azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Dockett tested by ordeals
Cards hoping troubles are past
Don Ketchum
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 25, 2004 12:00 AM
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Digging in against and banging heads with the best offensive linemen in the NFL will be an obstacle for Cardinals rookie defensive lineman Darnell Dockett this fall, but it will pale in comparison to some of the ordeals he has endured in his 22 years.
The Florida State product, selected with the first pick in the third round (64th overall) Saturday, had to deal with the murder of his mother at the age of 13, the death of his father four months after that to pancreatic cancer, and trouble with the law that led to his suspension from the Sugar Bowl during his junior season.
"All my life I've faced obstacles and have overcome them. It has made me a stronger person," Dockett said in a conference call with the media.
Some pre-draft analysis said the 6-foot-3, 298-pound Dockett was a possible first-round pick, but that character issues might force his stock to drop.
In December of 2002, he was charged with felony grand theft for his role in receiving unauthorized discounts for clothing that totaled $1,000, allegedly paying only $100, at a mall store. He was suspended for the Sugar Bowl.
He was charged with a third-degree felony (maximum jail sentence of five years), but the charges were pleaded down, and he was reinstated.
Cardinals coach Dennis Green said Dockett came highly recommended by his college coaches and scouts.
"We knew he would go in the third round and were fortunate we picked first in the round. We were not discussing about whether we got a good deal or not. It was already clear-cut," Green said.
Said Rod Graves, vice president of football operations: "We did our research there. We're well aware of the problems he's had and are confident those are behind him. If we would have felt uneasy, we wouldn't have taken him."
Dockett said he had high expectations for the draft, "but everything happens for a reason. If it's character issues (that caused him to fall to the third round), I really can't say . . . just want to show people they made a big mistake. I want to be the next Anquan Boldin."
Boldin is a former teammate of Dockett at Florida State who fell to the second round last season, was drafted by the Cardinals and was voted the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Dockett said he saw quite a few players he went up against taken ahead of him.
"I killed 98 percent of them," he said confidently.
"I'm going to keep working hard. My big day is coming."
Dockett's mother was murdered when he was 13 on the Fourth of July weekend. Dockett found her and kept his emotions in check as he called the police. His father died four months later and Dockett later was reared by an uncle.
There were difficult times, but Dockett is grateful for his uncle's help. As for his mother, Dockett has two tattoos on his chest, according to CBS Sportsline.com, that read, "Rest In Peace, 1959-1994," and, "Mama." [/font]
Cards hoping troubles are past
Don Ketchum
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 25, 2004 12:00 AM
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Digging in against and banging heads with the best offensive linemen in the NFL will be an obstacle for Cardinals rookie defensive lineman Darnell Dockett this fall, but it will pale in comparison to some of the ordeals he has endured in his 22 years.
The Florida State product, selected with the first pick in the third round (64th overall) Saturday, had to deal with the murder of his mother at the age of 13, the death of his father four months after that to pancreatic cancer, and trouble with the law that led to his suspension from the Sugar Bowl during his junior season.
"All my life I've faced obstacles and have overcome them. It has made me a stronger person," Dockett said in a conference call with the media.
Some pre-draft analysis said the 6-foot-3, 298-pound Dockett was a possible first-round pick, but that character issues might force his stock to drop.
In December of 2002, he was charged with felony grand theft for his role in receiving unauthorized discounts for clothing that totaled $1,000, allegedly paying only $100, at a mall store. He was suspended for the Sugar Bowl.
He was charged with a third-degree felony (maximum jail sentence of five years), but the charges were pleaded down, and he was reinstated.
Cardinals coach Dennis Green said Dockett came highly recommended by his college coaches and scouts.
"We knew he would go in the third round and were fortunate we picked first in the round. We were not discussing about whether we got a good deal or not. It was already clear-cut," Green said.
Said Rod Graves, vice president of football operations: "We did our research there. We're well aware of the problems he's had and are confident those are behind him. If we would have felt uneasy, we wouldn't have taken him."
Dockett said he had high expectations for the draft, "but everything happens for a reason. If it's character issues (that caused him to fall to the third round), I really can't say . . . just want to show people they made a big mistake. I want to be the next Anquan Boldin."
Boldin is a former teammate of Dockett at Florida State who fell to the second round last season, was drafted by the Cardinals and was voted the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Dockett said he saw quite a few players he went up against taken ahead of him.
"I killed 98 percent of them," he said confidently.
"I'm going to keep working hard. My big day is coming."
Dockett's mother was murdered when he was 13 on the Fourth of July weekend. Dockett found her and kept his emotions in check as he called the police. His father died four months later and Dockett later was reared by an uncle.
There were difficult times, but Dockett is grateful for his uncle's help. As for his mother, Dockett has two tattoos on his chest, according to CBS Sportsline.com, that read, "Rest In Peace, 1959-1994," and, "Mama." [/font]
