Ratliff blood-alcohol level was 0.16. the Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle was twice the legal limit when he crashed his automobile.
The Dallas Cowboys have been dealing with alcohol-related driving issues this past offseason and it has become an alarming trend.
According to ESPNDallas.com, nose tackle Jay Ratliff, who was arrested for drunken driving last week, had his blood alcohol content tested and it returned a 0.16 percent level-- twice the legal limit- according to Grapevine, Texas, police.
The report says that Ratliff, who is a four-time Pro Bowl player and a team captain, failed three different field sobriety tests at the scene and refused to provide a breath specimen. A search warrant was issued for a blood sample at 2:55 a.m., almost two and a half hours after the police arrived at the scene of the accident.
According to the probable cause affidavit written by arresting officer Eric Barch, Ratliff was "verbally abusive several times" after being transported to the Grapevine jail. Ratliff had been "cooperative and courteous" at the scene of the accident, Barch wrote.
Ratliff was bonded out of jail the day of his arrest and he met with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones the following day. Ratliff, his agent, Mark Slough, and the Cowboys have yet to comment on the arrest.
According to ESPN: Ratliff, according to the affidavit, showed a total of 12 clues of intoxication while taking three field sobriety tests. Ratliff, who underwent season-ending surgery to repair a sports hernia on Dec. 13, complained after his arrest about prior injuries that could have affected his ability to perform two of the field sobriety tests, Barch wrote. The officer stated in his report that Ratliff did not have any difficulty moving around the crash scene.
Ratliff told the officer that he had been "chillin' with a homegirl" in Arlington, Texas, and was en route to his home in Southlake.
According to ESPN.com, Ratliff was allegedly driving while impaired and crashed his 2011 Ford pickup truck into a 18-wheeler, according to Grapevine, Texas, police senior officer Sam Shemwell. Police arrived on the scene past 12:30 a.m. to investigate the crash at the 2800 block of East State Highway 114. Police, according to Shemwell, upon an investigation of the crash, arrested Ratliff on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Ratliff was one of the best players on the Cowboys defense over the past few years, but he was injured throughout the 2012 season and played in only six games. In December he had season-ending sports hernia surgery, but was kept on the active roster until the team was eliminated from the playoffs.
The arrest of Ratliff comes at a rough time for the Cowboys, as they are still dealing with the Brent situation. In early December, backup nose tackle Josh Brent was charged with involuntary manslaughter resulting in the death of friend and Cowboys practice squad player Jerry Brown.
According to ESPN.com, the Cowboys, like many other NFL teams, have a service that players can use to get rides home safely. Owner Jerry Jones has said in the past that the service has been used and should be utilized by players. The report also says that Ratliff and Brent had a close relationship.
The incident for Ratliff likely marks the end of his tenure with the Cowboys. This past season he and Jones had an argument in the locker room and he was quoted as being frustrated during the season.
"As far as I'm concerned, he is outstanding, he has given everything he's ever had to the Dallas Cowboys," Jones said Tuesday. "With me, any of that emotion that was involved between us is only reflected back on many times that we've had in our own way some emotional time with each other. And it in no way before was ever contentious."
According to ESPN.com, any NFL player that is arrested is subject to the NFL conduct policy which could result in a fine or suspension.
Ratliff recorded just 16 tackles this season and zero sacks. Back in September 2011 Ratliff signed a five-year, $40 million contract and looked as if he would be a stalwart on the Cowboys' defense. That has not worked out this year and there is a chance Jones will cut him once the season is over.
Dallas has undergone a number of changes this offseason after missing the playoffs again in 2012. The team fired defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and brought in Montee Kiffin to replace him.
"I want to express my appreciation to Rob for all of his efforts and contributions to the Cowboys over the past two years," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said in a statement at the time of the move. "At this time, the decision has been made to move forward in a different direction philosophically on defense. I have an immense amount of respect for Rob as a person and as a football coach and I wish him and his family the very best."
Dallas finished 19th in total defense and was ranked 17th against the run and 21st against the pass while allowing 25 points per game, ranked 24th in the NFL. The Cowboys have lost the final game of the season in each of the past two years, losing out on the NFC East division title in the process. In 2011, the Giants defeated the Cowboys in Week 17 en route to their Super Bowl championship.
