Roger Goodell address DWI arrests

February, 2, 2013
Feb 2
11:45
AM CT
In the last two months the Cowboys have dealt with two DWI arrests involving Josh Brent and Jay Ratliff.

Brent was charged with one count of intoxication manslaughter in December after his car crashed in Irving on Dec. 8, resulting in the death of practice squad player Jerry Brown.

Last month, roughly six weeks after Brent's crash, Ratliff was arrested after he crashed his pickup truck into a tractor trailer in Grapevine. Ratliff was charged with driving while intoxicated.

The blood alcohol content of both players was twice the legal limit in Texas.

The Cowboys have plans to meet with MADD after the Super Bowl to discuss potential plans to educate their players on the dangers of drinking and driving. This is an issue that's gotten NFL commissioner Roger Goodell involved.

"The reality is we have to do a better job of educating people in the NFL that this is a priority," Goodell said at a Friday afternoon news conference from New Orleans. "This is for your safety, for the safety of the people in your car, and for innocent people that are out there. There are services designed to help them make better decisions before they leave their homes. We have to make sure that they understand those services, and most importantly, take advantage of them, use them. We did meet with MADD, and I met with MADD last week.

"We’re going to engage in a number of programs to help educate all of our clubs –- players, coaches (and) executives -– on what we can do. Victim impact programs have been very effectively used with several clubs over the past several months. We’re going to do that because this is a high priority, not only for the sake of safety, but it’s part of our responsibility in the communities that we live."
Calvin Watkins joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He's covered the Cowboys since 2006 and also has covered colleges, boxing and high school sports.

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