Dockett says he forgives his mother's murderer

[January 28, 2009]  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Darnell Dockett knows the killer of his mother may be watching the Super Bowl. He has a message:

"I forgive him," Dockett said.

Dockett was 13 when he came home to find his mother shot to death, the worst moment of his troubled young life. Four months later, his father died of cancer.

"I think that God has a hand on Dockett's life, whether Dockett knows it or not," teammate Antonio Smith said, "because to be through some of the things that he's been through and still come out where he is, is a blessing and is amazing."

No one has been arrested for the July 4, 1994 execution-style murder of Cheryl Hambrick, but if anyone ever is, Dockett said he'd like to sit down and talk to the killer, "exactly like Warrick Dunn did."

Two years ago, Dunn, the Atlanta Falcons' running back, confronted the man convicted in the 1993 slaying his mother, who was a Baton Rouge, La., police officer.

Dockett wants a chance to have a conversation with the person who killed his mother to talk about "all the things I saw and all the things that have happened to me since then to become the person that I am."

He said "things happen for a reason." Had he not mourned his mother's death, or gotten into all the trouble he did afterward, he may not have developed into the NFL player who will start at defensive tackle for Arizona in Sunday's Super Bowl.

As a youngster, he had repeated scrapes with the law.

"Stealing a car, robbery, stuff I can't even believe that I did," Dockett said, recalling his past during media day on Tuesday.

His uncle, Kevin Dockett, took custody of the boy and moved him to Maryland, placing him under strict rules. There, Dockett started playing football, becoming one of the top high school defensive ends in the nation.

Then it was on to Florida State, where he found more trouble.

In December 2002, during his junior season, he was arrested for shoplifting and suspended for the Sugar Bowl.

Dockett worked out a plea bargain deal that involved community service and came back for a strong senior season, winning Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year.

But his reputation hurt him in the 2004 draft, when he slipped to the third round and Arizona picked him as the 64th player chosen overall.

He is part of a prize Cardinals draft class that included Larry Fitzgerald, linebacker Karlos Dansby and the defensive end Smith.

Dockett has started all but one game in his four seasons with Arizona. In 2007, he initially was a Pro Bowl alternate who wound up playing in the game.

This season, he has been a force on the defensive line.

In the regular-season finale against Seattle, Dockett intercepted Matt Hasselbeck's pass to clinch the victory.

A week later, in the wild-card game against Atlanta, he disrupted a handoff from Matt Ryan to Michael Turner. Teammate Antrel Rolle picked up the fumble and ran 27 yards for a touchdown.

Dockett estimates he has 200 to 300 tattoos. He jokes that he will get a new one if his team wins the Super Bowl and that it will have to be on his forehead because that's the only place there's room.

He said he has emerged from his troubles a happy man.

"I just look at life right now as though I've already had my misery days," Dockett said. "But I honestly believe that my mom and my dad are still here. You know, there's no way you're supposed to catch a fumble recovery or an interception at the end of a game by just running to the ball. I think sometimes they're still throwing me plays from up top."

[Associated Press; By BOB BAUM]

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