CARDINALS NOTEBOOK
Dockett calls out Arizona fans
Defensive tackle decries booing of offense
By DARREN URBAN TRIBUNE
CONTACT WRITER: (480) 898-6495 or
[email protected]
Staff writer Matt Simpson contributed to this report.
The Cardinals are 2-5 and struggling in most aspects of the game.
But defensive tackle Darnell Dockett said Wednesday the team desperately needs its fans behind it Sunday against Seattle — no matter how frustrated those fans might be.
"There have been games where the offense has been struggling and our own fans boo our offense," Dockett said. "It’s like, excuse my language, but what type of (expletive) is that?
"We’re all supposed to be a family, and true Arizona Cardinal fans are supposed to be behind us. You hear people talk about they suck, they suck, and all this. It’s cool that that’s their opinion, but at the same time, don’t knock us for not giving effort. We give great effort — don’t get it wrong — and we fall short."
Dockett also said there are times he prefers to play on the road instead of Sun Devil Stadium.
"When you go somewhere like Dallas, when that boy (Anthony Henry) ran that interception back (against Arizona), it sounded like a earthquake in there," Dockett said. "It was so loud. I had to sit up to look to see what was going on. . . . The fans do play a big part in an organization. Whenever you go into one of those hostile environments the first thing they say is you better strap up ‘cause those fans will be loud. This year our fans have been doing decent, but any time you see them boo the offense, that’s not encouraging."
So far, 40,603 tickets have been distributed for Sunday’s game against the Seahawks.
BROWN DONE?
An MRI on rookie guard Elton Brown’s right knee revealed a tear in the meniscus, coach Dennis Green said, and there is a chance he will have to have seasonending surgery.
At best, Green said, Brown — who has struggled all season — will have to sit out three to four weeks.
As for Brown’s replacement, Green said he is keeping his options open. Because he hasn’t shown much confidence in backups Adam Haayer or Jeremy Bridges, Green may think about moving center Alex Stepanovich to guard — where Stepanovich played some in college — and using Nick Leckey at center.
Leckey was the starting center in camp after Stepanovich broke his hand, before Leckey suffered an ankle injury.
Q OK
Since his injury is the big story of the week, receiver Anquan Boldin was interviewed Wednesday by TV star Anquan Boldin for Boldin’s weekly "Q-Tip" segment for the team’s in-house show. Boldin was shot asking and answering questions while teammate Bryant Johnson switched baseball caps with Boldin and played the "listening" Boldin in each shot.
Boldin said doctors estimate his absence with a right knee bone bruise at two to four weeks, although Green said he is optimistic Boldin will be back before a month passes.
EXTRA POINTS
Tackle Oliver Ross (hand) will be back in the starting lineup, Green said. . . .
LeRon McCoy and the newly resigned Reggie Newhouse will split third receiver duties behind Larry Fitzgerald and Bryant Johnson with Boldin out. . . .
Besides Boldin and Brown, sitting out practice Wednesday were kick returner Reggie Swinton (toe), linebacker Lance Mitchell (knee), linebacker Karlos Dansby (knees), tight end Teyo Johnson (shin) and defensive end Chike Okeafor (wrist).
