Ask Jay Ratliff
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM ETJay Ratliff
22 comments
Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff is on board for a live chat on NFL.com on Tuesday, April 6 at 4 p.m. ET to take your questions on his offseason, the outlook for the Cowboys and the trade of Donovan McNabb. And for more on what Jay has been up to this offseason, check out his personal site.
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Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
Hey this is Jay Ratliff. NT of the Dallas Cowboys I'm here too answer a few questions. let's get started. -
Nathan, Kentucky
7:00 PM ET
Hey Jay, does Donovan McNabb going the Redskins change anything for you guys this year besides the fact he is now with Washington instead of Philly? If so, what?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
No, it really doesn't chnage anything for us at all. We still have to do what we do to win games. Stop the run, get pressure. Only difference is McNabb will help the team with his experience and his elusive ways. He's a tough QB to take down, not to take anything away from Jason Campbell. But it was a good move for the Redskins and we look forward to facing them. -
Derek, Dallas
7:01 PM ET
Jay, thanks for chatting. Do you think the release of Flozell Adams was a "football" decision?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
Those are questions you have to be careful about. That's not my call. Whatever the owner or coach's decision is, we have to roll with it. All that does is open doors for other players to show their talents. So we'll se what happens this year. -
Austin, Dallas
7:02 PM ET
Did the emergence of Anthony Spencer as a pass rusher last season make your job easier?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
It made my job easier, but I don't know if I would call it an "emergence." Spencer has been that same athlete for a long time. He's always been doing it at practice. A lot of stuff earliler didn't show up on paper, but towards the end the sacks started coming. -
Sammy, Providence, RI
7:03 PM ET
What's on tap for vacation during the offseason Jay?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
Right now vacation is not on the schedule! I had elbow surgery so I'm trying to regain my upper body strength and doing a lot of rehab. So until I get comfortable, there's no vacation for me. -
Alan Bradford, San Jose
7:05 PM ET
Mr. Ratatat sack, are there any chances your changing your patended move after a big play?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
Nope, not at all. That's something I've been doing since college and I'm not going to stop as long as I'm playing! -
Go, California
7:05 PM ET
how does it feel to be in the cowboys loker room in the new stadium?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
There are a few new bells and whistles. One thing, is there's a lot more room. We're not as crowded. Everyone has their own outlet in their locker to plug in a DVD player or laptop so you can be in your own world. Oh, and we can also watch other games before we go out with some TVs mounted on the walls. We definitely appreciate that space. -
Paco, Santa Monica, CA
7:07 PM ET
Jay, some of us fans are wondering why the team hasn't made any offseason moves. Is the inactivity in free agency a sign Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips believe the team can win as is? What are your thoughts?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
Well that's one thing Mr. Jones believes. He believes we have what it takes to win it all. I'm pretty sure we're going to add some players. But, as I said before, that's not my call. Whoever is here, that's who we're going to roll with. -
Albert Haynesworth, DC
7:08 PM ET
Who do you think is the best DT in the NFL, other than me?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
Haha ... if you have the No. 1 spot, I'm closing the gap real fast! -
jeff, cali
7:10 PM ET
seriosuly you are the best tackle out there... you ar enot a typical 3-4 nt type but your strong at point of attack and your so dang explosive...you gotta clean or over-head snatch a small truck, how much can you power lift?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
Jeff, you're probably talking about power cleans. The most I've ever done is 405. I've done that like three times. I've never maxed out, because in college we were taught your true max is what you can do two times. I don't know what I can do once, but 405 I did three times. -
jef, cali
7:11 PM ET
jay, what do you do in your spare time when your not in film, weights, or practice?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
I chill with my family. Play with my girls, play with the dogs. Just a lot of family time. As much as I can. Right before the sunset, me and my girls we sit out on a bench and watch it. That's the part of the day I look forward to. At night, I hang with my brother and we play Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2. That's probably my favorite game of all time. I love to compete, talk trash. -
Mike, Connecticut
7:13 PM ET
Why are you the man? How'd you get so good? An where did you come up with that celebration that is so underrated after you make a big play?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
I'm just a regular guy like everybody else. The celebration started in college in a game vs. Alabama. My wife was pregnant with my first child at the time. I was so excited about being a father. There was a goal line stop when they could have easily scored and we stopped them. I think two of those three plays I contributed to. One play when I came up, that's what came out of me, and I never stopped doing it. so to this day, it's for my daughters. For my girls. -
Frankie, Brooklyn
7:15 PM ET
Thanks for chatting with us Jay. What was the difference after coach Phillips took over the defensive play-calling?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
No problem, I appreciate it. We were a lot more aggressive, but the key thing is we were comfotable with his defense and were able to play a lot faster and make more plays. Coach took over because, after all, it is his defense. Who knows it better than him? -
Q, McAllen Tx
7:17 PM ET
Hey Jay, congratulations on your successful career revival and I'm happy that your part of dallas cowboys. One question, who's harder to tackle during practice? MB3 or Felix Jones?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
Oh man ... I'll have to go with Marion. If you get in front of him you better be ready to deal with him. He wont shy away from contact. Not take anything away from Felix. He has power, but he's more of a finesse guy. I doubt you'd even have a chance to touch him, especially if he turns the corner. -
Sebastian, Denver,Co
7:19 PM ET
What are your own thoughts of the new overtime rule...and what is the pulse with your teammates and others in the league...do you like it and was it time to change this?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
I think I like it. Especially around playoff time. As if the atmosphere wasn't do-or-die before. Now, it's like defense is going to have to step their game up. Offense too. I'm excited. I always thought the speed of the playoff games was extremely fast, but now it's going to be unbelievable. -
Layton Smith, Scottsdale, Az
7:21 PM ET
Hey Jay i've really admired the way you came up thjrough Auburn as a tight end to a defensive end. You never seemed to look back when you got to Dallas. Im wondering do you feel open to the idea of moving around on the defensive line, or do you particulary like holding down the nose?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
Well, to be honest, it really doens't matter. Every single year I go in and I'm not sure where I'm going ot be ... NT or DE. There's always talk about me moving back to DE. If I'm playing there, that's where I'll be. But yes, I do prefer nose. That's the way it's been. I wouldn't say I'm closed minded to a move, but I like nose. I think nose is part of what makes me special as a player. -
Shahin, MA
7:23 PM ET
Just wondering, who are among your closest friends in the locker room?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
I would say the D-line. That's pretty much who I hang with all the time. We all know each other's families. We go out together, eat together, pray together. We're like one big family. -
Andre, Kitchener, ON, Canada
7:24 PM ET
Jay, what breed of dogs do you own?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
I have a German Sheppard, which is mine. I have a French Mastiff. It's the same dog from Turner & Hooch. That's my wife's dog. And my two girls have Welsh Corgi. -
JuiceFX, Washington State
7:25 PM ET
Will you play me in a 3rd person cage match on COD MW2? my PSN ID is JuiceFX
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
I wrote it down. I'll be ready. as a matter of fact, I'm about to get on. -
Jason, Houston
7:29 PM ET
What kind of Hazing should the new rookies expect?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
We don't do too much hazing on the D-line. I can't speak for the other guys or say much other than that. -
Eric Nichay, New Jerzey
7:30 PM ET
What do you think you'll be doing after football?
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
At one point I played with the idea of being a sportscaster. I probably feel like I'll end up going to med school and doing something in the medical field. I really like helping people and that was something I wanted to do before playing ball. -
Jay Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys
I gotta run, but thanks for all the questions and your interest. I look forward to doing it again soon.
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