Jay Ratliff

Jason Jeremiah "Jay" Ratliff (born August 29, 1981) is an American football nose tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Auburn University, and was chosen by the Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft.

Early years
Ratliff attended Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia and was a letterman in football, basketball, and track. He earned All-State and honorable mention all-USA Today honors after catching 46 passes for 701 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior.

College career
After moving from defensive end to defensive tackle in his senior season, Ratliff started all 13 games and tied his career high with 37 tackles. He also made four tackles for a loss and a sack. He tied a single game career high with seven tackles at Auburn to earn SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. He helped the Tigers win the SEC Championship and finish 13-0 by defeating Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl, in which he made three tackles. Auburn finished 2004 second behind USC in the final Associated Press poll. Ratliff played in nine games as a junior reserve defensive end, making seven tackles, including one for a loss. Before his sophomore year, Ratliff moved from tight end to defensive end during spring drills. He started eight of 12 games and tied a career high with 37 tackles, including a career-high 10 tackles for a loss. He also had two forced fumbles and a sack. As a freshman tight end, Ratliff played in all 12 games, including one start, and made three receptions for 38 yards. While at Auburn, "Ike" joined Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity during the Spring of 2002.

Professional career
Regarded as an undersized defensive tackle, Ratliff was drafted in the seventh round (224th overall pick) of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Cowboys. He made his first NFL start on October 9, 2005.

Ratliff played his first NFL game at Oakland (10/2) and shared a sack with linebacker Scott Shanle. He made his first start the next week against Philadelphia (10/9) when the Cowboys opened in their nickel package. He was placed on injured reserve Nov. 1. In 2006 he played 15 games that season in the defensive line rotation. He made 10 tackles; four sacks, tied for third on the team; seven quarterback pressures, tied for the team lead; one pass breakup; and one forced fumble. He led the team with fumble recoveries, which tied for second in the NFL.

Ratliff became the starting nose tackle following an injury to Jason Ferguson early in the 2007 season. He was signed to a $20.5 million, five-year contract extension on December 14, 2007, to stay with the Cowboys through the 2012 season. The deal included an $8 million signing bonus. In 2007, He also was the Ed Block Courage Award recipient.

Ratliff was voted to the starting lineup of the 2011 Pro Bowl, his fourth Pro Bowl appearance.

Arrest
Ratliff was arrested on Tuesday evening January 22, 2013 on suspicion of drunk driving. He was arrested 20 miles northwest of Dallas after he sideswiped a semi-truck. No one was injured. However; Ratliff failed the field sobriety test and spent the night in jail. He was released the morning of January 23 on bond.