The colorful career of a former Arizona Cardinal

Former Arizona Cardinals’ defensive lineman Darnell Dockett’s storied life is one filled with tragedy, intrigue and triumph

There’s one holiday that former Arizona Cardinal Darnell Dockett most likely doesn’t look forward to every year. It was on the Fourth of July in 1994 that a 13-year old Dockett experienced perhaps the worst tragedy of all. One that no person should ever have to bear witness to.

The former Cards’ defensive lineman came home that day to find his mother murdered. To this day, the killing of Cheryl Hambrick remains an unsolved mystery.

If that wasn’t enough, four months later his father succumbed to cancer. The tragic series of events propelled Dockett to go live with his uncle, Kevin Dockett, in Maryland. It was there that the teen excelled as a high school football player, earning him a 17th best prospect in the country ranking by “The Sporting News”.

Dockett went on to star at Florida State University, playing for another colorful individual, head coach Bobby Bowden. The four-year starter spent a bunch of time in the backfield of opponents, setting a school record with 65 tackles for a loss.

It was in 2004 that the Cardinals made him part of one of the best draft classes in organization history. Dockett was selected in the third round, joining a rookie group that included Larry Fitzgerald, Karlos Dansby and Antonio Smith.

He finished his Arizona career with 459 tackles, 40.5 sacks, 18 passes defensed and four interceptions. His three sacks in Super Bowl XLIII tied Reggie White’s all-time record. But his off-field antics would garner the three-time Pro Bowler just as much attention as his on-field prowess.

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After seeing Katherine Webb, the girlfriend of quarterback A.J.McCarron on television, Dockett didn’t hide his attraction for the beauty. In fact, he appeared on a Phoenix radio station afterwards and discussed the subject at length. He may have crossed a line when he proposed that he and McCarron could “share” Webb if the Cards drafted the Alabama signal-caller!

He was fined in 2012 by then-head coach Ken Whisenhunt for spitting in the face of a teammate. Apparently, there was a disagreement between the two players over the defense’s late-game strategy during an Arizona loss.

Then there was the time that Dockett live-tweeted after being pulled over by police. He claimed that he was stopped only because he was a black man with money.

He once tweeted a photo of himself showering. The picture was placed under a heading which read “No Men Allowed”.

There was another tweet by Dockett after he had helped an old lady cross the street. He refused her offer of a tip, instead asking the woman if he could take her on a Bingo date! Priceless!

Dockett’s time with the Cardinals never produced a dull moment. He was a beat reporter’s dream, a quote machine if there ever was one. A character that the club and it’s fans won’t soon forget.