Long after the final preseason game had ended, Tom Pestock took his mother on the field. He still was in uniform. They snapped pictures for posterity, for proof.

Earlier that evening, he had arrived at University of Phoenix Stadium before anyone else, just so he could take a picture of his locker.

"When nobody was there to see me do it," Pestock said.

See, even the tough guys can get a little sappy.

But just as Pestock began to brace for disappointment, the offensive lineman earned a lovely consolation prize. He was awarded a spot on the Cardinals' practice squad, a job that pays $5,200 a week. While the rest of us fixated on the controversy at quarterback, Pestock became noticed, respected, feared by people inside the organization.

That can go a long way in the NFL.

"I got into a few tussles right away (in training camp)," Pestock said. "And when Coach Wiz (Ken Whisenhunt) told me the news, he said, 'Now, don't go pulling any MMA stuff on me. We're going to put you on the practice squad.' "

Pestock is 6 feet 6 and listed at 318 pounds. He played college football at Division II Northwest Missouri State. He is a three-time Golden Gloves champion, and a former Jiu-Jitsu champion. He trains at the Lion's Den in Scottsdale as a mixed martial arts fighter and has jumped in the ring for a few unsanctioned fights.

"I would not get in a ring with him," said Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson, pound-for-pound the toughest man on the team.

This summer, Pestock gained a reputation for scrapping with teammates. In two separate fights, he threw uppercuts at his opponent (Mark Washington, Cody Brown), not something defensive players normally experience from offensive lineman.

"Tom is a really good boxer. I imagine he did mess a couple of guys up," said former Arizona State offensive lineman Scott Peters, who founded the Lion's Den. "He trains. He's no-nonsense. He comes in here with bad intentions."

Pestock appreciates the compliments. He knows his temperament and combat skills are his ticket to the NFL, and that a nasty reputation can do wonders for an offensive lineman.

He was not drafted out of college, and when he signed with the Colts in 2009, he kept to himself. He was waived at the end of camp. That hurt.

This time around, he made his sure his presence was felt, right down to the Golden Gloves T-shirts he'd wear around the locker room.

"The two scuffles at practice, we were very clear on what happened, and who walked away the winner," Pestock said. "And there was an incident in Tennessee where (teammate) Rex Hadnot said the other guy had a better chance of winning the lottery. Mostly, it's word of mouth. Guys know that I'm not going to back down."

That amounts to real currency among players. The sport of football ultimately is an alley fight, a game of mayhem and intimidation. And in that climate, everybody wants a guy like Pestock on their side.

"You're going to get hit. Are you going to hit back?" Pestock said. "In football, if something goes wrong, I'm going to hit back."

Now that he has made the practice squad, Pestock will dial down his other combative endeavors. He loves Arizona, and he knows that offensive-line coach Russ Grimm has a special place in his heart for the tough guys. He wants to make the most of this opportunity.

But on the weekends, he might have to jump in the ring for a little kick-boxing or something. Just to taste a little blood. Just to keep the juices flowing.

"I'll definitely be hitting something on Saturdays and Sundays, when the team is getting ready to compete," Pestock said. "I need some competition myself until my name is called for the big 53."

You want to argue with him?

Reach Bickley at dan.bickley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8253. Read his online column at bickley.azcentral.com.