Jason Garrett wishesJay Ratliff nothing but the best; says Cowboys made best decision for the team
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett declined get into a discussion regarding disconnect between last week's decision to cut former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jay 'Ratliff for health reasons and yesterday's announcement that he had been cleared to play immediately and soliciting offers from other teams.
"We made a decision like we talked about last week that we felt was in the best interest of our football team," Garrett said. "And we wish Jay nothing but the best going forward."
Ratliff has not to played football since undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia last December. He missed all of training camp and the preseason because of complications with his rehab. The Cowboys placed him the physically unable to perform list to start the season with hope of him returning after six weeks.
The Cowboys released him last week because it was believed that Ratliff was no where near close to being ready to return to the field and would not likely be healthy again until 2014.
That was then _ before Ratliff met with the doctor who performed his surgery and was cleared to play on Wednesday, roughly one week later.
"Certainly health was a huge factor in that decision," Garrett said. He hasn’t been able to play for us for the last year and a half. That was the primary reason we made that decision and again, weh him nothing but the best going forward. Again, from a health standpoint, we didn’t feel like he was ready to go. We just felt like that was the best decision for our club.
What's also played a factor in the decision is the friction between Ratliff and the team for much of the last year.
Clarence Hill