Dallas Cowboys starting nose tackle Jay Ratliff was arrested and charged with DWI in the early-morning hours Tuesday after he crashed his 2011 Ford pickup truck into a 18-wheeler, according to Grapevine, Texas, police senior officer Sam Shemwell.
Ratliff and the driver of the tractor trailer were not injured, according to Shemwell.
Police arrived at the 2800 block of East State Highway 114 at 12:36 a.m. to investigate a crash. Police, according to Shemwell, upon an investigation of the crash, arrested Ratliff on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Ratliff was bonded out of a Grapevine jail on Tuesday morning.
Cowboys officials, in Mobile, Ala., watching practices for Saturday’s Senior Bowl, declined comment. Ratliff’s agent, Mark Slough, declined comment.
Ratliff, who was not available for comment, played in just six games in 2012 because of injuries. He underwent a sports hernia surgery in late December, ending his season. However, the Cowboys kept him on the active roster with the hope he would return in the playoffs, if the team had made it.
The Ratliff arrest marks the second time a Cowboys player has dealt with police officials regarding DWIs in the last several months.
On Dec. 8, backup nose tackle Josh Brent was charged with involuntary manslaughter resulting in the death of friend and Cowboys practice squad player Jerry Brown.
The Cowboys provide a service that can take players home safely. Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said he knew the service was used several times.
Ratliff, coincidentally, has a close relationship to Brent.
Brent was tested after the crash and it was determined he had a blood-alcohol content more than twice the legal limit at the time of the crash.
Brent was indicted on one count of intoxication manslaughter and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. He could also receive probation. Brent is free on $100,000 bond and required to wear an alcohol monitor.
Ratliff is considered one of the more passionate players on the team. He got into a heated argument with Jones in which both men needed to be separated.
Tuesday afternoon, Jones was asked about Ratliff’s status with the team, given the argument the two had 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. “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.
“So when you’ve got the kind of background we’ve got together, then if you have a moment that you might not have been on the same page, that’s like father-son, that’s like family, that’s like all that. That’s forgotten when you know each other has your best interests at heart. We both know that.”
Any NFL player that is arrested is subject to the NFL conduct policy which could result in a fine or suspension.
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