Jones hints that Ratliff might be in line for a new contract

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones might have talked himself into giving one of his players a big raise Wednesday at the team's annual kickoff luncheon at Cowboys Stadium.

"We have assured that we will have 10 years of where we don't have any issues with anything regarding clubs, players or those types of salaries. Now, I will make an exception," Jones said, according to the Dallas Morning News. "Jay Ratliff will tell you, 'You've got a big issue, Jerry, with my salary. I need a little more money.' "

Ratliff, the club's Pro Bowl nose tackle, signed a five-year, $20.5 million contract extension in December 2007. He is due to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2012 season. Ratliff's base salary this season is $3.75 million; next year it will be $4.875 million.

According to FoxSports, Jones' comments were quite interesting to Ratliff's agent, Mark Slough.

"We certainly are not unhappy with our contract," Slough said. "Do we believe we outperformed the contract? Absolutely. Did we expect to outperform the contract? Sure. Are we bitter or unhappy? Not at all. You haven't heard us say one thing at all about our contract. We recognize the economic times we're in as a country."

Slough added that he had no comment on any ongoing contract negotiations with the Cowboys over Ratliff.

Notes:Cowboys running back Tashard Choice, who has a minor knee injury, was one of five veteran players who didn't travel with the team to Miami on Wednesday and won't play in the final preseason game Thursday night. The other injured starters were cornerback Terence Newman (groin), linebacker Bradie James (foot), receiver Miles Austin (hamstring) and right guard Kyle Kosier (back).