Jay Ratliff

[LatinMind]

Why are you upset with Jay? When Jays Healthy, he's a beast and a 100% effort guy. I'm upset that his torn groin wasnt diagnose earlier. He could of Help us F up A Morris and RG3 if he had his surgery earlier. JJ and the staff assumed his injury wasnt that Bad. ***./.....

Jay a true warrior, dont get it.. He made be getting too old, and can not stay healthy, but hes the type of personality this team needs.

They dont need a guy who is going to distance himself from them. He's selfish. The team and coach wanted him there at the Skins game and he was the only player that didnt go.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

They dont need a guy who is going to distance himself from them. He's selfish. The team and coach wanted him there at the Skins game and he was the only player that didnt go.

I disagree.

Ratliff has a combustible personality but this team needs a few psychos. There are too many Boy Scouts on this team as it is.

When healthy, the guy was one of the best interior lineman this team had. Regardless of his age and unpredictability, he still serves a purpose and unless they draft his replacement this April, they need to keep him.

 

[silver]

We need to move to a 4-3 and platoon Crawford, Hatcher, Ratliff and Lissemore at DT to prolong his career. Playing NT will keep cutting short his seasons due to wear and tear. That way we would go for a pass rushing end in the draft instead of a run blocking NT to platoon with Ware and Spencer at DE. We could start Bruce and Sims at OLB and Lee at the mike. It would add much needed speed to the base defense.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

What is my opinion on Jay Ratliff? Well, my opinion on Rat is that it doesn't really matter. Jay is gone and it's just a matter of when it happens IMO.

It's interesting, I have always liked Ratliff and felt like he was an intelligent, articulate player who gave us good play. I never felt like Jay was the kind of player who was out of control or short sighted but what happened between he and Jerry certainly seemed to be a short sighted decision. Makes me wonder if what played out between the two was not a means to an end? If the rumors about Ryan and ideas about moving Jay to DE along with Jay's adamant refusal to make such a move are true, then I have to wonder if that display was not the first shot in an attempt to clear the way for a trade or release?

Jerry knows full well the extent of Jay's injuries. Jerry has never been a coach that has not looked after his investments where players are concerned. That's one of the things players like about Jerry. I can't see a situation in which Jerry would go to Jay and ask him to play if he felt like serious injury would be involved. I just don't see that so why the over blown display from Jay?

Something there just doesn't seem quite right to me.

No matter, Jay is gone this season and I don't believe the team really has much choice in the matter. You can't have players threatening Owners or GMs. If for no other reason then the simple fact that the other Owners will not accept it, I have to believe that Jay is gone. He should be gone. If it's a designed move on his part, then I give him credit. He has managed to accomplish what he wanted in a way that will not cost him significantly. Pretty smart, which is what I always thought Ratliff was. Either way, the Cowboys will be going in a new direction next year and I seriously hope that it's towards a more physical style of play.

 

[visionary]

Totally agree.

Most observers think what happened that day is that Jerry was either prodding Jay to play and suggested he wasn't really that hurt (like he did with Barber a few years ago) or that he said something more innocent and Jay took it wrong. He's known to be a Jekyll and Hyde type who on his bad days has a short fuse.

But a ton of good football players are like that, especially on defense at the physical positions. I think any of us who played at any level know that. Charles Haley was exactly that way. You have to be half crazy to be really good at the more physical positions in this game.

Anyway, for the last several years Jay has undoubtedly played with tons of heart and effort, probably as much or more than anyone else on the team. I still think most who trash him are those in love with the 350 lb huge fat NT, people who can't stand that he doesn't fit their picture of the nosetackle they want. Therefore, he's a no-good bum. (Even though some of these same people praise a *****cat like Spears, a total JAG whose best quality is that he's learned to give the proper soundbites to the media.)

It's stupid, but that's the way it is.

agree

in the interest of full disclosure, i am one of the guys who think we need a big tub of goo at NT but that does not preclude me from appreciating Jay

 

[xwalker]

His reported refusal to play DE doesn't help in his return.

They could get him out of the NT position without moving him to DE.

They play in a 4-man line (usually in the nickel defense) over 1/3 of the time and some games more than half of the snaps.

I would just play him at DT in the 4-man line and put someone else at NT when they play the 3-man line.

They need to limit his snaps anyway.

 

[LatinMind]

What is my opinion on Jay Ratliff? Well, my opinion on Rat is that it doesn't really matter. Jay is gone and it's just a matter of when it happens IMO.

It's interesting, I have always liked Ratliff and felt like he was an intelligent, articulate player who gave us good play. I never felt like Jay was the kind of player who was out of control or short sighted but what happened between he and Jerry certainly seemed to be a short sighted decision. Makes me wonder if what played out between the two was not a means to an end? If the rumors about Ryan and ideas about moving Jay to DE along with Jay's adamant refusal to make such a move are true, then I have to wonder if that display was not the first shot in an attempt to clear the way for a trade or release?

Jerry knows full well the extent of Jay's injuries. Jerry has never been a coach that has not looked after his investments where players are concerned. That's one of the things players like about Jerry. I can't see a situation in which Jerry would go to Jay and ask him to play if he felt like serious injury would be involved. I just don't see that so why the over blown display from Jay?

Something there just doesn't seem quite right to me.

No matter, Jay is gone this season and I don't believe the team really has much choice in the matter. You can't have players threatening Owners or GMs. If for no other reason then the simple fact that the other Owners will not accept it, I have to believe that Jay is gone. He should be gone. If it's a designed move on his part, then I give him credit. He has managed to accomplish what he wanted in a way that will not cost him significantly. Pretty smart, which is what I always thought Ratliff was. Either way, the Cowboys will be going in a new direction next year and I seriously hope that it's towards a more physical style of play.

Bingo. I really think Ratliff turned out to not really be a team player. Dallas developed and knew Brent would be better fit inside and Ratliff would be better outside. Its all about whats best for the team. And Ratliff wasnt having it.

 

[TimHortons]

the Rat issue is a big question mark but an interesting issue nevertheless

why does everyone assume that the altercation between him and jerry means he cant come back

i have always viewed Rat as one of the hard workers and "come to play" players on the team

does anyone really know what really happened that day?

what if they learned he has a sports hernia and he wanted to wait and see if he could recover and play and jerry wanted him to have surgery and he got upset?

i would like to bring him back if he is healthy and if he did not do anything eggregious

we need more leaders on this team and he is one of them IMO

just my take

People don't want him back because he is a now an average to below average undersized NT. He isn't what he used to be, nothing to do with the Jerry situation

 

[Fletch]

Hopefully we don't rue the day, but I say we take or chances and release him and draft fairly high for his replacement. Or go the FA route.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

We need to move to a 4-3 and platoon Crawford, Hatcher, Ratliff and Lissemore at DT to prolong his career. Playing NT will keep cutting short his seasons due to wear and tear. That way we would go for a pass rushing end in the draft instead of a run blocking NT to platoon with Ware and Spencer at DE. We could start Bruce and Sims at OLB and Lee at the mike. It would add much needed speed to the base defense.

If they decided to part ways with Rob Ryan, then I think I am in agreement with that as well. There is no doubt about Lee and Carter's ability in either scheme, but I am not sure about depending on Sims full-time, plus you have three starters that have been a little injury prone. Also remember that Crawford was a Defensive End at Boise, so they would probably move him back in a 4-3 scheme. In my opinion, a 4-3 shift would cement them grabbing a DT and an OLB in the first three rounds.

 

[Fletch]

People don't want him back because he is a now an average to below average undersized NT. He isn't what he used to be, nothing to do with the Jerry situation

Exactly. He is in big decline. Why wait another year to really watch his demise? Move on and get younger. Time to just move on. Pro-active!

 

[silver]

If they decided to part ways with Rob Ryan, then I think I am in agreement with that as well. There is no doubt about Lee and Carter's ability in either scheme, but I am not sure about depending on Sims full-time, plus you have three starters that have been a little injury prone. Also remember that Crawford was a Defensive End at Boise, so they would probably move him back in a 4-3 scheme. In my opinion, a 4-3 shift would cement them grabbing a DT and an OLB in the first three rounds.

Ryan, the son of Buddy who invented the 46 defense can run a 4-3 I would imagine.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

If they decided to part ways with Rob Ryan, then I think I am in agreement with that as well. There is no doubt about Lee and Carter's ability in either scheme, but I am not sure about depending on Sims full-time, plus you have three starters that have been a little injury prone. Also remember that Crawford was a Defensive End at Boise, so they would probably move him back in a 4-3 scheme. In my opinion, a 4-3 shift would cement them grabbing a DT and an OLB in the first three rounds.

If we moved to a 43, I don't think we would need to grab an OLB high. If we moved to a 43, I think that makes Sims a priority sign and we roll with Carter, Lee and Sims as our starters.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I thought Jerry has lost his damn mind when he gave him the extension. It is bad business to extend a lineman that is already in decline. Jerry keeps the team in cap hell with these moves.

As for Ratliff, he is done. Playing NT at his weight has shortened his career. He has nothing but a shell of his former self for three seasons. His attitude puts him in a position where he needs to go.

What he said.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

If we moved to a 43, I don't think we would need to grab an OLB high. If we moved to a 43, I think that makes Sims a priority sign and we roll with Carter, Lee and Sims as our starters.

That just screams of a bad situation to me. Having Sims back up those guys in a 3-4 is fine by me, but to have three injury prone guys as your three starting 4-3 LBs, that just gives me some serious pause.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

That just screams of a bad situation to me. Having Sims back up those guys in a 3-4 is fine by me, but to have three injury prone guys as your three starting 4-3 LBs, that just gives me some serious pause.

In a 43, all of those guys would be less likely to sustain injury but be that as it may, the injuries sustained by Lee and Carter were really not due to attrition IMO. They were injuries that happened in space. Typically, this is not what you worry about with your LBs. You worry that the wear and tear will break them down over the season.

I think a move to the 43 would actually help all of them out from the that standpoint. Even if we decided to draft a LB, it's more likely that he would not be a starter next season so it would still necessitate a signing.

JMO

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Ryan, the son of Buddy who invented the 46 defense can run a 4-3 I would imagine.

I like Rob, but honestly, he is not his dad. Buddy was an innovator with the 46 and arguably the best D-Coordinators of the 80's. Rob has never been able to say that.

He runs some 4-3 here, he ran it much more with the Raiders and at Okie State, so I have no doubt he is capable. But honestly, I am tired of mediocre results and changing to a 4-3 while holding on to Rob Ryan is going to simply bring Dallas more mediocrity in my opinion.

If they go back to a 4-3, I would hope they would go after a coordinator that has used it exclusively for the last few years. Someone with some ideas on how to turn this unit into something better than we have seen.

 

[jnday]

Why are you upset with Jay? When Jays Healthy, he's a beast and a 100% effort guy. I'm upset that his torn groin wasnt diagnose earlier. He could of Help us F up A Morris and RG3 if he had his surgery earlier. JJ and the staff assumed his injury wasnt that Bad. ***./.....

Jay a true warrior, dont get it.. He made be getting too old, and can not stay healthy, but hes the type of personality this team needs.

You willing to pay millions for personality? There comes a time when for all players are in this position. His refusal to play DE is not the example that needs to be set for his teammates. If we go by attitude, Columbo could be brought back to play the cheerleader position much cheaper.

 

[jnday]

Bingo. I really think Ratliff turned out to not really be a team player. Dallas developed and knew Brent would be better fit inside and Ratliff would be better outside. Its all about whats best for the team. And Ratliff wasnt having it.

I don't think his attitude has always been that of a selfish player, but he could have been a problem behind closed doors. Only his teammates know for sure.

 

[LatinMind]

I don't think his attitude has always been that of a selfish player, but he could have been a problem behind closed doors. Only his teammates know for sure.

I dont either. His fight with Jerry didnt even bother me. I didnt think it was smart on his part. But the news lately about him sulking and distancing himself from his teammates i think is BS. When i hear about him being the only person who didnt want to go to the Commanders game it changed my whole perspective of him. Especially after hearing JG wanted them all there as well as the team wanted them all there. Them being the guys on IR