Derrick Dockery

Derrick Dockery

Dockery in 2006
No. 66, 75, 76
Position:	Guard
Personal information
Born:	(1980-09-07) September 7, 1980 (age 43) Garland, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:	325 lb (147 kg)
Career information
High school:	Garland (TX) Lakeview Centennial
College:	Texas
NFL Draft:	2003  / Round: 3 / Pick: 81
Career history
Washington Redskins (2003−2006) Buffalo Bills (2007−2008) Washington Redskins (2009−2010) Dallas Cowboys (2011−2012)
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-Big 12 (2002) Consensus All-American (2002)
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 141 Games started: 115 Fumbles recovered: 4
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Derrick Dewayne Dockery (born September 7, 1980) is a former professional American football guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins, Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Texas.

Early years

Dockery was born in Dallas County, Texas. He attended Lakeview Centennial High School in Garland, Texas, where he played football for the Lakeview Patriots.

As a senior in 1998, he was tabbed as a second-team All-USA offensive lineman by USA Today , and second-team Class 5A all-state selection by the Texas Sports Writers Association. He was a two-time first-team all-district performer at offensive tackle.

College career

Dockery accepted a football scholarship from the University of Texas at Austin. He played for coach Mack Brown's Texas Longhorns football team from 1999 to 2002. As a true freshman in 1999, he served as a backup offensive guard, but saw action in all 14 games, including the Cotton Bowl Classic, at both guard spots and on special teams.

As a sophomore in 2000, he started in all 12 games at guard, including the Holiday Bowl. He helped pave the way for a Longhorns offense that averaged 38.6 points per game.

As a junior in 2001, he played in all 13 games, including the Holiday Bowl, and started nine contests at both guard spots, also seeing action at tackle. His line play contributed to the Longhorns leading the Big 12 Conference with 39.2 points per game (sixth in NCAA) and averaging 162.3 yards rushing, 250.3 passing, and 412.6 total yards per game.

As a senior in 2002, Dockery started all 13 games, seven at right guard and six at right tackle, while not allowing a sack. He was named a first-team All-Big 12 selection, and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American, after receiving first-team honors from the Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America and Walter Camp Football Foundation. ^[1] He shared the Longhorns' Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award and was a key member of a Longhorn offense that ranked fifth in the Big 12 and 16th nationally in scoring offense (33.8 points per game).

During his career, the team had a 40-12 record, including back-to-back 11-2 seasons and a top six ranking in 2001 and 2002. He played 52 consecutive games with 31 starts (25 at guard and 6 at tackle).

In 2018, he was inducted into the University of Texas Hall of Honor.

Professional career

Pre-Draft

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Wonderlic
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	347 lb (157 kg)	35+1⁄8 in (0.89 m)	10+1⁄8 in (0.26 m)	5.35 s	25 in (0.64 m)	7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)	13
40-yard dash value was taken at Texas Pro Day; all other values are from the 2003 NFL Scouting Combine. [2]

First stint with Redskins

Dockery was selected in the third round (81st overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. ^[3] In 2003, he began his rookie season as a backup at several positions along the offensive line, including left guard and right tackle. He was inserted into the starting lineup in Week 4 against the New England Patriots at left guard, which was his first career NFL start.

He would go on to start the final 13 games of the regular season at left guard. In 2004, he started all 16 games at left guard for the Redskins, teaming with left tackle Chris Samuels to form a solid tandem on the left side of the offensive line. He finished the season having garnered 29 consecutive starts at left guard, although he was one of the league leaders in false starts.

Buffalo Bills

On March 2, 2007, the Buffalo Bills signed Dockery to a 7-year $49 million contract with an $18 million signing bonus, the third largest in NFL history at his position. ^[4] He was a two-year starter at left guard (32 games) and was part of one of the NFL's biggest offensive lines in terms of height and weight. In 2008, the unit struggled in pass protection (allowed 38 sacks) and the offense ranked 25th in the league in total yards. He was released in a salary-cap move on February 26, 2009. ^[5]

Second stint with Redskins

On March 1, 2009, Dockery re-signed with the Washington Redskins to a 5-year, $26.5 million contract. ^[6] He started 16 games at left guard, replacing free agent Pete Kendall. In 2010, he had a streak of 116 straight games played ended, when he was declared inactive in Week 5, after struggling playing in new head coach Mike Shanahan's zone blocking scheme. He injured his left knee against the Tennessee Titans. He was released on March 1, 2011. ^[7]

Dallas Cowboys

On September 4, 2011, Dockery was signed by the Dallas Cowboys. ^[8] He started in the second game against the San Francisco 49ers in place of an injured Bill Nagy, but suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament and a tibial plateau fracture. ^[9] He recovered in week 8 to replace an injured Montrae Holland as a backup guard for the rest of the season. On August 3, 2012, he was signed to be the backup guard to Mackenzy Bernadeau. ^[10] He wasn't re-signed after the season.

Dockery finished his career after appearing in 141 games with 115 starts. He started his first career game in week four of the 2003 season, and went on to start 109 straight contests until 2010. He also had a stretch of 116 consecutive games.

Personal life

Following retirement from football, Dockery and his wife Emma attended George Washington University for their MBAs. ^[11] Dockery has worked for several members of Congress such as Jason Chaffetz and Paul Ryan. In 2016, Speaker Paul Ryan hired Dockery to assist in building coalitions with state and local governments and the business community. ^[12]

He is married to wife Emma and have three children. ^[11] Famous ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman gave Dockery one of his famous nicknames: Derrick "Hickory Dickory" Dockery. His brother Cedric also played college football for the University of Texas.

References

1. "Award Winners". 2011 NCAA Football Records Book (PDF). Indianapolis, Indiana: National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2011. p. 11. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
2. "Derrick Dockery". NFL. Archived from the original on June 18, 2003. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
3. "2003 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
4. "Bills reach deal with Redskins OG Dockery" . Retrieved June 14, 2020.
5. "Dockery Being Waived By Buffalo Bills". ESPN. February 26, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
6. "Derrick Dockery rejoins Redskins" . Retrieved June 14, 2020.
7. "Derrick Dockery, Andre Carter cut" . Retrieved June 14, 2020.
8. "Montrae Holland cut, Derrick Dockery added" . Retrieved June 14, 2020.
9. "Derrick Dockery not returning soon" . Retrieved June 14, 2020.
10. "Cowboys add Derrick Dockery, Daniel Loper" . Retrieved June 14, 2020.
11. "Back to school, the extreme version: NFL players try to master George Washington's MBA". Times Colonist. February 21, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
12. Sherman, Jake (January 14, 2016). "Former NFL player joins Ryan's staff". Politico. Retrieved June 14, 2020.

External links

• Texas Longhorn Alumni: Derrick Dockery
• Hall of Honor bio