for a big play. It's no wonder Brees was the first to greet Boston on Monday when he arrived in San Diego.

Brees now can throw caution to the wind. Boston is one of the best big play receivers in the league. At 6-foot-2, 243 pounds, Boston is bigger, stronger and faster at the receiver position than Tomlinson, who is emerging as one of the league's top game-breakers in the backfield.

In 2001 with the Cardinals, Boston had 98 catches for 1,598 yards and caught eight touchdown passes. At 243 pounds, he can run a 4.35 to 4.38 40-yard dash.

Last year, the Chargers ranked 16th in passing yards, and despite Tomlinson's success running the ball, the Chargers ranked only eighth in the league on the ground. Brees averaged only 10.4 yards a completion and 6.24 yards an attempt. Brees's arm strength isn't significantly different than former Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer, but Boston's 16-yard per catch average added almost a yard-an-attempt to Plummer's average in 2001.

Boston's big play ability will drive defensive strategists crazy.

What Boston had to convince Schottenheimer and Chargers management is that he wasn't damaged goods both on and off the field. Boston is 24 and considered a little immature. That's not normally a problem except there were instances during the 2002 offseason in which Boston had some off-the-field issues involving alcohol and other substances.

After meeting with team officials for two days, Boston cleared up any problems there.

His next mission was addressing foot and knee problems from last year. He had a partial tear of the patellar tendon, which was surgically repaired and was given a positive review by team doctors. The foot also checked out.

Boston felt so confident that he offered to run a 4.38 40 for the Chargers anytime they wanted. It wasn't necessary.

Contract negotiations started Tuesday when Boston told his agent, Mitch Frankel, to get the deal done in San Diego. He cancelled a trip to Baltimore that was scheduled for later in the week. Boston bought a heavy overcoat Monday night at Nordstom's in preparation for that trip.

Once he found that the Chargers were willing to pay him more than $6 million a year for the first four years of the contract and give him a signing bonus of around $6 million, Boston told Frankel to get the deal done. He wanted to be a Charger.

And the Chargers wanted him.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.