Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett signed a relatively rich contract extension during 2006, his third NFL season, spurning a shot at restricted free agency.
The deal committed him to the team through 2011. We assume that he noticed this fact at or before the moment he applied his signature to the document.
But, like many other players in various other cities, Dockett has forgotten about the $7 million in bonus money he received, which as we’ve explained many times is not free money.
It’s advance compensation for future services.
So as Dockett prepared to enter the third-to-last season of his contract, he wanted more money.
The only problem? He had no leverage.
And so he has tucked his tail against his “fart box,” and he will stagger into camp. But he is doing so with an unlikely swagger.
As promised earlier today, Dockett has made a “major announcement” on Twitter. The announcement is, in essence, that the “I want more money” stick has fallen out of his ass.
“I am happy to announce that after meeting with the team recently, I have full faith and confidence in the Cardinals organization,” Dockett said in the first part of multi-part 140-character-max stream of messages.
Part two: “I am looking
forward to a great season. From the first day of training camp and on,
I will not let my contract issues distract me . . .”
Part three: “or my team from reaching our goals. I also look forward to playing with my teammates and defending our NFC championship title . . .”
Part four: “and I appreciate the support I’ve received from all my fans this offseason. WE WILL WIN THE NFC WEST.”
Part five: “FYI to all, No
this was not a DREW ROSENHAUSE [sic] call or idea, THIS is how I feel and I’m
sticking to it. Thanks agan to all the DDOCKETT FANS.”
We’ve never seen anyone cave so dramatically yet optimistically. In our view, it’s an unequivocal victory for a Cardinals franchise that has had more than its fair share of turnover and upheaval since making an unlikely appearance in the Super Bowl.
And Dockett’s gesture makes it even harder for receiver Anquan Boldin to lash out if he doesn’t get a new deal; after all, Boldin’s contract only goes for two more seasons, not three.
Why do athletes sign deals that are based on high performance, and when they perform, want more? But if the stink, they take the full amount of the contract. Dockett needs to sign a deal where he repays money when he doesn’t perform or gets injured. Better yet, He needs to find a place where a man of his intelligence can get paid what he is making and go there.
First an NFC West championship… now pwning players on their contract demands… Arizona is now the land of the turning table
wow kinda refreshing….. not really though… still overrated and overpaid
Wow my head is exploding with jokes for fart-box. for instance, maybe we should call him “tweet-box.”
Maybe “RuinYourHouse” has gotten assurances the Cardinals will sit down and talk after the upcoming season. You know, the one after D-Dock plays without support from real DE’s. Perfect timing to renegotiate when your stats drop off to no fault of your own… And to this, somewhere in Heaven, Anquan Boldin is mumbling, “This is why I fired his stupid ass.”
And on Graves side, it’s a lot less embarrassing to re-negotiate with a player who has two years left than three. It’s a win-win. Meaning the Cardinals win twice.
The Cardinals have the most competent management in the whole damn down. Somewhere Coach Vince Tobin and Coach Dave McGinnis are rolling over in their Graves(initially no pun intended, but the pun is cute.)
I promise I’ll come back later tonight after a few beers to address this, as I know my legions of fans out there can’t wait to hear me on my soap box. It’s either me or the morbid murder fans.
Man Darnell you a shot calla dawg!
I love the signing bonus. Does that happen in any other business besides sports?
In most businesses, you can’t pay people on Thursday because they’ll be too hungover to work Friday.
@the dyslexic gay man-
How about being a CEO of a fortune 500 company? at least players get paid for their future. those jerkoffs get paid for ruining their companies. And they make much more for doing so than players.
Just leave the NFL players ALOOOOONE! LEAVE THEM ALOO-HO-HONE! JUST STOP DOGGING THEM AROUND!
(not that there is anything wrong with that)
Catamount:
“Why do athletes sign deals that are based on high performance, and when they perform, want more? But if the stink, they take the full amount of the contract. ”
Ummm, no. If they stink, or the team wants to bring in someone else, or if the team doesn’t want to pay a future roster bonus they promised in the contract, the team simply reneges on the contract, which they also signed, by cutting the player.
It is no coincidence that Douchebagg and Dockett start with the letter “D”.
Dockett was a moron who had NO leverage whatsoever… moreover he was being paid what he’s worth, especially if you count the signing bonus.
Boldin actually has a case, IMO. he was paid a lower amount from the get-go, has performed in the league’s top receiver mold year after year, and plays opposite a guy getting almost twice as much money. Boldin should get paid, Dockett not so much…