Jay Ratliff?

by nzach54 on Dec 14, 2007 5:27 PM CST

I'm a Cowboy fan who lives in Southern California... but I still see every Cowboy game... not living in or near Dallas I would say that my finger may not be firmly on the pulse of the team and community... but $20.5 million for Jay Ratliff? Really? Can someone please enlighten me. Is he that good of a nose tackle that they had to lock him up now?

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/121507dnspocowbriefs.1701b975.html

I know that Albert Haynesworth is a bastard, but he's a free agent next year and he's playing out of his mind. Would he have been a bad fit in this D?

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Good question

my question is what does this mean for fergie? seems like we've got a logjam at NT with tank, ratliff and fergie...and i can't see them paying fergie this much money to not be a starter....but, hands down, i would think fergie is the starter when healthy.....does this mean tank is out? fergie? interesting....

by Tuna Helper on Dec 14, 2007 5:55 PM CST reply actions

I believe Ferguson now becomes expendable...

The contract is a good deal for a decent starting NT, who is only going to progress and get better. Tank Johnson at the league minimum is also a sweet deal. Ferguson was great, Do we bring him back? to make our depth that much better...I do believe in a good, strong rotation, but I'm not quite sure how much Fergie makes. Can push Ratliff outside and start him over Spears at end, giving us Rat, Fergie, and Canty as starters ...with Spears, Johnson, Bowen, and Hatcher in the rotation.....that looks like a pretty solid DLine. I do feel we need yet another Sack specialist at DE.

True Cowboys diehard since 1975.

by BoyzRback07 on Dec 14, 2007 6:25 PM CST up reply actions

Fergie is pretty old

and I bet he would stay another year or two as part of a solid rotation. Tank hasn't exactly shot his stock through the roof and Rat sure came through for us when the team was in a bind. I like the deal and think we still get Tank and fergie to stay for one hell of a rotation.

by Billito on Dec 14, 2007 6:27 PM CST reply actions

yeah....that's my thinking.

That would give us a solid D Line throughout. This of course, is hoping that Canty is resigned...Some team might just throw out some outrageous contract, which we are able to match...but....Do we pay too much to retain him ?..or take the #1rst round tender i'm sure we're going to put on him. I don't want to lose Canty, Or Crayton, Or BarberIII, and for the most part, I think we should resign Flo as well, If possible....hope it all works out...

j. jones
n. jones
j. reeves
and a few more,
won't be resigned.

True Cowboys diehard since 1975.

by BoyzRback07 on Dec 14, 2007 6:40 PM CST up reply actions

Think twice about Reeves

I don't know that I agree that Reeves is one of the guys to let go... Where would we have been this year without him? Newman and Henry both had injuries that caused them to miss multiple games. In their place, Reeves played fairly well and seems to have improved as he gains more experience. You can never have enough good corners and I'd be reluctant to let him go at this point.

The Red Ball Express will be rolling this year!

by BulletBob on Dec 17, 2007 10:14 AM CST up reply actions

A Bargin.

An absolute bargin at 20 mil over 5 years. Just wait to see what top flight DT's sign for during the off season. Jay and Andrae G. ( from last season) were excellent financial decisions.

by JJshairgel on Dec 14, 2007 6:58 PM CST reply actions

A real bargin considering

Richard Seymour of the Patriots made 24 million last year...and I'd say Ratliff is at least half as good as him. 4 million a year for his talent is sure value. I'm thinking Canty will/should get done before seasons over too....Word has it Crayton might be signed soon...I'd love going into the off season with most of our team wrapped up.

True Cowboys diehard since 1975.

by BoyzRback07 on Dec 14, 2007 8:45 PM CST up reply actions

I havent seen the numbers

but it sounds real cheap, at first I said WTF, that's insane giving him that much but Jerry gave him a 8 mil signing bonus I saw somewhere. If that's true than his base pay is dirt cheap over the 5 years. I still think he could be moved to DE in the near future once Spears fate is decided. Tank at DT and Ratliff at DE would be a better fit.

by Cowboys81 on Dec 14, 2007 10:47 PM CST up reply actions

I don't think Haynesworth is going anywhere

Tennessee would be fools to let him go.

If we win the Super Bowl, then we owe Parcells a Gatorade shower.

by Nelson @ Blogging The Boys on Dec 14, 2007 7:02 PM CST reply actions

They'll put tag on him..

Franchise tag for sure...plus the fact they are 30 million below the salary cap...

True Cowboys diehard since 1975.

by BoyzRback07 on Dec 14, 2007 8:32 PM CST up reply actions

Ratliff is actually a DE...

the only reason is playing NT is because Fergie got hurt. If Fergie does come back (which I expect he will), the NT can be rotated with him and Tank. Ratliff would then move back to DE in place of Spears or be in the rotation there with Hatcher.

Ratliff has done an outstanding job at NT considering he is smaller than most NTs.

by DaveTroll on Dec 14, 2007 8:43 PM CST reply actions

Ratliff on that fumble

was awesome. He's a team man. Siging a thug like Haynesworth, after what he did to our team? No way man.

by King Man on Dec 14, 2007 9:54 PM CST reply actions

Ratliff is one of if not our best

D-lineman. 20.5 mil for 5 years is a steal IMO. Jerry and Stephen are awesome.

I can't tell you how wonderful of a job they have done. I think we got a really good deal with Romo and Gurode. And now with Ratliff. Wow. Great job guys!

Burt-D

by Burt D @ Blogging The Boys on Dec 14, 2007 10:10 PM CST reply actions