Dockett involved in criminal investigation
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ESPN.com news services
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State defensive tackle Darnell Dockett was suspended for the Nokia Sugar Bowl, the latest in a string of Seminoles punished this season.
"He broke one of our rules and is suspended for this ballgame," coach Bobby Bowden said Sunday. "He will not make the trip."
Bowden wouldn't elaborate, but Dockett's lawyer, Stephen Dobson, told the Tallahassee Democrat that police are investigating something that happened at a store in Tallahassee's Governor's Square mall.
Dockett has not been arrested nor charged with a crime in the matter. Dobson stressed that Dockett is not involved in any of the gambling investigations at Florida State.
Police Lt. Sandra Garber declined to comment.
"It is important to remember that Darnell is presumed to be innocent," Dobson told the Democrat. "Probable cause has not even been determined at this point concerning any of this.
"Darnell Dockett has never been in any trouble, has never been arrested, and I'm sure any parent of a 21-year-old can understand how concerned his family is about this."
Florida State already was without its top two quarterbacks for the Sugar Bowl against No. 4 Georgia.
Chris Rix was suspended for missing a final exam, while Adrian McPherson was kicked off the team after being accused of stealing a check and is now being looked at in a gambling investigation.
Dockett, a junior who was considering an early entrance into the NFL draft, started all 13 games for Florida State and led the defensive line in tackles with 58. He will be replaced by senior Tony Benford in the Sugar Bowl, Bowden said.
After Florida's 37-13 victory over Florida State last season, then-Gators coach Steve Spurrier claimed Dockett intentionally hurt his running back, Earnest Graham.
Seth Ravenna, co-owner with former Florida State tailback Warrick Dunn of Sports Fanatic, told the Democrat there was an "incident that was resolved internally, and we're happy."
"It does not look like the company will be pursuing this criminally," he said, adding that Dunn contacted police but Ravenna did not know the nature of that conversation.
Dockett, who left campus for his Burtonsville, Md., home Saturday afternoon, could not be reached for comment by the Democrat.
Dobson previously represented former Seminoles kicker Sebastian Janikowski in two cases -- a charge of bribing a Tallahassee police officer in 2000 and a charge of drug possession in 2001. Janikowski was acquitted at trial in both cases.
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