Arizona Cardinals Waive Darnell Dockett

Release doesn’t mean the Arizona Cardinals may not try to sign him again down the road

Darnell Dockett is an Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle no more.  The 11-year pro from Florida State, a draftee in the same class as Larry Fitzgerald in 2004 with the Cardinals, has been released by the club according to multiple reports.

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The move is both surprising and not surprising.  Recently on the radio both general manager Steve Keim and president Michael Bidwill said they were going to do all they could to keep Dockett in fold and have him retire as an Arizona Cardinal.  Now, that is in doubt.

However this was not surprising in the fact that a couple of weeks ago Dockett sent out a cryptic tweet hinting he may not be staying in Arizona but would end up with a team that is on the Cardinals home schedule this season as he said he would be playing in front of Cardinals fans for one or eight games in 2015.  Dockett did not play in 2014 thanks to a torn ACL suffered in training camp.

The reports do say Dockett could test the free-agency market and then come back with the Cardinals at a lower cost but I truly now feel Dockett has played his last game in Arizona.  If he ends up with a team for a lot of money and not a real chance for playoff success then he’s a hypocrite.  He blasted linebacker Karlos Dansby for making the same move last offseason, joining the Cleveland Browns.

My hope would be he ends his career in Arizona.  Dockett clearly didn’t agree with whatever the Cardinals put on the table for him this week.  If he can find more money elsewhere I don’t know if you can necessarily blame the guy at this point in his career but then he can never say another word about another player’s intentions.

Dockett has 459 career tackles.  He also had 40.5 sacks and four interceptions.  From all accounts he was a consummate team player last year spending the season on the sidelines at games as inspiration.  Now as he returns from injury in all likelihood he will end his career outside of Arizona.  That’s too bad.