kepdawg
12-14-2007, 06:38 PM
Cashing In
Ratliff Gets 5-Year, $20.5 Million Contract Extension
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 14, 2007 3:42 PM
IRVING, Texas - Every week, it seems head coach Wade Phillips can't get through a press conference without singing the praises of nose tackle Jay Ratliff.
On Friday, the usually-quiet Ratliff was probably the one singing - all the way to the bank.
The Cowboys avoided free agency next year with Ratliff, signing him to a five-year contract extension worth $20.5 million, including an $8 million signing bonus.
Ratliff was expected to be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. And with Ratliff being a former seventh-round draft pick, the Cowboys certainly would've tendered him more than the original seventh-round tender.
As it turned out, the Cowboys just ensured themselves of keeping Ratliff in the mix for the next five years.
Ratliff has been a pleasant surprise as a replacement for Jason Ferguson, who was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn biceps injury in Week One.
While some questioned whether Ratliff (6-4, 298) would be big enough to handle the grind of a nose tackle all year, the third-year pro from Auburn has more than pulled his own weight.
"He's got such a great motor," Phillips says of Ratliff. "He's athletic and he's a good pass rusher, which is hard to find. You want as many good pass rushers as you can have. He was already on our dime and on our sub packages. I thought he would be a good run player too, and he's proved to be that. It's pretty amazing that he's an undersized end playing nose guard."
Even with the addition of veteran Tank Johnson, Ratliff's playing time hasn't decreased.
Ratliff has 24 tackles this season with 1 ½ sacks, but is second on the team with 13 quarterback pressures.
LINK (http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=DA9ECFE5-BADA-5C15-203B3EC17C9B1CAB)
Ratliff Gets 5-Year, $20.5 Million Contract Extension
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 14, 2007 3:42 PM
IRVING, Texas - Every week, it seems head coach Wade Phillips can't get through a press conference without singing the praises of nose tackle Jay Ratliff.
On Friday, the usually-quiet Ratliff was probably the one singing - all the way to the bank.
The Cowboys avoided free agency next year with Ratliff, signing him to a five-year contract extension worth $20.5 million, including an $8 million signing bonus.
Ratliff was expected to be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. And with Ratliff being a former seventh-round draft pick, the Cowboys certainly would've tendered him more than the original seventh-round tender.
As it turned out, the Cowboys just ensured themselves of keeping Ratliff in the mix for the next five years.
Ratliff has been a pleasant surprise as a replacement for Jason Ferguson, who was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn biceps injury in Week One.
While some questioned whether Ratliff (6-4, 298) would be big enough to handle the grind of a nose tackle all year, the third-year pro from Auburn has more than pulled his own weight.
"He's got such a great motor," Phillips says of Ratliff. "He's athletic and he's a good pass rusher, which is hard to find. You want as many good pass rushers as you can have. He was already on our dime and on our sub packages. I thought he would be a good run player too, and he's proved to be that. It's pretty amazing that he's an undersized end playing nose guard."
Even with the addition of veteran Tank Johnson, Ratliff's playing time hasn't decreased.
Ratliff has 24 tackles this season with 1 ½ sacks, but is second on the team with 13 quarterback pressures.
LINK (http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=DA9ECFE5-BADA-5C15-203B3EC17C9B1CAB)