Sep 8, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals injured defensive end Darnell Dockett (right) jokes with safety Tyrann Mathieu prior to the game against the San Diego Chargers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oakland Raiders fans are the fungi of football—overgrown kids toting Fisher-Price spikes, who were never hugged enough as children.
Darnell Dockett is a professional bully who moonlights as an alligator aficionado and 290-pound wordsmith.
The two butted heads on Sunday, resulting in a level of trolling that hasn’t been achieved since Leeroy(!) “Thumbs up, let’s do this” Jenkins.
Don’t get me wrong, there are decent, civil Raiders supporters. Said souls stay at home, though. There’s no point in traumatizing their four-year-old by watching Oakland get blown out while standing in the middle of Goth Comic-Con. They don’t want little Maggie looking up at the Kiss Cam, only to see some Gene Simmons-worshiping Geek Squad manager snarling back at her.
On Sunday, Raiders fans did what Raiders fans do.
And Dockett responded appropriately:
.@ddockett finishes a game long conversation with Raiders fans. #AZvsOAK pic.twitter.com/TqLiHElNjT
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) October 19, 2014
The three-time Pro Bowler—who was placed on IR due to a torn ACL—clarified that he the gesture wasn’t unprovoked:
Raiders fans threw coins and ice at us, called us every name in the book. That's what made me write the sign.
— DARNELL DOCKETT (@ddockett) October 20, 2014
His head coach, Bruce Arians, wasn’t chuckling:
Arians not happy with Dockett's messages to Raiders fans. "It won't happen again."
— Kent Somers (@kentsomers) October 20, 2014
It will.
If John Dorsey acquires Dockett just for sideline entertainment, I won’t complain.