Say What?

Last week, Bears’ defensive lineman showed up to practice only to end up earning his release.  So, what happened?  Good question.  Too bad the Bears aren’t saying.

Ratliff wasn’t allowed to practice; he got into an argument with GM Ryan Pace; and police were called.  Rather than provide particulars, the team just wants to move forward, and Coach John Fox just wants to talk gibber.  Among other gems, Fox told reporters this is why you have security.  Apparently, ex-Bears’ coach Lovie Smith left behind his notes on how to jerk around the Chicago media, those gluttons for punishment.

If Ratliff were any other kind of public figure, the media would cover the story down to and including what Ratliff had for breakfast that morning.  Remember the sexting scandal with Anthony Weiner?  I bet Weiner wishes he’d had sports’ reporters covering him instead.

The guess here is that Ratliff, who was suspended three games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, did something along those lines at the workplace.  If the threat of violence felt real enough for the police to be called in, the team should pursue charges.  This is the real world, not the fantasy football one that shows up in the sports’ pages and the nightly sports.