Dallas Cowboys news & notes (Congrats Jay Ratliff edition)

by Dave Halprin on Dec 17, 2008 1:07 PM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

Jay_Ratliff

Out of all the Cowboys players that made the Pro Bowl, I'm the most happy about Jay Ratliff's inclusion. Ratliff was a seventh-round pick who most of us didn't really think much about at the time. But I remember training camp in 2006 when I saw Ratliff making plays all over the place and thinking this guy has a chance. He could be something. Well, that obviously is the case as Ratliff is finally getting league-wide recognition for his excellent play this season. I love the way he utilizes his quickness to attack ball-carriers and QB's, his tenacity to hold down the nose tackle position on double-teams, but most of all, I love his never-quit motor. The guy simply never gives up on a play and is as active in the fourth quarter of a game as he is in the first quarter. The Cowboys found a gem late in the draft and now he's paying off.

Congrats to Jay Ratliff

DeMarcus Ware, also going to the Pro Bowl, is the NFC defensive player of the week.

DeMarcus Ware's three sack, seven-tackle, two-quarterback pressures, two-forced fumble effort against the New York Giants did not go unnoticed obviously. He was named the NFC's Defensive Player of the Week.

Also, go vote for Tashard Choice as Rookie of the Week.

The guy who got snubbed was none other than Bradie James. It's a shame that Bradie isn't going, he's had a spectacular year and has been a major part of the defensive renaissance we've seen in the second half of the year.

We signed a new RB to the practice squad.

The Cowboys signed running back Marcus Thomas to the practice squad on Wednesday.

Thomas was a fifth-round pick in 2008 by the Chargers and played at UTEP. Thomas was released in training camp and was picked up by Detroit and played three games.

Frank Luksa names his 10 best memories of games at Texas Stadium in honor of the last regular-season game to be played there.

Want to keep up with playoff scenarios? Check out this page on NFL.com The Cowboys clinching scenario for this week is beat Baltimore and:

A Philadelphia loss or tie and a Chicago loss or tie and an Atlanta loss.
A Philadelphia loss or tie and a Chicago loss or tie and a Tampa Bay loss.
A Chicago loss or tie and a Tampa Bay loss and an Atlanta loss.
A Philadelphia loss or tie and an Atlanta loss and Dallas clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over Chicago.

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Comments

Come one

let’s get that win Dallas!!!!

They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.

by Dub_TC on Dec 17, 2008 1:16 PM CST reply actions

Yeah....Congrats RAT

You deserve it!

Oh yeah…FIRST!!!!!!

You'll never get in a traffic jam,while going the extra mile. -Roger staubach

by TrueBlue24 on Dec 17, 2008 1:16 PM CST reply actions

7th round --> Pro Bowl

Imagine if everyone on this team overachieved like J-Rat.

Anyhow, that was a great draft. D-Ware, MBII & J-Rat. Throw in Canty, Spears & Burnett. Someone did their homework that year!

by eightball on Dec 17, 2008 1:36 PM CST reply actions

Playoffs

I think the Cowboys will have to win their way in. No way those teams lose this weekend or next. They play soft teams and their playoff future is on the line. Figures the Cowboys have to play teams as strong as the Ravens and Eagles. The upside is that they’ll be battle tested when they enter the playofs, the downside is they’ll have been battling and could be tired and banged up.

by Joey2zs on Dec 17, 2008 1:37 PM CST reply actions

Atlanta is playing the Vikings, they certainly could lose.

The Bucs will be without Jermaine Phillips and maybe Garcia and Derrick Brooks.

by houseofprime on Dec 17, 2008 2:37 PM CST up reply actions

I disagree

I think there is a good possibility all 4 lose this weekend.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 17, 2008 3:53 PM CST up reply actions

not sure about all 4 but

I think the most likely is Tampa, Chicago, and Atlanta losing. I actually think that Chicago and Atlanta will lose, and am praying that the Chargers play like the 07 team, just one week—this week

First to six!!!

by sduncan24 on Dec 17, 2008 10:01 PM CST up reply actions

I think Tampa and Atlanta lose, but certainly any of the 4 can lose.

by jrduncans on Dec 18, 2008 5:35 AM CST up reply actions

here's my reasoning

Minn is actually favored over Atlanta and they are at home and quite frankly I just think the Vikes are the better team.

SD has had an awful year but they are still talented and still technically alive for the AFC West title.

Washington has been fading and Philly is hot, however, Skins did beat them a few months ago and this is a rivalry game so I expect the Skins to play tough.

Green Bay and Chicago is a rivalry game and anything can happen in those games, like last year when GB could have wrapped up #1 seed but lost to Bears who weren’t as good.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 18, 2008 7:45 AM CST up reply actions

I doubt all four will lose,

but one, two, maybe even three might before the season is over.

by aussie_cowboy on Dec 18, 2008 2:01 AM CST up reply actions

Good news for Holland, Pacman

from Spags:

Guard Montrae Holland said he was going to give it a go, but we’ll see exactly what that means, still seemingly walking gingerly on his sprained ankle. But at least he’s out of the protective walking boot.

And I’m told Pacman Jones’ neck issue has improved greatly, meaning the bruise on his spinal cord caused by the herniated disk is subsiding and that there still is hope he might be able to play some before the season is over.

by scottmaui on Dec 17, 2008 1:39 PM CST reply actions

good new on Holland, could certainly use him this week

Anyone check out the live shot of the massive scoreboard that went up yesterday at the new Stadium.

http://stadium.dallascowboys.com/newstadium_cam.cfm

by Deke on Dec 17, 2008 2:03 PM CST up reply actions

so that's a live feed from the stadium??

That is BADASS!!!

by AikmanNailedMySis on Dec 17, 2008 2:21 PM CST up reply actions

Having holland back would be a god send.

"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"

by Wmillion on Dec 17, 2008 11:19 PM CST up reply actions

So we want the Bears, Eagles, Falcons and Bucs to lose.

How would we win the strenght of victory tiebreaker over Chicago.

by houseofprime on Dec 17, 2008 2:54 PM CST reply actions

That's actually quite possible.

Minnesota wins their division if they beat the Falcons, and GB, WAS, and SD are all solid teams. It’s unlikely that they all lose, though. I think Chicago and Atlanta lose.

I have no idea how the strength of victory thing works, but I think I saw that if Dallas, TB, ATL, and CHI all finish 10-6, and Dallas’ loss is to the Eagles, then Dallas is out. I think Houston probably beats the Bears if the Packers don’t.

Looks like we will have to win out, which is tough because I think some of our guys could have used a little rest.

by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 17, 2008 3:05 PM CST up reply actions

Assuming that either Tampa or Atlanta lose one of the remaining four games they play between them, then all Dallas needs to do to get in the playoffs is to beat a hot Eagles team on the road in a do or die game in December. Most likely the Baltimore game will only make the difference between the fifth and sixth seed, not between in and out of the playoffs.

by Trey, on Dec 17, 2008 3:47 PM CST up reply actions

3 of 4 losing gets us in

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 17, 2008 4:02 PM CST up reply actions

Just goes to show

You don’t have to draft first round guys and pay them millions of dollars to get solid players.

by joey7289 on Dec 17, 2008 3:07 PM CST reply actions

instead of thinking about the scenarios

lets just win the last 2 games
starting with a victory over the ravens
yea it would be great to clinch a playoff berth this weekend but there’s no need ponder these situations when we control our own destiny

Superbowl or Bust?

by MrMinority on Dec 17, 2008 4:01 PM CST reply actions

It would just be nice for the injured guys.

It’s highly unlikely, anyway. But, as much as I would like to see the Cowboys go in on a winning streak, it would probably be better if some of our walking wounded could rest the last week of the season. 2 teams are getting at least a 1 week bye, and Minnesota, NYG, and the Panthers will possibly be able to rest their starters in the last week of the season also. As banged up as the Cowboys are, it would be nice if we could give our guys a week of rest.

by Baked Potato Soup on Dec 17, 2008 5:44 PM CST up reply actions

I too am very happy for Rat

I always thought he was a very underrated player for us after he was drafted, like Grizz pointed out, the kid has a non stop motor and as Parcells used to say, is just a football playing dude.

Gotta love him!

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 17, 2008 4:04 PM CST reply actions