Jay Ratliff Of The Dallas Cowboys Arrested For Alleged Drunk Driving

Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff is facing a charge of allegedly driving while intoxicated after a traffic accident early Tuesday in Grapevine, Texas.

Ratliff reportedly crashed his Ford 150 pickup truck into a tractor trailer on State Highway 141. Neither Ratliff nor the driver of the 18-wheeler were injured in the accident, according to ESPN.

Responding officers determined that he was intoxicated, NFL.com reports, however, and he apparently refused to take a breathalyzer. After officers obtained a search warrant, Ratliff submitted to a blood test, the results of which are pending.

Ratliff was booked at Grapevine jail and later released after posting bond.

Ratliff, 31, saw limited action this season because of injuries but was kept on the active roster in case the Cowboys made the playoffs. He is a four-time Pro Bowler who played his college ball at Auburn.

As far as Ratliff’s drunk driving charge, according the Dallas Morning News, “the Cowboys declined to comment. Ratliff’s agent, Mark Slough, did not return messages seeking comment Tuesday night.”

Reportedly, Ratliff got into a major confrontation with owner Jerry Jones in December, but Jones said that all was forgiven.

Early last month, Cowboys defensive linesman Josh Brent was charged with intoxication manslaughter in the one-car accident that killed teammate and passenger Jerry Brown.

NFL.com reports that “following the Brown tragedy, a team consultant said the Cowboys were looking into setting up all players with SafeKey, an electronic device that prevents vehicles from starting when a driver is impaired.”

The Cowboys also provide players with something along the lines of a designated driver service.