CSN Bay Area

A little small talk proved to be a big thing for Darnell Dockett, who on Thursday agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the 49ers.

Dockett cited his regular post-game conversations with Jim Tomsula, the 49ers’ former defensive line coach who was named to replace Jim Harbaugh as head coach.

“The head coach is a defensive line coach,” Dockett said Thursday on 910 FoxSports radio in Arizona. “People have to realize, this guy is awesome. He’s a guy after every game that I played against San Francisco, he was a guy that would always come over, and me and him would chop it up after every game. He admired my game and admired what I bring to the table.”

Dockett, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, spent 10 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before getting released last week in a cost-cutting move. Dockett said he gave the Cardinals several opportunities to keep him, but his former team did not come up with less than $500,000 to meet him halfway, he said.

[RELATED: Dockett: 49ers 'hit the lottery' by signing former Cards DT]

He agreed to a reported two-year, $7.5 million contract that includes $2 million guaranteed.

“Another thing that attracted me (to the 49ers) was when they got word, as far as the players got word, I was I coming on a visit, I got text messages and calls and conversation from all the big-name guys on that team,” Dockett said. “Even the guys that trying to make a name for themselves, and they wanted me to come.”

Dockett visited the 49ers facility and Levi’s Stadium on Tuesday to meet with coaches and staff members and take a physical. He said he is healthy after missing all of last season with a torn ACL.

“When I saw the facility and everything they had to offer, and it was a thing where you feel like you’re wanted and appreciated, and that’s that,” Dockett said. “The only thing I can say about San Fran is they hit the lottery. They got themselves a dog-ass football player that loves what he (does) and is going sacrifice anything and everything to win football games despite what other people may think on the other side.

“The biggest thing is I get to play Arizona two times a year.”