Report: Marc Trestman once rewarded player for shoving coach

By Steve DelVecchio

Jeremiah Ratliff was released by the Bears last week, and he reacted by having a heated exchange with GM Ryan Pace and needing to have team security escort him off the premises. Apparently this type of childish behavior is nothing new for the four-time Pro Bowler, and it may have contributed to Marc Trestman losing his job.

According to Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman, Trestman — who is currently the offensive coordinator for the Ravens after spending two seasons as head coach in Chicago — once rewarded Ratliff for shoving an assistant coach and throwing a temper tantrum at practice. Freeman spoke to a player who witnessed the incident.

Trestman supposedly justified the decision by saying he appreciated the “intensity” Ratliff brought to the team. The player who recalled the outburst said that was the point at which Trestman officially lost the locker room, and he was fired shortly thereafter.

Freeman’s reason for sharing the story was to highlight how the Cowboys are playing a dangerous game with Greg Hardy, who had an outburst of his own last Sunday (see the video here) and has received nothing but public support from the team in the wake of it. That can send a bad message to the rest of the team, especially when you’re losing games.

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