11Mar/1012:46 PM

The Sports Retorter: Has Darnell Dockett Become The Face Of The Arizona Cardinals?

By Greg Esposito

When Kurt Warner retired after the Arizona Cardinals playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints, it meant that the team would not only be in search of a new starting quarterback, but also a new face of the franchise.

Everyone knew that the quarterback situation would be up in the air until training camp, but the new face of the franchise seemed like a lock.

After his breakout season in 2008 and with numerous endorsements, including the cover of EA Sports Madden NFL ‘10, Larry Fitzgerald would have seemed to be the odds-on favorite. If Vegas put prop best on things like this (I checked, unfortunately they don’t), Fitzgerald would have been the 1/1 favorite with everyone else a very distant second.

Sports are all about upsets, and like in Super Bowl III, a brash young man, not afraid to speak his mind is about to pull one.

Cards defensive end Darnell Dockett, or 9-0 as he likes to be called, has emerged as the new “voice” of the team.

When the Cardinals lost Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby and Antrel Rolle, who was there to comment? Darnell Dockett.

Need a comment on the trade for Kerry Rhodes? 9-0 is your man.

Wooing free agents to come to the desert and be part of the “Bird Gang”? Dockett has a few suggestions he’d like to share (Joey Porter seems to be his top priority.).

Who is the new “face” of the Arizona Cardinals?survey software

Since Warner’s retirement we’ve heard very little from most of the players on the team, Fitzgerald included. During that same time, Dockett hasn’t shied away from the spotlight. He’s done radio interviews locally and nationally. He’s been on CBSSports.com’s video show, along with sharing his uncensored opinions and offseason employment ideas via Twitter.

When the national media was ready to bury the Cardinals after Boldin, Dansby and Rolle all flew the coop last Friday, Dockett not only shared his truthful opinion on the moves, but was the first to defend his team and proclaim them still the team to beat in the NFC West.

With the bearded one under center, there was no question who the alpha “bird” was and there was no question what would come out of his mouth. Warner was a media relations director’s best friend. He gave thoughtful, insightful answers, rarely ruffled feathers (just let me know when the bird cliches are getting old) and rarely provided bulletin board material for the rest of the league.

If the current trend continues and 9-0 is the new face and voice of the franchise, the Cardinals are about to enter a brave new world, Darnell Dockett’s world. A world in which cliches and double speak aren’t welcome. One where those without confidence better not show up on Sundays, where winning is everything and freedom of speech is the only rule (as long as you’re a Cardinal).

Get excited, this isn’t your “same old Cardinals”. These birds have more attitude than the cast of Jersey Shore at 4 a.m. on a Saturday. It’s only appropriate that the new face of the team, is the same face that gave us one of the best pictures in team history.

Fitz may still have the most skills and endorsements, but it’s Darnell Dockett who has everyone’s attention.