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Boswell to DCU in Stage 1 of Reentry Draft

Lost in all the NWSL news yesterday was the fact that for the second year in a row, the Houston Dynamo lost a player in the MLS reentry Draft. This time, it was Bobby Boswell, who was selected by DC United, who Boswell started his career with.

By Richard Willis
Bob Levey

Once more, Houston Dynamo fans are bidding farewell to a player lost in the reentry draft. In the second round of yesterday's first stage, D.C. United selected defender Bobby Boswell, in the hopes that he (and first round pick SEan Franklin) would strengthen what was a woeful backline last season.

While fans here in Houston are undoubtedly divided on how much of that he'll be able to help with, I think we're nearly unanimous in our appreciate for Boswell and our hopes that he can do well. DCU is the club that originally drafted him, and he'll be returning six years after he was traded to Houston for keeper Zach Wells.

Boswell was an MLS Defender of the Year and Best XI selection in '06 for DCU, and for the majority of his tenure here in Houston, he looked every bit of that caliber. However, that production seemed to dip a little in 2013, as age apparently started to catch up with him. Houston had backline problems for good portions of the season, and he seemed to be a good portion of them. Boswell may only be 30, but the evidence seems to show that he's on the back side of his career. That being said, it wouldn't surprise me to see him playing a big role in the nation's capital next season.

As I explained to Black and Red United's Adam Taylor earlier this morning:

I'll miss him, for sure. Was he a bit off last season? Yeah. Do I think his best years are behind him? Probably. Do I think he could still play for a few years in the league? Definitely. The wear and tear of a full season may be too much for him at this point in his career, but I can't see him shirking from that challenge. He'll make some plays for you, both good and bad, you just have to hope that the former outweighs the latter.

Time will tell if this selection pays off for D.C. United. As a first stage pick of at least thirty years of age and eight years in the league, Boswell will be worth at least 105% of his $220,000 2013 salary. Will he be worth that? I'm not sold on it, but he'll have a chance to prove us all wrong.

So, with all that said: Thank you, Lightning, for six years here. You gave us your all, and I wish you luck in the future.

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