Cards’ David Carter thought he no longer was a rookie

July 26, 2012: Carter explains the ‘Dockett rule’

FLAGSTAFF — There are specific rookie duties in training camp.

David Carter, the Cardinals sixth-round draft pick in 2011, performed those duties without hesitation a year ago.

Coming into camp this year, he thought he was done. He is not.

“This is what they say—I’m not a believer. But they said we’re rookies until game three,” he said after practice Thursday.

“We still got to carry all these pads and all these helmets; get the waters and Gatorades and go to Walmart, get all the candy. It’s not a fun thing at all.”

Whose “they”? It’s got to be Darnell Dockett, right?

“That’s my rule,” Dockett said. “(Carter) got up to like three games. After the New England game we might think about it. We might give him a pay raise: He’ll have to take only one pad in but right now we’re going to kill him. We’ve got to take advantage of him right now.”

So, there was Carter after the team’s first practice in pads carrying not only his gear but the gear of two other veterans.

“I guess that’s the rule,” he said. “I don’t know. I’m just doing it. I’m just glad to be on the team. I don’t care.”

Carter surprised many last year, when—as a rookie, he played in all 16 games seeing significant minutes, especially early in the season.

“He’s a good rookie,” Dockett said, “probably one of the best rookies we’ve had around here in a long time. He don’t say much. He just do what he got to do. We take it easy on him. So, as long as he’s fair with us we’re fair with him and we can just get through this camp smoothly.

“He’s working his tail off so I’m impressed with him,” Dockett continued. He then added with a smile, “I told him one day this camp I’m going to carry my own pads in but it won’t be no time soon.”

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