Jerry Jones confirms confrontation with Ratliff

Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones confirmed Tuesday that he had a confrontation with nose tackle Jay Ratliff following a game on Dec. 2.

Jones approached Ratliff after the Cowboys' 38-33 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles and spoke to the four-time Pro Bowl selection about how much he was needed on the field. Ratliff, who has missed seven games this season with ankle and groin injuries, became angry and yelled at Jones before players intervened.

"Well, you've heard the old deal, 'What goes on in there, stays in there.' Obviously it didn't," Jones said on radio station 105.3 The Fan. "I think the world of Jay, and I think of him as a competitor. I know how hard he's worked to be where he is.

"Jay has had injuries this year that are just mind-boggling, considering the player that he's been for us. We let the emotion of the game the other day get to us, but that's just the way things work sometime. He wants to win. He wants to do everything he can for the team, and that's the way I want it."

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Monday that no disciplinary action would be taken against Ratliff for the altercation.

Ratliff is dealing with a groin injury that has prevented him from playing in the past three games. Jones said he doubts that Ratliff will play Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"We'll see how it goes this week," Jones said. "He's trying to get back out there. I would say right now it's doubtful. But, again, we do need him out there. He's one of our team leaders. Make no mistake about it, he can help us. And he's going to be out there, trust me, if he's got a leg to stand on. He has that kind of attitude."