If there was any doubt that something odd went on between the Cowboys and defensive lineman Jay Ratliff, there should be none now.
Linebacker Sean Lee had nothing good to say about Ratliff during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas.
“If you don’t want to be here and play for this team, then move on,” Lee said regarding Ratliff. “I’d rather go down with guys who want to be here and want to win than win with guys who don’t want to be here.”
But there are still no details about what really happened between Ratliff and the Cowboys. Cut last week after he became eligible to exit the physically unable to perform list, Ratliff now is hoping to land with a new team. Owner Jerry Jones, who rarely if ever declines comment on anything, has refused to talk about Ratliff, calling it a legal matter.
“I had said earlier that I thought I was going to focus on good things, the contribution that he made here, how we all need him real bad, this team needs him read bad, needed him real bad,’’ Jones said. “I was disappointed that he wasn’t playing. It was disappointing that the resources that are involved here aren’t going to guys out here making plays.’’
Ratliff received $18 million guaranteed under his 2011 contract. His departure will trigger a $6.98 million cap charge in 2014, at a time when the Cowboys reportedly will be $31 million above the salary cap.
“I won’t be commenting about this because of the fact there are legal issues involved here relative to the league and otherwise,’’ Jones said. “I don’t want to get into the detail of the expanse of the legal issues that may be involved here. But that’s the reason I’m not going to get into detail and talk about it.’’
When someone refuses to talk based on legal issues, the person either has legal rights he plans to enforce or fears that legal rights will be enforced against him. Given these specific circumstances, we’ve got a feeling the Cowboys are considering an effort to recover some of their money and, in turn, some of those resources that could go to the “guys out here making plays.”