DAVID BOSTON is going to wait until August to celebrate Father’s Day. And BYRON BOSTON understands why.

David, an All-American wide receiver out of Ohio State, was the Arizona Cardinals’ top selection in this year’s NFL Draft (eighth pick overall). Byron, his father, will begin his fifth season as an NFL line judge in ’99.

On August 14, Byron gets his Father’s Day present – working an NFL game in which his son is playing. In the process, David and Byron will become what is believed to be the first father-son/player-official combination in NFL history.

Byron will savor the moment when he officiates in the Arizona-Denver preseason game because it won’t happen again this year. The NFL will not schedule Byron to work a Cardinals regular-season game.

"This is a very unique, wonderful situation," says JERRY SEEMAN, the NFL’s senior director of officiating. "It’s not something we’d ever do in regular season, but we will do it in preseason because it’s something that’s never occurred."

Byron wholeheartedly endorses the NFL policy of not scheduling a father to officiate in a son’s regular-season game.

"I wouldn’t want to do that on any level, even if it was a high school game," he says. "It would put extra pressure on David and me. I think it is a good policy."

But Byron would like to preserve the historic moment.

"I don’t usually put much emphasis on that kind of thing," he says, "but I’d like to have a couple of pictures of it because it will be unique."

Although the transition to the NFL can be difficult for rookies, David has the benefit of his father’s experience.

"While I was in school, he was able to tell me a lot of the little things that go on in the NFL," David says. "Little things to help me out, like how the speed of the game is faster and how physical the game is."

Byron – a tax consultant now in his 22nd year as a football official -- thinks David took advantage of his father’s preparation techniques.

"Officials watch a lot of training tapes, which I do a lot at home," says Byron, who has been selected to officiate in two NFC Championship Games and World Bowl ’96. "David has had opportunities to watch tapes with me over the years. Through that, he was able to pick up quite a bit. He always had great ability and great instincts for playing football."

In three years at Ohio State, David established 11 school records, including most career receptions (191), receiving yards (2,855) and touchdown receptions (34).

David and Byron are not the only Bostons involved in the game.

Daughter-sister ALICIA, an attorney in Dallas, is an agent representing David.

"My family has meant so much to me," David says. "I wouldn’t be in this position without my family. I wanted to keep as much as I could in the family."

On August 14, he will do just that – giving his father a Father’s Day present he’ll never forget.

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Although the Bostons are starting their own NFL "father-son" category, there are five other rookies who can give their dads perhaps their most treasured Father’s Day gift ever -- following in pop’s NFL footsteps.

If these five make NFL opening-day rosters, they will bring to 109 the number of father-son pairs and threesomes that have played in the NFL. The list includes names such as DORSETT (Tony and Anthony); FARR (Mel, Sr., Mel, Jr. and Mike); JONES (Dub and Bert); KIICK (George and Jim); MATTHEWS (Clay, Sr., Clay, Jr. and Bruce); METCALF (Terry and Eric); and SHULA (Don, Dave and Mike).

The five rookies who can be added to the NFL fathers-sons list:

Safety RICH COADY was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the third round out of Texas A&M. His father RICHARD played center and tight end with the Chicago Bears from 1970-74.

Linebacker JAY FOREMAN, a fifth-round selection by the Buffalo Bills, can join his father CHUCK, a five-time Pro Bowl running back who played on the Minnesota Vikings’ NFC championship teams in 1973-74 and ’76. Chuck played from 1973-79 with the Vikings and finished his career with the New England Patriots in 1980.

Guard JAY HUMPHREY, drafted by Minnesota in the fourth round, will try to follow his father TOM, who played center for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1974.

Cornerback CHRIS MC ALISTER, the Baltimore Ravens’ first-round selection, can join his father JAMES, a running back in 1975-76 with the Philadelphia Eagles who finished his career in 1978 with New England.

Cornerback DAYLON MC CUTCHEON, drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round, can follow his father LAWRENCE, a running back from 1972-81 with the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills.

Following is a list of the 104 -- and 23 current -- NFL father-son duos and threesomes (with current players denoted by an asterisk):