Bears assessing ex
Dallas Cowboys Jay Ratliff (90) pressures Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell in NFL game at Cowboys Stadium on Sunday, November 22, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys won 7-6. (Richard W. Rodriguez/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT) ORG XMIT: 1081066 (football pro) (RICHARD W. RODRIGUEZ / McClatchy-Tribune / )
The NFL's trade deadline passed Tuesday with the Chicago Bears standing pat. But that doesn't mean general manager Phil Emery and the front office aren't still exploring options to fuel a surge over the second half of this season.
On Thursday, defensive tackle Jay Ratliff will visit Halas Hall, according to an NFL source. Ratliff's trip in figures to be part of a tour that will allow him to connect with several potentially interested teams. He also had a confirmed visit with the Chiefs and is expected to make additional visits with NFL clubs this week after leaving Lake Forest.
The Bears and other interested teams will be most interested in Ratliff's physical condition. The four-time Pro Bowler's 2012 season with the Cowboys ended in Week 11 after he suffered a sports hernia injury that required surgery in December.
Originally, Ratliff's camp estimated it might take almost a year for full recovery from that injury.
Ratliff later strained his hamstring at the outset of Cowboys' training camp in July as he took the team's conditioning test.
Ratliff and the Cowboys were at odds during his recovery. And eventually, Dallas chose to release the defensive tackle earlier this month with the sense that he would not be able to play again this season.
But now Ratliff, who turned 32 in August, wants teams to see he is on track for a full recovery and could be ready to be back on the field within a month.
His agent, Mark Slough, contacted NFL teams shortly after Ratliff's release from Dallas to assure them that the doctor who performed the defensive tackle's sports hernia operation had given medical clearance for Ratliff to resume football activities. Slough also held a conference call with the media earlier this month to assert that Ratliff could be ready to play again in 2013.
Salary cap space wouldn't be a major issue for the Bears if they find themselves interested in bringing Ratliff in to help reinforce a defensive front that has been decimated by injuries this season. But first Emery and team doctors must sign off on Ratliff's physical condition.
They'll also likely want to gather further information on the arrest Ratliff had in January for driving while intoxicated, a transgression that could be subject to discipline from the league.
Tribune reporter Brad Biggs contributed to this report dwiederer@tribune.com Twitter @danwiederer
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