Report: Bears Agree to Contract with Former Cowboys Pro Bowl DT Jay Ratliff
Oct 28, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff (90) during the game against the New York Giants at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Ed Werder is reporting that the Chicago Bears have signed former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Jay Ratliff to a one-year deal.
Former Cowboys DT Jay Ratliff has agreed to 1-year contract to join Bears. Will play against Cowboys later this month
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) November 2, 2013
Werder later corrected himself on the timing of the Bears and Cowboys game:
Cowboys play at Bears on ESPN Dec. 9. Assuming healthy, Jay Ratliff will be rushing Tony Romo. Keep camera on Jerry Jones.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) November 2, 2013
Ratliff visited the Bears and Chiefs earlier this week and chose the Bears, supposedly in part for the chance to stick it to his former team:
I'm told Bears certainly sold Jay Ratliff on opportunity to play vs Cowboys if he signed there. Met Jay Cutler and Julius Peppers on visit
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) November 2, 2013
Sure, whatever it takes, I guess. So Jay Cutler and Julius Peppers were the equivalent of Benny the Bull showing up at the airport to woo Ratliff, huh?
As we noted earlier in the week, Ratliff is still probably a couple of weeks away from being ready to play, but if he, Cutler and Briggs can return late in the season, you never know.
In the meantime, the Bears need to keep the ship afloat for the next few weeks until they get everyone healthy. They face the Packer on Monday Night Football this week without Cutler and Briggs. And supposedly Ratliff.