Ratliff's blood-alcohol level was double the legal limit following a car accident in Texas, where the legal limit is .08, according to a Jan. 28, 2013 report by MSNBC. Jay Ratliff is a defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys. He was placed under arrest after his Ford F-150 pickup truck sideswiped an 18-wheeler.
The 31-year-old professional athlete was reportedly "cooperative and courteous" when police initially arrived at the scene of the accident on State Highway 114, 20 miles from Dallas. However, Ratliff became belligerent and verbally abusive following his arrest, reported Dallas News.
Despite Ratliff's blood-alcohol level, police who responded to the scene reported that he appeared sober at first. Upon further observation, however, the officer noticed the odor of alcohol on his breath and saw that his eyes were watery and bloodshot.
At the police station, the player refused to submit to an Intoxilyzer breath-alcohol test, and he failed the three-part Standardized Field Sobriety Test administered by police. He blamed preexisting injuries for his inability to pass the test. A warrant was subsequently issued for a blood sample, and Ratliff's blood-alcohol level was determined to be .16.
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