IRVING, Texas – Head coach Jason Garrett said he was "very disappointed" when he learned of Jay Ratliff's arrest in January on a charge of driving while intoxicated, just a month and a half after teammate Josh Brent was charged with intoxication manslaughter.
Garrett said he's talked to Ratliff and any subsequent discipline from the team or the league will have to be played out. There are also legal implications to the situation.
"Obviously having one situation like that is one too many and what we're trying to do as an organization and what we've tried to do as a league is do everything we can to keep our players and everyone as well informed as possible to these kinds of issues to help them make the right decisions, and we'll continue to do that going forward," Garrett said.
Unlike Brent's accident, no serious injuries occurred after Ratliff crashed his truck into an 18-wheeler on Highway 114 in Grapevine. The Cowboys released a statement at the end of January through team consultant Calvin Hill, who's a part of the player development program. [embedded_ad]
"Our player assistance programs in the areas of preventing incidents such as these are at the highest level in professional sports, but we are always looking to do better and for ways to improve," Hill said in the statement. "We will continue to draw upon the best expertise and resources available, both internally and from outside the organization, to work toward being the best in the areas of education, prevention, and effecting the right decisions."
Ratliff played in only six games in 2012 after multiple injuries, finishing with 16 combined tackles and no sacks.
