One take on Jay Ratliff's near physical altercation with a beat reporter...vid added [Archive] - Dallas Cowboys Forum

WoodysGirl

12-15-2011, 08:03 PM

IRVING - What happened in the Cowboys' locker room between nose tackle Jay Ratliff and a veteran Cowboys beat reporter on Thursday should not come as a giant surprise. I was there to witness the "fun", which was a tad uncomfortable, and totally predictable.

Ratliff had to be physically separated from long-time Cowboys beat reporter Calvin Watkins, who now works for ESPNDallas.com. Watkins previously worked for the Star-Telegram, Dallas Morning News and has been around this team for years.

On Thursday, Watkins was asking Ratliff about the news regarding former Cowboys receiver Sam Hurd's arrest for drug trafficking. The chat went south quickly;*suddenly I see Marcus Spears and Martellus Bennett pushing both Ratliff and Watkins in opposite directions.*Some rather unfriendly, and unprintable, words were exchanged. Something like, "You stink." "No, you stink" ... only with saltier language, at a much higher volume.

Read the rest: http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/mac-engel/2011/12/one-take-on-jay-ratliffs-near-physical-altercation-with-a-beat-reporter.html

BlueStar3398

12-15-2011, 08:14 PM

Jay knows Sam personally and is probably very concerned about what will happen to him and his family. Calvin admits on Twitter that he shouldn't have pressed the issue and should've walked away.

trickblue

12-15-2011, 08:26 PM

While most of the media horde was surrounding Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who during this near altercation said, "My money's on Ratliff."

Ya think? :laugh2:

ThreeSportStar80

12-15-2011, 08:34 PM

I don't think media should be in the lockerooms after practice... Just my thought.

starchamber

12-15-2011, 08:38 PM

IRVING - What happened in the Cowboys' locker room between nose tackle Jay Ratliff and a veteran Cowboys beat reporter on Thursday should not come as a giant surprise. I was there to witness the "fun", which was a tad uncomfortable, and totally predictable.

Ratliff had to be physically separated from long-time Cowboys beat reporter Calvin Watkins, who now works for ESPNDallas.com. Watkins previously worked for the Star-Telegram, Dallas Morning News and has been around this team for years.

On Thursday, Watkins was asking Ratliff about the news regarding former Cowboys receiver Sam Hurd's arrest for drug trafficking. The chat went south quickly;*suddenly I see Marcus Spears and Martellus Bennett pushing both Ratliff and Watkins in opposite directions.*Some rather unfriendly, and unprintable, words were exchanged. Something like, "You stink." "No, you stink" ... only with saltier language, at a much higher volume.

http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/mac-engel/2011/12/one-take-on-jay-ratliffs-near-physical-altercation-with-a-beat-reporter.html

Where was that aggression Sunday night when Brandon Jacobs disrespected the star on national TV no less. Way to go Jay...

67CowboysFan

12-15-2011, 08:56 PM

I don't think media should be in the lockerooms after practice... Just my thought.
After the games is enough. Let them report instead of instigate and write tabloid articles.

ThreeSportStar80

12-15-2011, 09:06 PM

After the games is enough. Let them report instead of instigate and write tabloid articles.

Agreed...

silverbear

12-15-2011, 09:14 PM

While most of the media horde was surrounding Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who during this near altercation said, "My money's on Ratliff."

Ya think? :laugh2:x

I dunno, man, Watkins is a professional reporter, thus expert in the use of paper... I could see him inflicting a nasty paper cut on the Rat...

trickblue

12-15-2011, 09:32 PM

After the games is enough. Let them report instead of instigate and write tabloid articles.

Understand... this is what the Dallas Media does... tear down players/management for headlines...

It's the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen...

Watkins better be glad Rat was restrained... He would have gotten an *** whooping of the highest order...

Yes... you read here Calvin and you were out of line...

Freedom of the press is no argument for you getting smashed in the face... your stories have consequences...

RoyTheHammer

12-15-2011, 09:46 PM

I don't think media should be in the lockerooms after practice... Just my thought.

I don't have a problem with the media having access to the locker room, but i don't agree with players being forced to talk. That's ridiculous. If they don't want to talk, there's no reason they should be required to.. especially since there are never any quality questions being asked anyway. Its always little BS like this trying to stir up drama so the reporters can get themselves noticed.

Hope next time Ratliff chokes the moron.

ninja

12-15-2011, 10:00 PM

I thought this comment after the article was pretty funny:

"All Calvin needs to do is wear a New York Giants #10 jersey. Not a player in that locker room could touch him."

Posted by: Scott S. | 12/15/2011 at 09:49 PM

67CowboysFan

12-15-2011, 10:30 PM

trickblue

12-15-2011, 10:54 PM

Freedom of the press meet freedom of the fist. ;)

It's not freedom of the press... it's "gotcha"...

The Dallas Media is sickening in this respect...

Dig up unsubstantiated dirt... print it... I'm going to the bar...

Hostile

12-15-2011, 11:01 PM

Our media just aren't very bright.

WoodysGirl

12-15-2011, 11:21 PM

I advise everyone to read the rest, because I found it quite interesting...

67CowboysFan

12-15-2011, 11:24 PM

I advise everyone to read the rest, because I found it quite interesting...
The end of that article was great for a laugh. Engle goes to great lengths to prove something. All the way back to when Rat was a teenager. The Dallas media is pure comedy.

RoyTheHammer

12-16-2011, 01:31 AM

It's not freedom of the press... it's "gotcha"...

The Dallas Media is sickening in this respect...

Dig up unsubstantiated dirt... print it... I'm going to the bar...

Its not just the Dallas media, either.. its all media.

Any chance they get the turn into TMZ reporters trying to stir up the drama to get their name out there. Most of them are garbage, imo. You have a few who are respectable and professional, but not many.

SaltwaterServr

12-16-2011, 03:29 AM

Idgit

12-16-2011, 03:49 AM

Where was that aggression Sunday night when Brandon Jacobs disrespected the star on national TV no less. Way to go Jay...

Jay and Jacobs are good friends from their Auburn days.

It would be funny if it wasn't so damn sad.

And by 'sad' we mean 'melodramatic.'

Idgit

12-16-2011, 03:52 AM

When he is in the right mood, Jay can be charming, funny, bright and very well-spoken. When he's not in the right mood, forget it. There can be level of aggression that this guy projects that is exceptionally uncomfortable for just about any environment other than a football field.

Read more: http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/mac-engel/2011/12/one-take-on-jay-ratliffs-near-physical-altercation-with-a-beat-reporter.html#ixzz1ggoPFBlf

Watkins provokes a player, doesn't leave when asked, and we get to hear it's because the player made things uncomfortable. Got it. I don't understand why that guy has a job. His articles are awful and full of errors, and he goes out of his way to provoke players and coaches, making himself part of the story. He's a clown.

trueblue1687

12-16-2011, 07:45 AM

Maybe Rat is trying to invoke the personality of Haley with his 'unpredictability'.

I guess I completely glassed over on Hurd being arrested...hadn't even heard about it.

1fisher

12-16-2011, 07:54 AM

CCBoy

12-16-2011, 07:55 AM

I advise everyone to read the rest, because I found it quite interesting...

Watkins should have looked like a racoon before finding redemption...:cool:

DCBoysfan

12-16-2011, 08:14 AM

I advise everyone to read the rest, because I found it quite interesting...

Yea it seems Rat can be a tad moody.

Doomsday101

12-16-2011, 08:18 AM

I advise everyone to read the rest, because I found it quite interesting...

I agree. If you remove the name Ratliff you would think they were talking about Charles Haley. Who at times was a jokester and other times a guy people stayed away from.

tyke1doe

12-16-2011, 09:49 AM

Where was that aggression Sunday night when Brandon Jacobs disrespected the star on national TV no less. Way to go Jay...

Zing!

Ouch!

:lmao:

tyke1doe

12-16-2011, 09:53 AM

Understand... this is what the Dallas Media does... tear down players/management for headlines...

It's the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen...

Watkins better be glad Rat was restrained... He would have gotten an *** whooping of the highest order...

Yes... you read here Calvin and you were out of line...

Freedom of the press is no argument for you getting smashed in the face... your stories have consequences...

If Ratliff had attacked Watkins, he could have been charged with assault.

I know it sounds good and would grant a measure of satisfaction to those who hate the Dallas media, but Ratliff would have been in serious trouble - from the law and likely the league - had he assaulted a member of the media.

Having said that, reporters do need to learn to accept "No" for an answer, especially when you can tell a player doesn't want to continue an interview.

WoodysGirl

12-16-2011, 09:59 AM

I agree. If you remove the name Ratliff you would think they were talking about Charles Haley. Who at times was a jokester and other times a guy people stayed away from.
That's who I thought about when I first read it..

CCBoy

12-16-2011, 10:10 AM

That's who I thought about when I first read it..

Charles Haley once made the mistake of mouthing off to Chad Hennings and a few seconds later found his feet dangling off the floor and him slammed into a wall locker...uh, that conversation ended.:cool:

supercowboy8

12-16-2011, 10:21 AM

I don't think media should be in the lockerooms after practice... Just my thought.
I don'think Media should be in the locker room peroid. They can have their chance to ask questions outside the locker room or in a press confrence.

Denim Chicken

12-16-2011, 12:05 PM

Anyone know what happend when he was a teenager?

RoyTheHammer

12-16-2011, 12:11 PM

Anyone know what happend when he was a teenager?

Was wondering that myself, but i doubt it'll ever get out what happened.

Unless Watkins wants to press him on that issue too.. lol.

Future

12-16-2011, 12:42 PM

The end of that article was great for a laugh. Engle goes to great lengths to prove something. All the way back to when Rat was a teenager. The Dallas media is pure comedy.
I do wonder if there is actually something to that or not though...

Arch Stanton

12-17-2011, 02:58 AM

6PWXcfQJjnI

Randy White

12-17-2011, 05:26 AM

I don't have a problem with the media having access to the locker room, but i don't agree with players being forced to talk. That's ridiculous. If they don't want to talk, there's no reason they should be required to...

They don't have to talk.. All they have to do is make themeselves available for 10 minutes after practice or games. They can say no comment and keep repeating it over and over. Believe me, the worst thing you can do to a reporter is not beat him up physically, but use the two words they hate the most: " no comment ".

What athletes are not going to tell you is that the reason why they don't use " no comment " more often is because they " use " the media at times to serve whatever agenda they have going. Those agendas could be anything, from contract dealings ( sending indirect messages to management ), to messages to their teammates, to charitable events, even for self promotion to businesses for sponsorships or partnerships. Those nice, personal story pieces that we all like to read aren't happenstance.

It is not a one way street ( media using players ) by any stretch.

Boys4Life

12-17-2011, 01:06 PM

These reporters, ESPECIALLY anyone from BSPN, have had a free ride for way too long. They are able to print or say any dumb arse thing they want without repercussion. I don't know Watkins personally, but his work as well as the likes of Jock Strap Taylor are to reporting what dog poop is to gourmet cooking.

Hostile

12-17-2011, 02:57 PM

6PWXcfQJjnISteve Dennis is an idiot. The next thing he says that is smart is going to be a first.

rocyaice

12-17-2011, 03:55 PM

Reporters have a job to do and players have a job to do. It sucks what happened but I honestly can see both sides of the situation.

BraveHeartFan

12-17-2011, 04:45 PM

I love how Steve Dennis says "The media suddenly becomes the enemy".

LOL!

No Steve. You're always the enemy because you morons love the fact that you're morons.

Hostile

12-17-2011, 05:13 PM

I love how Steve Dennis says "The media suddenly becomes the enemy".

LOL!

No Steve. You're always the enemy because you morons love the fact that you're morons.He has all the answers. Just ask him.

burmafrd

12-17-2011, 05:53 PM

the media has shown they deserve no respect and cannot be trusted. ALl players should treat them in the matter they have earned.

starchamber

12-17-2011, 06:21 PM

Jay and Jacobs are good friends from their Auburn days.

And by 'sad' we mean 'melodramatic.'

Ok,
So that excuses Brandon Jacobs simulating a sex act while standing over the star? I wouldn't let a family member get away with that level of disrespect without checking him. Will Jay react in kind in Giants stadium? I think not. This team eats slights and disappointment like candy. They should indulge themselves in random acts of team pride, instead of barking at "big mean ole reporters" that ask uncomfortable questions...