Quirky Dockett making a difference on the field

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP)

Darnell Dockett's unfiltered mouth rankles opponents, Arizona's front office, even teammates. He's a freewheeling, sometimes politically incorrect tweeter who recently posted that he wants to tattoo his face.

Then there was the Shower Incident.

Quirky? Emotional? A boundary pusher? Yep, Dockett is all of 'em.

On the field, though, it's all business, all of the time.

Now that they've come to understand the loquacious defensive lineman's sometimes outlandish ways, Dockett's coaches and teammates are willing to put up with some of the eccentricities that go with his never-back-down attitude on the field.

''I understand Darnell now and I understand where his heart's at and what he's trying to do,'' Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. ''You are going to have to live with a few of those things as long as they don't cross the line. And I think Darnell understands that better.''

It wasn't always that way.

When Whisenhunt first became Arizona's head coach in 2007, he had what could mildly be called a personality clash. Whisenhunt didn't understand Dockett's unconventional ways and Dockett didn't seem to care if he did. All those penalties caused by unchecked emotions didn't help.

Three years into their relationship, coach and player, while not exactly on the same page personality-wise, are at least reading the same book when it comes to football.

''Darnell was obviously a highly emotional, highly intense player,'' Whisenhunt said. ''There is a period where you both have to gain the respect of each other. I've asked Darnell to do some things since our first year and he's done them, besides play good football.''

This mutual understanding has made Dockett, 29, more patient with his lengthy, sometimes contentious, contract negotiations.

Dockett has been asking for a new deal almost since the team extended his previous contract in 2006. He has repeatedly voiced frustrations with his usual candor and by skipping voluntary offseason workouts the past two offseasons.

This year, the two-time Pro Bowler was a regular at Arizona's offseason program and has been a lead-by-example presence at training camp, playing hurt, passing up an opportunity for a day off. He's even kept the contract complaining to a minimum, something that can't come easy for someone who likes to talk as much as he does.

''I'm not a money guy, I'm not a selfish guy,'' he said. ''I care about winning. So I'm able to come to work and prepare, like I've got a game tomorrow. I believe in the organization and I'm pretty sure they'll take care of it sooner than a lot of people think.''

But with good Dockett comes the occasional bad.

An avid Twitter user, he'll go after anyone or anything, calling Sam Bradford ''fresh meat'' after St. Louis took him No. 1 overall in the draft. He had a running ripfest on Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth's holdout and subsequent inability to pass his physical. Dockett also had a Twitter duel with teammate Kerry Rhodes and has taken jabs at other teammates.

In May, Dockett apologized to nearly everyone he could think of after posting online streaming video of himself taking a shower. Meant as a joke, the team didn't find it too funny.

Dockett also sparked a skirmish on the second day of training camp by taking a swipe at Matt Leinart's legs and taking the quarterback down, a big camp no-no.

''He's always creating some kind of something,'' Leinart said.

Dockett has made it all tolerable with his play and work ethic.

The 6-foot-4, 290-pounder has played every game each of the past five seasons - 81 straight games - and earned his first Pro Bowl start last season after leading all interior defensive linemen with nine sacks. Dockett matched an NFL record with three sacks in the 2008 Super Bowl and, as a sign of respect for his intensity, was voted a team captain last season.

This year, Dockett has become a weight-room monster, a mentor for younger players and someone who'll lay into teammates he believes aren't giving their best effort.

Dockett has, in his own way, matured.

''When you have a player who is doing things right, who is helping young players and showing up every day to practice even when he's nicked up, there are a lot of things like that that have really earned my respect for Darnell,'' Whisenhunt said. ''In turn, it makes you want to have that player in your program for a long time.''