Sports
Police Called to Halas Hall After Cut Bears Player Wouldn't Leave
The facility remained on high alert last week after the release of defensive lineman Jeremiah Ratliff.
A Lake Forest police car remained stationed outside Halas Hall all day last Wednesday due to an ongoing confrontation between then-Chicago Bears defensive lineman Jeremiah Ratliff and team staff.
The police presence was for “the safety of the building,” Bears head coach John Fox told ESPN-Chicago Staff Writer Jeff Dickerson.
“That’s why you have security,” Fox said. “That’s why things are in place. Sometimes if you think you need that, that’s what you do for the safety of your building.”
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Ratliff was released on Wednesday after being asked to leave the facility by team officials because he was not in the proper condition to work that day. Sources have said Ratliff returned to the building several times before leaving for good and had a heated conversation with general manager Ryan Pace while the rest of the team practiced.
The facility remained on high alert the following day.
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Ratliff is a three-time Pro Bowl player, but had been suspended for three games this year for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy and sat out another game due to injury. He only played in two games for the Bears this year.
On the roster, Ratliff was replaced by Ziggy Hood.
Photo Wikimedia Commons
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