Did you listen to Darnell Dockett's interview with MJ?
I don't blame him one bit and I think pretty much everything he said was honest---he missed 13 practices in 10 years, only 2 games prior to this season, played hurt, busted his tail even during losing streaks, played in practices with cracked ribs when other players missed 8 games with cracked ribs.
And he had what so few Cardinal players have had over the years a now---a beast mode switch.
I asked MJ today what players on the current Cardinals' defense have that switch. He said Calais (agree), Foote (who is now a coach) and that hopefully Patrick Peterson will step up (really?---the guy is afraid of tackling, just ask Marshawn Lynch, and he's one of the three most gifted punt returners on the planet and he won't return punts).
What was particularly troubling to hear from Darnell was that even when he came back to see if the Cardinals would match the 49ers' offer, neither Michael Bidwill nor Steve Keim even spoke to him.
Bidwill, who went to bat publicly for Fitz, apparently has not said one word to Dockett during this entire process.
The only time he heard from Keim was one time a few weeks ago when he informed Dockett he would have to take a pay cut. That's it.
For a player and highly passionate, dedicated leader who has been with the Cardinals for 10 years?
That is bad.
At least, Dockett had nothing but praise for BA. Said BA has reached out to him a couple of times and that BA deserves all the accolades he gets---that BA has treated him like a man, as has BA's wife, BA's son and BA's son's wife. Dockett said that if he doesn't get into the Cardinals' Ring of Honor at least he knows he will always have the relationships he forged with BA, BA's family and many of his most cherished Cardinal teammates.
What the 49ers did is they took a $2M gamble on Dockett---forget the rest of the contract numbers. All that matters is the guaranteed money. If Dockett shows up and is good to go, he can double the $2M into $4 for this season.
Seems like a very small number to pay for an alpha dog who could be the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Guess the Cardinals were not willing to take that gamble. And to tease Dockett with ridiculous incentives was a joke, and in my opinion, an embarrassment.