The man they call Thanos on the football field – sporting his gold chain with the Infinity gauntlet around his neck – tried to describe the week he had before officially becoming an Arizona Cardinal.
Dalvin Tomlinson was shocked. How could he not, after the Browns did their own version of the snap and in one move made the remainder of his Cleveland contract disappear officially on Wednesday.
"I like to be a person that, 'I got this tomorrow so I need to get this done,'" the veteran defensive tackle said after signing his two-year contract on on Friday. "I had some butterflies."
The Cardinals quickly got in contact with the 31-year-old, who was coming off two good seasons with a Browns team that needed, thanks to huge contracts from Myles Garrett and Deshaun Watson, some cap space. That was a benefit to the Cards, who sought a disruptive man in the middle.
Adding Tomlinson to a defensive line that has Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols returning from injury, Darius Robinson taking a step up from his rookie season, third-year man Dante Stills and vet L.J. Collier gives the Cardinals a solid rotation – and that's before they likely take someone in a defensive line-rich draft.
"I don't know him personally, but I know his game," said Collier, who signed his own contract on Friday. "He's a guy who has been around for a long time. His resume speaks for itself. He's going to be a great piece to the team. He's going to help us with leadership and on the field."
Tomlinson had career-highs in quarterback hits (18) and quarterback hurries (20) along with his three sacks last season. He has started each of the 125 games he's played in his seven-year NFL career, missing only six games total.
He knows he benefited from playing next to Garrett in Cleveland, but now, he wants to do the same for new teammate Josh Sweat.
"If I have a defensive end next to me getting 10-plus sacks every year, I'm happy," Tomlinson said.
Yet the one-time Alabama teammate of Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. also utters the words Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis love to hear.
"Pass rushing is the pinnacle of D-line, but the thing is, we won't be in a position to actually pass rush if we don't stop the run," Tomlinson said.
That doesn't mean he doesn't want a sack. The "Thanos" nickname? It comes from his Infinity snap sack celebration. He received his necklace as a Secret Santa gift from former teammate Za'Darius Smith, and he has drawn the gauntlet stones on his game-day gloves before.
"It makes the celebration that much better. You feel me?" Tomlinson said with his ever-present smile.
At some point, Tomlinson will be able to break out his Infinity gauntlet sack dance.
It is inevitable.
