Darnell Dockett to announce retirement Monday

ByJOSH WEINFUSS
July 24, 2016, 1:50 PM

— -- TEMPE, Ariz. -- One of the most outspoken players in Arizona Cardinals history will hang it up Monday.

Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett is expected to retire Monday, sources told ESPN.

The Cardinals have announced they will have a news conference at 2:30 local time Monday (5:30 p.m. ET). Cardinals president Michael Bidwill, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians and Dockett will be in attendance.

Dockett was cut by the Cardinals in February 2015, seven months after tearing his ACL during training camp in 2014. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers but was released before the regular season.

The 35-year-old Dockett will retire as one of the best pass-rushers in Cardinals history. His 40.5 sacks are seventh all time in the Cardinals' record book. He set a career high for sacks in a season with nine in 2007 and tied a Super Bowl record with three sacks in Super Bowl XLIII.

He was a three-time Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro in 2009.

Drafted in the third round by the Cardinals in 2004 out of Florida State, Dockett was best known for his brash, outspoken persona and his ability to get to quarterbacks. His uncensored attitude was relished by fans and made him a social-media sensation. He has live-tweeted traffic stops, proclaimed his love on Twitter for actresses and talk-show hosts, including Oprah Winfrey, and live-streamed himself taking a shower to win a $1,000 bet in 2010.

And then there were Dockett's animals.

He tweeted in 2011 that he was planning to bring his pet alligator to Cardinals training camp. In 2013, Dockett claimed to have owned a cub tiger. Both instances drew a reaction from PETA.