Defensive tackle seeking comeback with the Arizona Cardinals
By Jim Koch
Back in early January, the Arizona Cardinals executed an under the radar signing of a veteran nose tackle. David Parry, a former fifth-round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts, was signed to a futures contract by the club’s front office. Could Parry turn out to be one of the biggest steals of the offseason for the Cards?
Parry’s NFL career got off to a promising start during his rookie campaign with the Colts. The Stanford University product started all 16 games in 2015, tallying 31 tackles, three quarterback hits and a sack for Indianapolis. Fairly solid production for a player who was selected 151st-overall during the ’15 draft.
The performance by Parry the following season was even more impressive. Indy was thrilled when the 6’2, 315 pounder registered 47 tackles, eight quarterback hits and three sacks in 16 more starts for the Colts. The future was certainly looking bright for Parry, but an incident that occurred just weeks after the 2016 campaign ended would raise some red flags around the talented defender.
In February of 2017, Parry got into a run-in with the law at an apartment complex in Scottsdale, Arizona. After being picked up from a downtown bar in a “transportation” cart (a street-legal golf cart that was used as a taxi), Parry and two friends refused to pay the driver for the ride. The Indianapolis defensive tackle proceeded to hit the victim on the head, and then left the scene in the cart.
A call to 911 was made, and responding officers found the cart had crashed into a gate. Parry was discovered on a sidewalk nearby, and was drunk according to the police. He was ultimately arrested and charged with suspicion of robbery, auto theft, criminal damage, resisting arrest and driving under the influence.
Parry’s career took a nosedive following that embarrassing event. Seven months later, the 6’2, 217 pounder was released by Indianapolis, only to be signed to the New Orleans Saints practice squad two days later. Parry appeared in one contest for the Saints, recording just one tackle during the matchup.
In May of 2018, Parry joined up with the Minnesota Vikings organization. The Texas native made three appearances with the club, racking up four tackles and a sack. Parry then managed to ink a reserve/future deal with the New England Patriots in January of 2019, but was sent packing by the franchise in August of that year.
There’s a very good chance that Parry’s latest opportunity with the Cardinals will be his last. The last time that the 29-year old stepped onto a football field was back in October of ’18. Parry’s comeback attempt in the Arizona desert could turn out to be one of the more interesting stories of the 2021 campaign.