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Cardinals' Dockett Takes Long Road To Redemption

Tribune file photo by JOE HENDERSON

Arizona defensive lineman Darnell Dockett, an FSU product, has turned his life around on and off the field.

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By JOE HENDERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 27, 2009

TAMPA – We stood around the booth early Tuesday where Darnell Dockett sat at Super Bowl media day, waiting for the right moment to ask about the tattoos that adorn his massive forearms. We waded through questions about the Arizona Cardinals' defense, about his days at Florida State, and all kinds of football stuff before someone finally asked, "Uh, what about the tattoos?"

They're a poem, Dockett explained.

This was different.

We sat as the 6-foot-5, 285-poet/force of nature explained.

The symbols and words are an ode to his uncle, Kevin Dockett, who basically raised young Darnell. Someone had to. Dockett's mother was murdered when he was 13 years old, shot execution-style with a bullet in her head. Four months later, his father died from pancreatic cancer.

Uncle Kevin became a surrogate father to Darnell, who has needed a firm but supportive hand at times. From his 1993 arrest in Tallahassee involving a sporting goods apparel scam to the time he was accused of dirty play for apparently trying to deliberately hurt University of Florida (and Buccaneers) running back Earnest Graham, controversy has found a willing companion in Darnell Dockett.

But things can change.

"I just feel like I can overcome anything," he said.

Because of the support from his uncle, Dockett said he understands now that he doesn't have to go it alone, and that's why he wanted the tattoos. They are a permanent reminder that because someone cared enough about him, he was able to rise above a circumstance that could have left him in ruins.

A Vital Force

Dockett enjoyed a massive 2008 season. He was second in the NFC with three fumble recoveries. His recovery at the end of the playoff game against Philadelphia clinched the NFC title and put the Cardinals in the Super Bowl.

"As a defensive lineman, Darnell is what you want. He's a big guy, he's a strong guy, and he understands how to play defensive tackle," fellow Cardinals defensive tackle Bertram Berry said.

"He's very explosive and uses his quickness to his advantage. A lot of teams have a tough time dealing with him because he is in the opponent's backfield, creating disruption. What he does is vital to our defense."

Since Pittsburgh doesn't figure to allow many points Sunday in the Super Bowl, the work of the Arizona defense in holding the Steelers could prove pivotal to the outcome of the game. That's just how Dockett wants it.

"It's a big challenge for us to go out there and compete with their defense, but we're willing to accept the challenge and we're looking forward to it," he said.

Listening to Dockett was interesting. He has been gone five years from FSU and we remember the controversy surrounding him there. There was the arrest, of course. And we recall how Steve Spurrier just about lost his mind because he said Dockett was trying to twist Graham's knee off in a pileup.

"Darnell walked in with a chip on his shoulder. He felt slighted being a third-round pick; he felt he should have been a first-round pick," Berry said.

"So he has always played with that chip on his shoulder and that has enhanced his game. At some point, you want him to realize that, you know, you've gotten respect. But we're not going to tell him that. We want him to play with that chip on his shoulder all through his career through."

More At Peace, Sort Of

As he spoke Tuesday, that chip certainly seemed gone. He talked for several minutes about his coaches at Florida State, particularly defensive line coach Odell Haggins. Dockett said Haggins was like a second father to him while he was at school, dogging him to go to class and driving him to be a better football player.

"He did a great job; you know I give him a lot of credit for my success. He's definitely a down to earth guy that worked with me when nobody gave me a chance when I went to Florida State," Dockett said. "He's just done everything for me; I could never thank him enough."

The path to here is filled with twists and roadblocks for sure, some wrought by circumstance but, to be fair, many self-inflicted as well. Dockett knows that.

He is at the Super Bowl, though, and the Cardinals are counting on him to play a big part. Somewhere amid the inferno that once threatened to consume his life, perhaps there is a little peace. Perhaps inside the rage and turmoil really is a poet's corner.

Still, let's get real. This is still about an appointment Sunday to settle the highest stakes football has. Dockett, most assuredly, is a football player.

"We just want to go out and match their intensity," he said. "You know, anytime we have an opportunity to go against one of the top-ranked defenses in the league, it's a chance to showcase, to show people that our defense isn't too bad either."

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