4:56pm: Agent Mark Slough has released the following statement on behalf of Ratliff (TwitLonger link via Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report):
“Jeremiah has no recollection or memory of saying anything that has been reported in the police report. Jeremiah is receiving care in Dallas for a football-related medical condition that arose out of the game on the 18th with Detroit. The primary focus right now is on Jeremiah’s cognitive health. I would also like to reiterate that the reports that Jeremiah showed up at Halas Hall inebriated are utterly and completely false.”
2:47pm: The NFL is investigating the Jeremiah Ratliff situation, according to a league spokesperson (Twitter link via Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com). It’s not clear if Ratliff could face discipline from the NFL as a result of the investigation, but based on the details that surfaced today from a police report, it certainly sounds as if he may have run afoul of the league’s personal conduct policy.
Ratliff reportedly showed up last Wednesday in no condition to practice, prompting the Bears to send him home. After the team made the decision to release him, Ratliff returned to the club’s practice facility, saying at one point that “he felt like killing everybody in the building,” according to Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune, who cited a report from the Lake Forest Police Department.
Ratliff left Halas Hall and returned again later, at which time he reportedly said, “I am the devil” and said that he “wished [a] staff member’s children would die.” Although no charges were filed against Ratliff, the Bears did call local police, with team officials alerting the Lake Forest P.D. of their belief that the 34-year-old owns multiple firearms, according to Campbell.
Whether or not the NFL decides to fine or suspend Ratliff for the incident, it seems unlikely that the veteran defensive lineman will get an opportunity from another team this season. Having burned bridges in Dallas and now Chicago, the four-time Pro Bowler doesn’t appear to be worth the risk as an in-season addition.
Ratliff previously served a three-game suspension to start the 2015 season for violating the league’s policy and program for substances of abuse.
Am somewhat suspect of the Bears’ version of this incident.
The dude admitted it
The Cowboys will sign him. They call that passion.
Amazing comment!
Dude has a serious drinking problem when he keeps showing up to a NFL practice drunk. Not the first time either. Happened last season to.
So he’s going to play the concussion defense. What a slimeball agent, becuase there’s no way Ratliff was clever enough to come up with that scam.