INDIANAPOLIS Jay Ratliff’s future with the Dallas Cowboys may not be in jeopardy .
According to a source, the Cowboys don’t expect Ratliff to be suspended by the NFL even if he is convicted on a charge of driving while intoxicated stemming from last month’s wreck and arrest in Grapevine.It would be Ratliff’s first time to come under the scrutiny of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The source believes he would most likely be fined by league commissioner Roger Goodell if convicted.There was speculation that the Cowboys might make an example of Ratliff and release him for having bad judgment so soon after the death of practice-squad linebacker Jerry Brown. Brown was killed in single-car wreck in which teammate Josh Brent was driving. Brent was arrested and indicted on one count of intoxication manslaughter.Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Ratliff will “absolutely” be with the team in 2013 and expects him to return to his Pro Bowl level of play with his move to defensive tackle in the team’s new 4-3 defense after playing nose tackle in the 3-4.Garrett said the biggest key for Ratliff is getting and stay healthy after playing in only six games last season.“Jay Ratliff is an outstanding football player,” Garrett said. “He’s been a Pro Bowl player for us. He plays with a great demeanor for us, great desire and passion for the game.“He’s been playing in the 4-3 style of defense. But if you look at how he’s played through these years, he’s never been what we call a ‘zero’ nose tackle, playing dead over the center and two-gap.“He’s always been an up-the-field guy and played on a shade and done a great job disrupting opposing offenses. We’re excited to get him going in this scheme.“Again, the biggest thing with Jay is just to get him healthy, first and foremost, and get him back to playing the way he’s capable of playing. The real positive thing is, in the games he played, he really played like Jay Ratliff plays. He’s really excited about that — what he did on tape.”Packers to consult AggiesThe Green Bay Packers’ defensive staff will travel to College Station this off-season to learn how to stop the read option. The Aggies used the read option with great success behind quarterback Johnny Manziel, who won the Heisman Trophy.“Kevin Sumlin is someone I have great respect for, and with his ability to share from both the offensive side and the defensive side his experience in the read option, it’s something from an education, preparation standpoint that we will grow as a staff and be better prepared for in the future,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Friday.McCarthy said the Packers’ connection to the Aggies lies with special teams coach Shawn Slocum, an A&M graduate who is the son of former Aggies coach R.C. Slocum.The Packers allowed 579 yards in the 45-31 playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers as Colin Kaepernick rushed for 181 yards and threw for 263.Taylor looks to run fastRunning back Stepfan Taylor left Stanford as the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards (4,300), touchdowns (45) and 100-yard games (21). Scouts, though, want to see more than his résumé. They want to see a fast 40 time.The former Mansfield High star hopes to run in the 4.5 range, a time that would help his draft stock.“I do think that’s the biggest question,” said Taylor, who has stayed at Stanford to train. “I know teams want to see what I run. I’ve heard I play fast, but they want to have a number out there on me. I’ve been focused on that, getting my starts right and the whole run, the mechanics of it. I want to put up a good number.”Taylor grew up a Cowboys fan, and he is well aware that his hometown team is in need of a No. 2 running back with Felix Jones an unrestricted free agent.“I know my family would like that a lot,” Taylor said. “But wherever I end up, I’ll be happy.”TCU represented by threeJosh Boyce could have returned to TCU for his senior year, but with his degree in hand and an evaluation that had him being drafted in the mid-rounds, the receiver is on his way to the NFL.He is one of three Horned Frogs in Indianapolis for the Scouting Combine, joining running back Matthew Tucker and defensive end Stansly Maponga.“It was a hard decision for me,” said Boyce, who has a sociology degree. “But I just felt it was the best time for me. … I didn’t know what the quarterback situation would be, and I could get injured.“I came to get my degree, and I did that.”Boyce left as the school’s all-time leader in touchdown catches, with 22, and was second in receiving yards (2,535) and third in receptions (161). Staff writer Charean Williams contributed to this report.Clarence E. Hill Jr., 817-390-7760 Twitter: @clarencehilljr
